Gov. Shumlin, I strongly disagree with your position on the GMP/CVPS merger and am insulted at the arrogance of your administration which believes that it can disregard its citizens and shove yet another politically motivated regulatory move down our throats. This will enrich corporate and special interests at the expense of ratepayers. I have paid GMP ever-soaring rates over a 30-year period, initially as an out-of-state, second homeowner and now as a resident of Montpelier. My rates have never once gone down — do you honestly believe that any average resident forced to consume energy from GMP will realize one iota of relief on its energy bills with the preposterous proposal to allow GMP/CVPS to “borrow” $21 million to pay back its debt owed in that amount?

If I want to insulate my attic, I will. But how ridiculous to pretend that more programs, paid for by taxpayers, will be anything like a cost savings for ratepayers?

Your administration is invested only in its own goals of self-enrichment and does nothing to mitigate costs for ordinary residents of a state in which energy costs surpass mortgage and rent levels. The lack of transparency and your relationships with executives at GMP and CVPS clearly places you as a political opportunist who has no regard for the constituents you were elected to serve.
Karen Hewitt
Montpelier