Assembly OKs bill requiring owner input on meter location
1:26 PM Wed, Jul 01, 2009 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« Tiverton soil clean-up to start in September |
Main
| Cicilline names Providence public works director »
PROVIDENCE -- Following Senate approval on Tuesday, state law will now require that natural gas companies consult with homeowners about planned utility upgrades, and give preference to homeowners for placement of any new equipment. The legislation (Senate bill 0107A and House bill 5088A) grew out of a dispute last summer in the city's historic Broadway and Armory neighborhoods, when National Grid began installing a new high-pressure gas line and started moving about 250 homes' gas meters from basements and interiors to exteriors to ease meter reading and shutoffs. Residents objected to the utility work, complaining that the meters and pressure regulators detracted from the historic integrity of their homes. Under the legislation, which passed the House earlier this month, public utility companies would be banned from moving gas meters and gas regulators to the front of homes -- or any side visible from a public right-of-way -- unless there is no other location available. On homes in historic districts, the legislation would prohibit the installation of gas meters or regulators on the exterior altogether unless the property owner and the local historic district commission give their consent. If an outdoor meter was installed on a historic home, the owner would be allowed to obscure it by painting it over or hiding it with shrubs or landscaping. The West Broadway Neighborhood Association and other resident groups have pushed for passing a state law to prevent a similar situation in other historic neighborhoods in the state. But they have been critical of the elimination of a provision in the law that would have created an appeals process for homeowners through the state Public Utilities Commission. National Grid fought the inclusion of the appeals process in the legislation, and compromised with West Broadway residents by agreeing to restore properties that were damaged during the work done last summer. The bill's sponsors, state Sen. Paul Jabour (D-Providence) and state Rep. Steven Costantino (D-Providence), who represent the Broadway and Armory neighborhoods, said the bill is about protecting property rights. "This legislation is aimed at making sure homeowners have a say in where the company places meters, and that every effort is made not to spoil the character of anyone's home," Jabour said in a statement. "Nobody has a right to install something on private property without the permission of the property owner, including the gas company. Homeowners should have a say in the matter," Costantino said in a statement. Jabour and Costantino also said that more should be done to protect historic homes. "Here in Rhode Island, where we are fortunate enough to have an abundance of historic buildings, protecting them has to be a priority," Costantino said. 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
This is just more regulations that cost the rest of us money. It needs to be efficient for the gas company to read the meters or we all pay the cost.
I'll believe that the wealthy owners of the East Side Historical homes are committed to historical integrity when they ban parking their Mercedes in any area "visible from a public right-of-way". Wouldn't that be more critical to "historical integrity" than the appearance of a gas meter?
Report Abuse
Please do some research before you comment on this topic. No one even has to get out of a car to read a meter anymore. All gas meters in RI are now read remotely by way of radio emission technology. If you see a NGrid van driving down the street slowly, it's reading meters by way of radio transmissions. This is old technology. NGrid stated under oath that this issue had nothing to do with reading meters.
The issue is that NGrid has been bullying property owners for a long time, and is drilling holes into the front of people's homes without notifying them or asking their permission. People were coming home from work to find big ugly equipment attached to the fronts of their houses, sometimes next to their front doors. NGrid has been violating people's private property rights for way too long with these unethical practices. Before this law, the gas company's bad behavior was sanctioned by the PUC.
By the way, this legislation protects ALL property owners including those who own non-historic homes. It's not just for historic homeowners and it's not just for rich people. This law is for anyone who cares about protecting their rights and property from a utility company who'd like to crush and squeeze consumers whenever it can.
Lastly, the folks who started this fight live on the west side of providence which is LOW INCOME. Again, get yer facts straight. Can you imagine a working class neighborhood that is fighting to protect their homes and rights, and doing it for all Rhode Islanders? Welcome to Providence's West Side: Federal Hill and the West End!
Report Abuse