Storm's aftermath underscores value of municipal utilities
"MUNIS" DO it better. That seems to be the essence of the Dec. 29 editorial "The power of municipal power," about the sluggish response to power outages on the part of Unitil, the large privately owned utility that left thousands of Fitchburg residents in the cold for more than a week. As your editorial pointed out, small, municipally owned electric companies responded quickly to felled power lines, and restored power to their customers.
Like a giant on a soccer field, big utilities tend to be less able to quickly respond to changing circumstances. Besides providing swift customer service, munis tend to be better environmentally, too. Local generation ensures that electricity does not travel far to get to its destination and that less power is lost during transmission.
Municipal power companies can also do more to take advantage of the renewable energy sources in their local community. For example, in Hull the municipal utility tapped into the local wind power potential to provide customers with clean, renewable, and low-cost electricity.
Municipal ownership and operation of renewable sources of energy can play a key role in moving our country toward a green economy.
David Christopher
Preservation associate
Environment Massachusetts
Boston 