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Vol. 3 No. 44 • November 9, 2011
Joined at the bridge Vt., NY officials open Lake Champlain Bridge
Central Vermont Public Service has asked the Vermont Public S ervice Boar d t o authorize a 4.8 per cent rate increase under the c ompany’s alternative regulation plan. I f approved, the increase would take effect on Jan. 1.
CVPS seeks rate increase By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com Central V ermont Public Service has asked the V ermont Public Service Boar d to authorize a 4.8 per cent rate increase under the company’s alternative r egulation plan. If appr oved, the increase would take ef fect on Jan. 1. “We have worked very hard to control operating costs, which ar e virtually flat overall,” CVPS Pr esident and Chief Executive Officer Larry Reilly said. “The rate change is being drive by a variety of factors, which inc lude new power contracts at competitive, yet slightly higher costs, and investments in our system to improve r eliability for customers. Meanwhile, the rate impact was mitigated by a reduction in our allowed return on equity , which will drop from 9.45 to 9.17 percent.” The bill for a r esidential customer who uses 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month will rise from $82.26 to $86.22, a dif ference of $3.96. Since 1999, CVPS’s rates have risen at near half the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. CVPS is in the pr ocess of selling the company to foreign-owned Gaz Métro, the parent of Gr een Mountain Power, with which CVPS will merge next year , if the transaction receives all necessary r egulatory approvals. Ironically, the rate increase this week comes on the heels of GMP and CVPS officials pr omising to pr ovide $144 million in customer savings in the first 10 years after closing the sale.
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and NewYork Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, second from right, celebrate the opening of the new Lake Champlain Bridge Nov. 7 at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Crown Point, N.Y. Photo by Andy Flynn
ADDISON — Motorists cr ossed the new $70 million Lake Champlain Bridge Monday, Nov. 7 immediately following a r ibbon-cutting c eremony attended by Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and New York Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy. “The governor is very pleased that the bridge is r eopening,” Shumlin spokesperson Susan Allen said Nov. 4. “This is a critical transportation route for so many Vermonters and New York state r esidents. Reopening the bridge is truly worth celebrating.” In a pr epared statement, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “I thank the New York State Department of T ransportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and our partners in Vermont for their assistance in building this bridge, which will help r evitalize local economies and strengthen the relationship between our two states." The original Lake Champlain Bridge opened on Aug. 26, 1929, was closed on Oct. 16, 2009, and was destro yed by explosives on Dec. 28, 2009. Flatir on Construction was awar ded the contract to build the new bridge on May 27, 2010.
Castleton couple arrested for series of bank robberies POULTNEY — A Castleton couple was arr ested Wednesday, Nov. 2 in connection with thr ee bank r obberies in Vermont and two in Granville, NY. The f emale s uspect w as i dentified a s J ill L udwig, 3 0. Ludwig had been employed as an advertising representative for the Rutland-based Gre en Mountain Outlook newspaper. The male suspect was identified as John Maynard, 30, according to police r eports. The couple wer e living together in Castleton while ro bbing banks to support a hero in habit, police said. The pair were arrested after an eye witness took down Ludwig’s license plate number following her latest r obbery Nov. 2 at Citizen’s Bank, located at 177 Main Str eet in Poultney, VT. According to police, bank of ficials advised that a lone female subject entered the bank shortly after 3 p.m. wearing a hooded sweatshirt and presented a note to the teller demanding money. The teller turned over an unspecified See ROBBERIES, page 3
Jill Ludwig and John Maynard, of Castleton, were arrested Nov. 2 in connection with a series of bank robberies in both Vermont and New York. Photo provided
THIS WEEK Pets of the Week ..........2 Opinion ........................4 Calendar ......................7 Sports ..........................8-9 Classifieds....................10 Auto Zone ....................11
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