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Using small bits of information found in your car, or your mailbox, con artists can steal your identity and your life.

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A recently-released report sponsored by AARP Vermont shows that the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS), which purportedly represents ratepayer interests, has an inherent conflict of interest and needs immediate reform. The report, closely examines the actions taken by DPS over the past eight years before Vermont’s utility regulators. It finds that, time-after-time, the DPS entered into settlement agreements that were very generous to utilities, not to Vermont’s residential utility customers. The report also found that the Department entered into numerous settlement agreements with Vermont utilities that shifted a considerable amount of financial and regulatory risk away from these regulated electric and natural gas companies and onto ratepayers. The report was prepared by a consulting firm that has participated in over 500 regulatory proceedings in over 20 states for ratepayer advocates around the country.

Tax season is underway. This year, AARP Foundation is again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers across Vermont with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. AARP Tax-Aide, in its 49th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention to the older population. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.

Nobody thinks much about utility regulation…until it hits their wallet. It’s not a sexy nor easy topic, but is one that impacts about every household and business in the state. When your rates go up or your electricity is interrupted, it gets your attention – but then it’s too late. In Vermont, our gas and electric utility companies are monopolies and the majority of Vermonters are served by for-profit companies. That’s why we regulate them. Unfortunately, ratepayers don’t always get a fair shake in this murky and complex system. They don’t have a voice, unless regulators or advocates stand up for them. Thankfully, our Legislature is finally looking at this issue closely.

A recently announced agreement between Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) and the VT Dept. of Public Service (DPS) is cause for concern to anyone who is watching this issue closely -- especially ratepayers! While it proposes to reduce the cost to ratepayers by $20 million, it allows for unforeseen costs and still leaves current VGS customers paying at least $134 million for a gas pipeline that will serve another market altogether. AARP has indicated its opposition to this proposal as well as the obvious attempt to influence the Public Service Board's decision on the larger issue of reopening the project for review. The claims that this project serves the public good for all Vermonters is flawed by a host of measures -- particularly the overall economic benefit which studies show will have a negative impact in the neighborhood of $200 million.

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A motion was filed today by AARP Vermont with the Vermont Public Service Board showing that, once again, Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) has failed to disclose highly material information with the Board in relation to their Addison Natural Gas Project. The evidence concerns lawsuits between their primary pipeline contractor, Over and Under Piping Contractors, Inc. As it turns out, VGS has never had a signed contract with the firm, terminated them last November and the contractor is suing for over $11 million and has placed contractor liens on VGS real property and pipeline equipment. Much of this information was not disclosed to regulators when the company was testifying to the projected costs of the project.

While breach-fatigued retailers work to reduce the theft of their customers’ plastic-payment data, scammers have turned their focus to stealing card details at the ATM.