Current News

Over 500 workers continued to work to restore power to the last 300 CVPS customers in Windham County Thursday morning.
"We made good progress Wednesday, and with the light so visible at the end of the tunnel, we're giving it all we've got yet again today," said spokeswoman Christine Rivers. "Each repair is still coming slow, as crews continue to spend hours to restore power one or two customers at a time, but we expect every customer outage we are aware of to be restored by late tonight. Thus we encourage customers still without power to call 1-800-451-2877."
At daybreak Thursday, more than 75 contract lines crews were working with 40 CVPS line crews, 50 tree crews and hundreds of support staff to wrap up the $3 million restoration effort that began Friday.

Central Vermont Public Service and the Vermont Department of Public Service have agreed to a rate settlement that will leave customer rates flat. In November, CVPS was authorized to increase its rates by one-third of a percent, while the DPS had suggested a decrease of 0.43 percent effective Jan. 1.
Rates will remain unchanged pending Public Service Board approval of the settlement with the DPS. Accordingly, the bill for a residential customer who uses 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month will remain $73.11.
By comparison, the same customer would pay up to $83.16 elsewhere in Vermont, and as much as $117.45 elsewhere in New England, according to the Edison Electric Institute.

Errors Contributing to 2 1/2 hour Outage across Northern Vermont on September 3 Identified
Montpelier, Vermont - The Department of Public Service today released a report detailing the results of a thorough investigation into the causes of an outage that left Vermonters across northern Vermont unable to call 9-1-1 on the morning of September 3, earlier this year. The report concludes that the outage was the result of a series of preventable errors or omissions by FairPoint and Verizon, operating under contract to FairPoint, in implementing system changes requested by the E-9-1-1 Board, which operates the E-9-1-1 system in Vermont.

Jolinda LaClair receives the 2008 Bernice R. Murray Award for Years of Dedication to Community Development in Vermont and the Nation
Montpelier, VT, November 19, 2008 - USDA Rural Development State Director for Vermont and New Hampshire, Jolinda LaClair, was presented with the Bernice R. Murray Award at the Vermont Community Development Association's (VCDA) Annual Meeting.

In a world where large format and desktop models dominate the field of ink jet printers, Pad Print Machinery of VT, Inc. has answered the call of industrial manufacturers with the Rapid Fire 1001 ink jet system.
East Dorset, VT, December 18, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Built with manufacturing in mind, the Rapid Fire 1001 is fully customizable for in-line applications, allowing industrial product marking at a speed and accuracy previously unavailable.
"Our expanded Ink Jet division of programmers, technicians and engineers have created a new digital ink jet line that brings the speed of digital to the needs of manufacturers," said PPMoV President Julian Joffe. "At the same time, industrial end users can expect the same top quality customer service and individualized attention that Pad Print Machinery of Vermont has built its reputation on."

Burlington, Vt. - Rep. Peter Welch joined Concord Coalition executive director Robert Bixby Thursday to call for a renewed focus on achieving long-term fiscal discipline at a forum sponsored by the Vermont Business Roundtable.
Welch and Bixby said that despite the need for short-term stimulus measures to reinvigorate a troubled economy, lawmakers must not lose focus on the long-term need to balance federal revenues and expenditures.
"While we have the need for a stimulus on the one hand, we must in this crisis focus immediately, diligently and energetically on structural issues in the federal budget that are not sustainable. The importance of building fiscal reform cannot be ignored in this time of crisis," Welch said. "The question for us in Congress is whether we're going to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time."

Chittenden Bank Presents Second Installment of $15,000 Pledge to the O'Brien Winooski Community Center
Winooski, VT - In 2002, the City of Winooski established a Community Development Department to focus on the creation of a community center. The goal was to create a facility designed to address the needs of their overall residential demographics, therefore serving people of all ages, interests and income levels. Winooski lacked a public space where programs could be offered to provide the community with benefits such as after school programs, a Teen Center, a Community Kitchen and summer activities for area youth. An under-utilized shopping center, just two blocks from the heart of the city was earmarked as the location. On March 31, 2007, the O'Brien Community Center opened its doors to the city of Winooski.
Chittenden Bank delivered the second installment of their 3-year pledge earlier this month.

Comments Sought on Revised Cleanup Plan for Burlington's Pine Street Canal Superfund Site
(Boston, Mass. - Dec. 17, 2008) - Following a careful review of previous work, EPA is seeking public input on recommended modifications to part of the underwater cap at the Pine Street Canal Superfund Site in Burlington, Vermont.
EPA's proposed modification is contained in a document called a draft "Explanation of Significant Differences" that proposes steps to repair and augment a leaking portion of the underwater cap installed several years ago. In 2006, EPA performed a "5-Year Review" of previous work at the Burlington site, and found that some portions of the cap are leaking oil and coal tar.

Business Roundtable Releases Fourth Quarter CEO Economic Outlook Survey
(So. Burlington, Vt.) Reflecting nationwide trends, the mood of the chief executives of Vermont's leading businesses took a step downward in the fourth quarter, with leaders decidedly less optimistic about sales prospects, capital outlays, and employment levels for the winter and spring, compared to third quarter forecasts. The mood of the statewide business community was assessed late in the fourth quarter and released today by Vermont Business Roundtable Chairman Tim Volk and President Lisa Ventriss.
"Not surprisingly, given the recurring challenges in international financial markets and the subsequent reaction by consumers, economic expectations within our membership have deteriorated since our last survey in September," Ventriss said. "Vermont's economy is intricately linked to the global economy and it shows in the survey findings."

Governor Issues Emergency Disaster Declaration for Ice Storm Damage
Montpelier, VT - As a result of damages suffered in last week's ice and snow storm throughout Vermont, Governor Douglas has issued an Executive Order declaring a State of Emergency for four counties in Vermont.
The order allows the state to expedite the arrival of utility crews from other states and Canadian provinces to assist with restoring power. It will also form the basis for an application for federal disaster relief funding if eligibility thresholds are met.
"As a result of a storm that impacted most of New England on December 11, 2008, causing excessive and heavy icing and extensive utility damage that is considered ongoing at this time, I hereby declare a State of Emergency for the Counties of Bennington, Orange, Windham and Windsor Counties," the Governors Executive Order reads.

Weary electric crews trudge on
Hydro One breaths second wind into restoration effort

City Market and Opportunities Credit Union (OCU) Team Up to Promote Small Business Growth
City Market and OCU are offering low-interest business loans.
Burlington, VTDecember 15, 2008 - City Market, Onion River Co-op, downtown Burlington's cooperative grocery store, is announcing a new loan fund that will help small businesses to grow. The Co-op works with over 1,000 Vermont vendors and is committed to the sustainability not only of local agriculture of also of our local economy. Many of the Co-op vendors have expressed interest in a low-interest loan program in order to expand their businesses. Teaming up with Opportunities Credit Union, City Market is able to offer vendors a loan rate of 4.99%.