Members of the Vermont Senate are meeting Thursday in
an unusual "joint caucus" to talk about the controversy of the
Green Mountain Power-Central Vermont Public Service merger.
The
question of whether CVPS should rebate $21 million directly to
ratepayers has become an issue involving the complex world
of utility rate making and the relationship between the Legislature and the
Public Service Board.
Green Mountain Power has responded to critics who say it isn’t providing enough
benefits to Central Vermont Public Service customers in the planned merger of
the two companies. GMP
says it will pay another $21 million toward customer energy efficiency.
Vermont Press Bureau Chief Peter Hirschfeld talks about what the potential merger between Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power means for ratepayers.
AARP
Vermont says customers helped rescue Central Vermont Public Service when it
got into financial trouble more than a decade ago. So
now that the company is healthy enough to be sold, AARP says those customers
should get their money back.
Shareholders
of Central Vermont Public Service Corporation approved a proposed merger with GazMetro, the parent company of Green Mountain Power. VPR
teamed up with the investigative website, VT Digger for a behind the scenes
look at the deal.
To former Vermont governor and commentator Jim Douglas, the proposed merger between Green Mountain Power and CVPS is another indicator that the partnership between Vermont and Quebec is growing stronger.
Many people
at this year’s Solarfest were talking about the proposed merger of Central
Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power – especially the promise to
make Rutland Vermont’s first solar city.
Earlier: CVPS Board Endorses Gaz Metro Bid For GMP
Green Mountain Power plans to offer a big incentive for people thinking about
installing solar panels to generate electricity. The
company wants to pay a bonus to customers who sell electricity back to the
grid.