Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
Attorney General, In Written Exceptions, Urges DPUC To Reverse Draft Decision And Block CNG/Southern Layoffs That Threaten Safety and Reliability
January 22, 2010
"This DPUC draft decision could literally be dead wrong -- diminishing gas company workforce and endangering service reliability and safety," Blumenthal said. "The DPUC should use its full authority to revise and rescind this preliminary decision, rather than gamble on safety and service this winter."
In a preliminary ruling, the DPUC refuses to block the companies' layoffs, but plans to require that the company submit monthly operations filings in order for the DPUC to monitor public service and safety.
Blumenthal commended the DPUC's determination to painstakingly scrutinize the companies, but said it must go further to use its full authority to require that the companies maintain safe staffing levels.
Blumenthal said that CNG -- while seeking a rate increase merely two months before announcing layoffs -- plainly acknowledged that further workforce reductions would compromise the company's quality of service and public safety.
CNG's own representatives said, "Reducing hours, imposing furloughs, cutting wages would at this point have an adverse impact on the company's quality of service and responsiveness and potentially the reliability of the system, and that's what the company is worried about."
Blumenthal said, "Only one reality can be true -- either the companies presented honest testimony supporting their need to raise rates, or they presented honest testimony supporting workforce reductions. The DPUC must side with safety and reject these layoffs.
"More than the financial devastation posed to gas company employees and their families is the danger of catastrophe from understaffed companies responding to gas leak emergencies.
"Gas company employees -- technicians, dispatchers or others -- are the first responders to gas leaks and other emergencies that pose significant public safety threats. A stable and sound workforce is imperative at CNG and Southern - and cannot be diminished, according to the companies' own statements.
"Ratepayers -- who pay 100 percent of the salaries of these gas employees -- are entitled to be sure that their service will be safe and reliable. Connecticut consumers pay among the highest gas rates in the nation, and deserve superior utility service."