PELTO: "Hey Northeast Utilities…It would be funny…but…it's not;"

by: ctblogger

Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 09:07:03 AM EST

The 2012 session of the Connecticut General Assembly begins in one week and Northeast Utilities and United Illuminating are gearing up to make sure Connecticut policymakers don't do anything drastic, like hold the companies accountable for their actions.

Business gearing up for legislative fight - Utilities lead way in registering dozens of lobbyists to gain influence" is the title of a must read story in today's Hartford Business Journal on-line. The article begins with the news that "State utility companies UIL Holdings Corp. and Northeast Utilities are loaded for a legislative battle this year, with 39 registered lobbyists, more than any other industry group, for the upcoming legislative session where storm preparation and outage response will be key issues." See http://www.hartfordbusiness.co...

Meanwhile, what was that I heard on my local radio news this morning?  Something about tomorrow being the deadline to apply for a "storm credit."

Step 1: Turn on computer

Step 2: Search for Northeast Utilities or if you are in the know, type in http://www.nu.com/

There is the middle of the page, in small 6pt type, are the words Connecticut Light & Power.  Click on that link and you get to http://www.cl-p.com/Home

Step 3: In the midst of a very busy page look for "WHAT'S NEW" under which are the words Applications Now Being Accepted for Storm Fund Credit

Step 4:  Click on that link and you reach http://www.cl-p.com/storm_fund

Now down to the middle of that page where the headline reads" "OCTOBER NOR'EASTER ENROLLMENT FUND"

And below that a picture of a CL&P truck and below that the information we've been looking for...

"As a gesture of goodwill, we have established a fund to provide a credit for those customers hit hardest by the October Nor'easter. As we make changes to enhance our future restoration efforts, this fund is an important step in demonstrating our commitment to our customers, a commitment we take very seriously."

Which CL&P customers are eligible for the storm fund credit?

Any residential CL&P customer without power after noon on Saturday, November 5 as a result of the October Nor'easter is eligible for a minimum of $100 up to a maximum of $200 credit applied to their CL&P bill. The actual amount will be determined based on the total number of eligible customers who apply for the credit."

But wait just a minute  - there is nothing here about deadlines and I can't recall if I even had power on Saturday November 5?

Read more below the fold...

2nd link looks a little promising since it is entitled "Will I receive notice from CL&P about how to apply?" Turns out if you click on that the sentence the following appears below it.

"CL&P will begin contacting eligible residential customers on Wednesday, December 7 to inform them how to apply for the credit. Eligible customers may begin applying on that date by calling 888-566-9257 or by going online at www.cl-p.com. Customers must apply no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2012."

Okay, there we go - I don't recall CL&P contacting me but is says right here that customers must apply no later than 5p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. (which by my calendar is tomorrow)

But the eligibility requirements are still a bit "vague" so now onward to the  4th link that reads "How was the eligibility criteria determined, specifically the date and time of November 5 at noon?" Again a click on the link and the words magically appear.

"Following our analysis of this storm, and in consultation with Kenneth Feinberg, the nationally renowned claim fund administrator and Governor Malloy, we established noon on Saturday, November 5 as the appropriate time."

Okay so it was a nationally renowned claim fund administrator and Governor Malloy that decided that if you didn't have power on November 5th you get the credit.

But wait, I still can't remember?  Who had power on November 5th?

Nowhere - absolutely nowhere - do you find the most critical piece of information of all and that is - You had to have been without power for seven days or more to qualify for a credit.

Now I remember, I did have power on November 5th so despite losing hundreds of  dollars worth of food I never was going to qualify for a $100-$200 credit.

Of course, now I wonder if Governor Malloy knows that NU is giving HIM the credit for NU's decision that anyone who was without power for "only" six days (or less) receives absolutely no compensation what-so-ever for their loses.

In the end, I'm absolutely convinced that they simply could not have designed a system more difficult than the one Northeast Utilities set up for those of its customers who were seeking some financial relief from the storm.

You have to give it to NU.  Even after all the hoopla about their "gesture of goodwill" putting up $10 million, no $30 million to "help their customers" NU designs an on-line process that would leave even the most technologically talented customers frustrated.

And with 39 registered lobbyists costing millions of dollars, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that NU will survive the 2012 Session of the Connecticut General Assembly intact and as profitable as ever.