Vermont Electric Power Company says that someone
shot at its transmission lines in Concord,
damaging 105 out of 426 insulators. A VELCO spokesman calls the
act "dangerous," and predicts it will lead to higher electric rates throughout New
England.
An effort to gain public ownership of
the statewide transmission grid has stalled in the face of strong opposition from
the governor and utility lobbyists. Lawmakers are now debating whether to study the
idea.
A key Vermont lawmaker says he expects to offer an amendment on a budget bill that could put the state on a path toward majority ownership of the backbone of its electricity grid.
Small electric utilities in Vermont are worried that their concerns will be overwhelmed
if the state’s two largest power companies merge and gain control over the
transmission network. Their attention is focused on VELCO, the company
that manages the statewide electric grid.
The Shumlin Administration wants the public to have more of a role in managing Vermont’s statewide electric grid. The
suggestion for more public oversight comes as regulators review the planned sale
of Vermont’s largest electric company.
Control
of the statewide transmission grid has emerged as a major issue as regulators
review a proposed merger between the state’s two largest utilities. Critics
say the merged company under Canadian ownership is more likely to use Vermont as a corridor to import electricity from Quebec. But the transmission company is playing down those
concerns.