National Grid proposes rate hike

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July 17, 2009

By Judy Wakefield

The town's top supplier of electricity wants a 5.5 percent rate increase for residents, and a public hearing on the issue was held last week at the Town House on Main Street.

Rep. Barry Finegold, D-Andover, was at last Thursday night's meeting "voicing concern," he said, because he believes this is not the time for this proposed rate increase.

"A lot of people are hurting right now," he said. "I know National Grid is a good company and this rate increase is needed for infrastructure improvements, but the timing just isn't now for this."

A representative from Attorney General Martha Coakley's office also attended and voiced opposition to the proposed rate hike.

The Department of Public Utilities is hosting a series of five public hearings this month around the state regarding National Grid's request for a $111.3 million increase in distribution rates per year. The public hearings ask the public to comment on the proposed increase.

If allowed, such an increase would result in a 5.5 percent increase in the typical residential customer's monthly bill, according to Coakley's office.

Maria Maggio, business manager for Andover's Plant and Facilities Department, also attended the meeting. She said the proposed increase works out to about $4.25 a month for the average household in town. Local businesses would be hit with a higher increase if this proposal is approved, she said.

The town of Andover is a National Grid customer so the town's electrical bill would go up if the rate increase was approved. That increase has not yet been determined, Maggio said. She agreed it was not a good time for the town's budget to increase.

"I don't know where the money would come from," she said.

It's been 14 years since National Grid increased rates. But Finegold wants the company to wait longer.

"We've got high energy bills as it is," he said. "It's just not the time for those bills to go up even more."

Hearings continue in Quincy and North Adams this week, and Finegold said testimony from the public is expected to be pooled from the five hearings before National Grid makes a decision on whether to forge ahead with the increase.