Vermont’s largest electric utility is apologizing for implying that rates should not be reduced for low-income customers, because they might spend the savings on cigarettes.
The suggestion by Central Vermont Public Service came in documents filed with the Vermont Public Service Board.
Regulators are considering whether to reduce the bills of low-income customers by adding a surcharge on the bills of other customers.
Today, CVPS chief executive Robert Young apologized. He says the statement about buying cigarettes came in a line of questioning by a company lawyer that Young calls "insensitive and unnecessary."
CVPS says the cigarette issue came in response to claims that there are health benefits to not cutting off electricity to people’s homes.