BRISTOL — Dennis Hopkins was waiting late last month at the stop sign at Walpole Meetinghouse Road, where he lives. Across Route 130, a worker from Co. was high above the highway in a bucket, pruning pine and maple branches away from the power lines.
Tux Turkel
Tux Turkel writes primarily about energy issues affecting Maine. Over the years, he has gazed into the spent-fuel pool at the now-gone Maine Yankee nuclear plant, looked across Casco Bay from atop Wyman Station’s smokestack, and toured power plants and wind farms across the state, but remains confused about why electricity doesn’t leak from our wall sockets.
When he’s not trying to make sense of dense regulatory filings at the Public Utilities Commission, he’s likely to be hiking in the mountains or visiting Maine’s coastal islands in his small motorboat.
A graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Tux lives in Yarmouth with his wife, youngest son, a cat and a guinea pig.
Posted inNews
Heavy pruning limiting power outages
BRISTOL — Dennis Hopkins was waiting late last month at the stop sign at Walpole Meetinghouse Road, where he lives. Across Route 130, a worker from Asplundh Tree Expert Co. was high above the highway in a bucket, pruning pine and maple branches away from the power lines.
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Maine PUC agrees to extensive evaluation of smart meters
Opponents of the wireless devices succeed in their push for a fully litigated look at safety issues.
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Maine Public Utility Commission’s smart meters investigation may ripple through nation
HALLOWELL — In voting Tuesday to investigate the health and safety of wireless “smart meters,” the Maine Public Utilities Commission set in motion a legal and technical case that’s expected to be followed nationally by the power industry and citizen activists.
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How thorough PUC review of ‘smart meter’ safety remains question
HALLOWELL — In voting Tuesday to investigate the health and safety of wireless “smart meters,” the Maine Public Utilities Commission set in motion a legal and technical case that’s expected to be followed nationally by the power industry and citizen activists.
Posted inBusiness, News
Are smart meters hurting Mainers?
The Maine Public Utilities Commission wants an answer – and decides to investigate safety concerns.
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Electricity costs begin to climb as New England power grid upgrades come due
After falling since 2009, the rates that most Maine homes and businesses pay for electricity are rising again, as the cost of upgrading New England’s power grid begins to show up in their utility bills.
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Electricity rate hike could hurt business growth in Maine
Electricity rates can serve as one measure of national economic competitiveness. By that measure, Maine has improved its standing recently.
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New England power grid upgrade leads to higher electricity bills
After falling since 2009, the rates that most Maine homes and businesses pay for electricity are rising again, as the cost of upgrading New England’s power grid begins to show up in their utility bills.
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Portland businessman accused of $3.3 million plan to rig energy market
Federal energy regulators have recommended a $1.25 million civil penalty against a Portland businessman, saying he hatched a scheme to manipulate New England’s energy market that cost electricity users more than $3.3 million.