Utilities ordered to make $9 million in refunds

BOSTON – The state Department of Telecommunications and Energy has ordered Massachusetts Electric and two NStar units to refund $9 million to their customers, principally because of last summer’s power failures, but also because of their failure to meet new customer service standards, the Boston Globe reported. Despite the size of the refunds, which the Globe said will amount to $1 to $2 on residential customers’ monthly bills over the next year, neither Mass Electric nor NStar plan to protest the penalties. Profits for the utilities will not be affected by the refunds, the Globe added. The state energy commissioner and attorney general had sought $22.5 million in penalties.