Amendment #10 to H4198

An Amendment to H. 4198

Ms. Walz of Boston moves to amend the amendment adding the following section:-

SECTION XX.  Section 1J of said chapter 164, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

In the event that more than either (i) 20,000 customers or (ii) 0.8% of the total customers, whichever is fewer, of an electric company are subjected to a continuous power interruption of 4 hours or more that results in the transmission of power at less than 50% of the standard voltage, or that results in the total loss of power transmission, the electric company shall be responsible for reimbursing the affected municipality, county or other unit of local government in which the power interruption has taken place for all emergency expenses, direct and contingent, incurred as a result of the interruption. A waiver of the requirements of this section may be granted by the department in instances in which the electric company can show that the power interruption was a result of any 1 or more of the following causes:

(i) unpreventable damage due to weather events or conditions;

(ii) customer tampering;

(iii) unpreventable damage due to civil or international unrest, criminal mischief or animals; or

(iv) damage to utility equipment or other actions by a party other than the utility, its employees, agents or contractors.

Loss of revenue and expenses incurred in complying with this section shall not be recovered from retail customers.