First Selectman's Report - 07/23/2012

IN A DECISION ISSUED ON JULY 17, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY (“PURA”) FOUND THAT

“CONNECTICUT LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY’S PERFORMANCE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 2011 STORMS WAS DEFICIENT AND INADEQUATE IN THE AREAS OF OUTAGE AND SERVICE RESTORATION PREPARATION OF PERSONNEL, SUPPORT OF ITS MUNICIPAL LIAISON PROGRAM, DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION OF RESTORATION TIMES TO CUSTOMERS, AND OVERAL COMUNICATION TO CUSTOMERS, OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS AND MUNICIPALITES, SO AS TO WARRANT REGULATORY SANCTION.”

AS A RESULT OF THE DECISION, CL&P WILL FACE AN “APPROPRIATE REDUCTION TO ITS ALLOWED RETURN ON EQUITY IN ITS NEXT RATEMAKING PROCEEDING AS A PENALTY FOR POOR MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE AND TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR IMPROVEMENT.”  PURA’S DECISION ALSO REQUIRES CL&P TO DEVELOP A HEIGHTENED STATE OF READINESS FOR STORMS, REQUIRING THEM TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES IN PLACE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.

PURA STARTED THIS PROCEEDING LAST SEPTEMBER AFTER IRENE.  THE TOWN OF SIMSBURY PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCEEDING THROUGH CCM, AND I TESTIFIED ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN ABOUT THE MANY CHALLENGES WE FACED IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THE STORM.  MY TESTIMONY STRESSED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE LONG DELAY IN RESTORING POWER AND SIMPLY INACCURATE COMMUNICATIONS, THE DELAY IN CLEARING THE ROADS CREATED A REAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR TOWN STAFF.

IN ADDITION TO THE PROPOSED RATE REDUCTION, THE DRAFT DECISION PLACES A NUMBER OF RESPONSIBILITIES ON CL&P SUCH AS DEVELOPING PLANS FOR BETTER DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, PLANS TO ENSURE A HEIGHTENED STATE OF READINESS, A MAINTENANCE TREE TRIMMING PLAN AND OTHER PLANNING AND REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

THE ORDER ALSO PLACES PLANNING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON OTHER UTILITIES.  FOR EXAMPLE, AT&T IS REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A BETTER METHOD OF ESTIMATING OUTAGE INFORMATION AND TO PREPARE A CLEARER EMERGENCY CONTACT PROGRAM.

THIS IS A DRAFT ORDER AND WHILE WE FEEL THAT PURA HAS REACHED THE RIGHT CONCLUSION WITH RESPECT TO THE PERFORMANCE OF CL&P AND OTHER UTILITIES, CCM WILL BE ASKING PURA TO REQUIRE MORE SPECIFIC ACTION IN SOME AREAS, SUCH AS CUT CLEAR AND MAKE SAFE.

ON BALANCE THIS IS A WIN FOR RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF SIMSBURY AND I BELIEVE WE CAN EXPECT A MUCH HIGHER STATE OF PREPARATION FROM CL&P IF AND WHEN WE FACE ANOTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION.  AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CCM TO SEEK ADDITIONAL LEVELS OF PROTECTION.

MY TESTIMONY WAS BASED ON THE HARD WORK OF OUR TOWN STAFF DURING AND AFTER THE STORM – I WOULD LIKE TO THANK KEVIN KOWALKSI, CHIEF INGVERTSEN AND TOM ROY IN PARTICULAR FOR THEIR WORK AND THE WORK OF THEIR RESPECTIVE STAFF MEMBERS IN HELPING US TO BUILD A RECORD AND MAKE THE CASE FOR BETTER SERVICE FROM THE UTILITIES THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

THE TOWN HAS JUST FINISHED THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO MAINTAIN OUR RECOGNITION AS A BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY ACCORDING TO THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS.  SIMSBURY CURRENTLY HAS BRONZE LEVEL STATUS, BUT WE ARE APPLYING TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A SILVER-LEVEL BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.

 THE APPLICATION PROCESS WAS A LONG AND STRENUOUS ONE, AND WE OWE MANY THANKS TO PATTIE JACOBUS, OF SIMSBURY FREE BIKE, RICH SAWITZKE, OUR TOWN ENGINEER, GERRY TONER, OUR DIRECTOR OF CULTURE, PARKS, AND RECREATION, TOM ROY, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, OFFICER TRACY DUNNE OF THE SIMSBURY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND BRUCE DONALD, CHAIR OF THE FARMINGTON VALLEY TRAILS COUNCIL.  

THE APPLICATION COVERED TOPICS FROM ROAD QUALITY TO EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, AND TOOK A LOT OF ORGANIZATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTIES TO SEND OFF A QUALITY APPLICATION.  WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT OUR CHANCES, AND ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF ALL OF THE EFFORT THAT SIMSBURY HAS GONE THROUGH TO BECOME MORE BICYCLE FRIENDLY.

WE SHOULD HEAR IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS WHETHER WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR GOAL OF BEING A SILVER LEVEL BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY!