State officials are again seeking to block two gas companies from laying off workers in Connecticut, arguing that utility regulators have not yet completed an inquiry into the likely service consequences.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Consumer Counsel Mary Healey Thursday called on the Department of Public Utility Control to reinstate an order forbidding Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas from eliminating about 70 employees who respond to gas leaks, repair meters, dispatch service personnel and carry out other tasks.
On Sept. 24, the DPUC issued an order barring the layoffs until the companies had demonstrated the cuts would not hurt service. That order expired last month and the commission did not renew it. The companies, both owned by Energy East of Maine, said they would not to execute the layoffs before a hearing scheduled for today.
But soon thereafter, Blumenthal and Healey said, the companies told employees the layoffs would start on Monday.
"CNG and SCG are cravenly cutting key jobs, pushing employees out the door and attempting to beat any state ruling against it," Blumenthal said in a statement. "This threat is the height of corporate arrogance and must be stopped immediately before it creates a public danger and a service reliability nightmare."
The DPUC did not act on the request immediately. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for today. Agency spokesman Phil Dukes said a decision would come after all sides present their arguments.
A spokesman for the utilities declined to comment.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Consumer Counsel Mary Healey Thursday called on the Department of Public Utility Control to reinstate an order forbidding Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas from eliminating about 70 employees who respond to gas leaks, repair meters, dispatch service personnel and carry out other tasks.
On Sept. 24, the DPUC issued an order barring the layoffs until the companies had demonstrated the cuts would not hurt service. That order expired last month and the commission did not renew it. The companies, both owned by Energy East of Maine, said they would not to execute the layoffs before a hearing scheduled for today.
But soon thereafter, Blumenthal and Healey said, the companies told employees the layoffs would start on Monday.
"CNG and SCG are cravenly cutting key jobs, pushing employees out the door and attempting to beat any state ruling against it," Blumenthal said in a statement. "This threat is the height of corporate arrogance and must be stopped immediately before it creates a public danger and a service reliability nightmare."
The DPUC did not act on the request immediately. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for today. Agency spokesman Phil Dukes said a decision would come after all sides present their arguments.
A spokesman for the utilities declined to comment.
What business isn't the state in? Instead of keeping business in connecticut the Attorney General does a good job on running them out? If he keeps it up most people will be going out of state for a job. Hartford is a dead anytime of the day or doesn't he notice it? Or he lives in Greenwich
JFK09 (11/12/2009, 11:59 PM )