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The CommYOUnity Tech Talk is a free event co-hosted by AARP Vermont, Small Dog Electronics, and Technology for Tomorrow that will provide community members with free tech training.

“Everything is OK.” That seems to be the conclusion of the recent report and testimony by the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) in responding to a legislative order to study whether its advocacy unit is best representing ratepayers. Unfortunately, everything is not OK, and both their report and public comments, while defending the status quo, actually prove how they are failing at that mission. It shows that the DPS does not serve, in any fashion, as a ratepayer advocate. In fact, it sees its mission as being focused on promoting the “public good” rather than “ratepayer interests,” particularly residential and small commercial customer interests. When our public advocate backs the utility companies time after time, something is clearly wrong

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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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