Selectmen Vote to Petition DPU to Open An Investigation Into National Grid

Following Tuesday night's board of selectmen and at Foxborough High School, which drew hundreds of Foxborough residents, was a vote taken by selectmen, 5-0, to petition the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to open an investigation into National Grid's actions taken when the entire town lost power for multiple days after

Foxborough selectmen, Town Manager Kevin Paicos, Rep. Jay Barrows, R-Mansfield, and Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole were unanimous in their criticism and expressed frustration equal to town residents Tuesday, who expressed serve dissatisfaction with National Grid services.

Selectmen are asking DPU to investigate and bring down financial penalties on the company due to their lack of preparation and response to Tropical Storm Irene and failure to meet state regulations.

Specifically, the board is seeking for DPU to fine National Grid $250,000 per day for each violation. Selectmen are also asking the regulator to have National Grid reimburse the town and its residents for various costs.

The petition by selectmen says that National Grid risked public safety, failed to communicate with the town and its residents, failed to prepare for an "emergency event" and failed to restore power to the town's priority list (which includes medical facilities, senior housing) and priority residents.

The board wants to ensure that National Grid "follow acceptable emergency preparedness and response procedures and its emergency response plan in the future."

Selectmen also seek a separate investigation into the town's personal experience. 

Town Manager Kevin Paicos spoke bluntly towards the conclusion of the National Grid Q&A session about the only way that change can "really" happen.

"The problem is that investor owned utility is [about] profit [and] making that a priority. They [National Grid] do not exist to provide service," spoke a concerned Paicos.  "Their primary responsibility is to make the people who own the company money."

"If you really want change, then you go to get the Massachusetts legislature and go get them to pass bill 869."

Bill 869 is an act "relative to the establishment of municipal lighting authorities." Passing Bill 869 would essentially give municipalities, such as Foxborough, options and the opportunity to explore power options beyond National Grid.

Other local municipalities that have their own power, such as Mansfield, have reported far less problems with the weather and the speed in which power is restored.

"If legislature passes this, it would create competition into the utility industry and I guarantee you it would create a better product," said Paicos. "This law has got to pass and is long overdue – 100 years overdue."

_ (R-Norfolk) is also getting attention for a that would require utility companies to provide rebates for long power outages.

Winslow said he proposed the bill after the outages caused by Tropical Storm Irene.

"It would require the utilities to rebate customers two days for every one day where they went more than eight hours without power," he said. "The utilities are a monopoly — they're not subject to competitive pressures."