As the year ends power is finally restored in town but the December 11th storm but as our local paper reports there was one nasty surprise for everyone:
Tim Bean said he lost power for 11 days following the Dec. 11 ice storm, and received a Unitil bill this month that’s about $100 more than his regular charge.
“I had my electricity off for 11 days, I assumed it would be less than usual,” the Westminster Hill Road resident said Monday.
The problem is computer models:
Senior Vice President Unitil George Gantz said the company is using computerized estimates to determine a “couple thousand” customers’ utility bills this month because of power outages in the region. Gantz said the system makes an estimate based on the usage of the last year.
Some customers think turnabout is fair play:
Townsend resident Bruce Goyette said he got a bill for $463 this month, even though he only used $277 worth of power last month and $369 worth in December 2007. He lost power for three days this month.
“I think they could have sent a bill that was approximately what November’s bill was,” Goyette said.
In response, Goyette said he’s going to send Unitil an “estimated payment” of $300.
“A more-than-generous estimate,” he said.
We pay Unitil some of the highest electric rates in the country (I think we’re 3rd). This storm and its aftermath are not covering them with glory.
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