Wednesday, February 20, 2013
People call customers and demand payments, the utility says.
- BUSINESS
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Wednesday, February 20
National Grid officials are alerting electric customers about a new scam. "Individuals claiming to work for National Grid" are calling customers to "demand payment on past due balances for electric accounts and threaten customers that their service will immediately be shut-off for non-payment," the utility said Tuesday in a presss release. "In some cases the caller also tells the customer that they may have a faulty meter that is dangerous and in need of replacing for a substantial fee. Callers are being directed to make an immediate, over-the-phone payment in order to keep their power on." National Grid is asking customers receiving such calls to contact its Customer Contact Center at 1-800-322-3223.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Westborough will buy net metering credits generated by the new project at Harvey's Farm.
Westborough will earn about $100,000 annually over 20 years through a new deal involving the solar project at Harvey’s Farm, Town Manager Jim Malloy says. Selectmen recently voted to authorize Malloy to sign a 20-year contract with Sun Ray Power LLC to buy the net metering credits generated by the ground-mounted photovoltaic farm at 7 Maple Ave. The project will be “generating electricity in excess of what they actually utilize on their property,” Malloy said. Attorney Adam Braillard, representing the project proponents, said Westbororough can purchase the electricity from the system. “National Grid credits the electricity produced by the system at a retail rate,” Braillard said, “and then National Grid assigns the credits to the town.” …
42.26226
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Harvey's Farm and Country Store
120 South St, Westborough, MA
/articles/deal-signed-with-solar-project
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/locations/8495222
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
National Grid was fined nearly $19 million, the highest fine levied against utilities in Massachusetts.
The state on Tuesday ordered a total of $24.8 million in penalties to utility companies for their response to storms in 2011. Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan joined Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Chairman Ann Berwick and DPU commissioners today to announce the findings of the DPU’s investigation into responses to Tropical Storm Irene and the October 2011 snowstorm. Provided the penalties hold up, customers should see a reduction in their bill, though it is unclear how much, officials said. National Grid faces the steepest penalty, at $18.725 million. NSTAR has been ordered to pay $4.075 million, while the Western Massachusetts Electric Company faces a $2 million penalty. National Grid told the …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Town manager to meet with utility officials. Neighborhood petitions selectmen to seek better results from National Grid.
Westborough Town Manager Jim Malloy will meet with National Grid officials about issues arising here during Superstorm Sandy, Selectmen Chairman Leigh Emery said Tuesday night. Outages in neighborhoods with underground power lines will be part of the discussion after some residents raised the issue with selectmen Tuesday night. A petition signed by about 40 residents asks the board to “throw its weight at National Grid, and get them to perform in some sensible fashion,” Byard Lane resident Cliff Watts said. Homes in Watts’ neighborhood were without power during the Monday night that Sandy began subsiding, he said. However, the East Main Street substation was on, and several homes with above-ground power lines had electricity, said Watts, …
Friday, November 2, 2012
National Grid reports all power restored.
All of National Grid's Westborough customers have electricity again. The utility's website reports no power outages in town. National Grid has 7,849 Westborough customers. There were 26 Westborough customers without electricity as of 8:26 a.m. Thursday. All were expected to have power by 11:59 p.m.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The two utility companies have had complaints in recent storms—Hurricane Irene and Snowtober—but say they stepped it up for Sandy.
Hurricane Sandy blew out of the region earlier this week, but not without causing massive power outages, some of which have yet to be fixed. Both National Grid and NStar say they did a better, faster job in fixing power outages than in previous storms, according to WBUR. Not everyone agrees, however. According to the story, Newton Mayor Setti Warren said NStar was faster, but there's still work to be done. Gov. Deval Patrick also told WBUR the companies worked faster, but said a "total victory" can't be declared. Do you agree? Have they improved since the last storm? Or is there still work to be done? Tell us in the comments.
National Grid expects to restore electricity by 11:59 p.m.
National Grid says 26 of its 7,849 Westborough customers remained without electricity as of 8:26 this morning. The electricity should be restored by 11:59 p.m., according to the utility's outage map. Overall, National Grid had 1,939 active outages, affecting 9,809 customers, as of 8:41 this morning.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The figure was as of 5:28 a.m.
National Grid still had 140 Westborough customers without electricity as of 5:28 a.m., two days after Hurricane Sandy struck the area, the utility said on its website. National Grid estimates restoring power by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2. Most of the outages in Westborough are in the Old Westboro Road-Glen Street area; the area just north of Adams Street; and the area of the Westborough Business Park and the Westborough Technology Park, according to the utility's outage map. National Grid serves 7,849 Westborough customers.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
More than 1,400 customers in Westborough are without power.
As of 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, 1,438 Westborough customers remained without power because of Hurricane Sandy, according to National Grid's website. National Grid serves 7,849 customers in Westborough. The utility is now completing assessments of the affected areas. Once those assessments are finished—a process expected to be completed early Wednesday morning—individual outages will be assigned specific time frames for restoration. Restoration estimates could come tonight. In a conference call, Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts, told the media that until the assessments are completed, she couldn't say how long it will take for power to be completely restored. Once the assessments are done, the utility will share the …
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Ready for the storm?
- AWARENESS
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Saturday, October 27, 2012
National Grid has compiled the following list of steps to take prior to Hurricane Sandy: Prepare a family emergency kit with items including: One might also want to include: Westborough Patch is monitoring the storm.
Mary MacDonald
6:14 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The DPU is a regulatory agency. It has some authority over private companies, including water companies. The same agency is required to approve any water rate increase, such as in Milford, where the utility is a private company. more ›