Despite Loud Protests; National Grid Rates to Rise 14 Percent in January
Twitter: @markcurtisABC6
“Hey, hey ho, ho corporate greed has got to go,” chanted the angry crowd.
A raucous protest dominated the
Angry customers objecting to a proposed 24 percent increase in National Grid electric rates.
“I don’t think it’s fair. I am disabled myself, and I can’t afford a hike in my electricity. I am barely making it now,” said Marie Schopac of
In the end, the PUC increased National Grid rates by just over 14 percent, despite the loud objections from the crowd.
ABC6 Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis said, “And the bad news for consumers may not be over. The Public Utilities Commission noted that if energy costs continue to rise, there could be another rate increase considered next year.”
At times the outcries were so loud commissioners had trouble conducting the meeting.
National Grid says there is a shortage of natural gas in
Commissioners say their hands are tied.
“There’s very little we can do. This is, as indicated, a regional problem, and it’s a pipeline capacity problem more than anything else,” said PUC Commissioner Herbert DeSimone, Jr.
“Shame, shame, shame!” shouted crowd members.
The PUC says the typical customer will pay a little over 12 dollars additional each month, instead of the proposed 22 dollars.
“So many people are already having trouble paying their bills, trying to decide between paying for food and utilities and people are shut off every year,” said National Grid customer Chloe Chassaing
The nation grid rate increase takes effect on New Year’s Day.
