AG Looks To Fine Utility For Ice Storm Outages

BOSTON — State Attorney General Martha Coakley Friday recommended that the state fine electricity-provider Unitil $4.6 million in connection with its failures restoring electricity after December’s massive ice storm.

The storm caused massive power outages leaving almost all of Unitil’s 28,500 Massachusetts customers in Fitchburg, Townsend, Lunenburg, and Ashby without power. Some did not see their power restored for almost two weeks.

The Attorney General also criticized Unitil for not contacting its 67 known customers who were on ventilators or other electricity-powered life-saving equipment.

A spokesman for Unitil said the severity of the storm was unprecedented, and that the fine is disproportionately high. The utility contends there is no basis, legal or otherwise, or any regulatory precedent to support such an extraordinary financial penalty.

The fine is subject to approval by the Department of Public Utilities.