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STERLING MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 
COMPETITION PROCLAMATION 2008
 

WHEREAS, the Sterling Municipal Light Department (SMLD) located in Sterling, Massachusetts has been the SMLD Integrated Resource Planner (Power Supply) and Distribution Company since 1910 for all of its customers; and

WHEREAS, the SMLD has full and exclusive charge of the operations, distribution, purchase and sale of electric supply and resources within the municipal boundaries of Sterling, Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, real time demand response and demand side management are an integral component of the operations of the SMLD, maintained and managed by the SMLD, for the benefit of all its customers; and

WHEREAS, it is a violation of the SMLD original charter, under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 164 (voted by the residents of the town on November 26, 1910), and Massachusetts Restructuring Acts of 1997, to distribute or sell electricity within the service territory of the SMLD, without the SMLD’s agreement; and  

WHEREAS, the capacity, energy and demand response resources of the SMLD are managed and maintained by the SMLD as an asset of the SMLD for the benefit of all of its customers.


NOW THEREFORE, The Sterling Municipal Light Board and the SMLD Manager finds:

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that the capacity, energy and demand response resources of the SMLD are managed
and maintained by the SMLD as an asset of the SMLD for the benefit of all of the SMLD’s customers;

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that any transfer of any capacity, energy or demand response resource by a customer or third party is detrimental to the operations of the SMLD and its customers;

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that any wholesale or retail sale of electric capacity, energy or demand response resources by a third party is prohibited by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the rules and regulations of the SMLD and this Proclamation;

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that any activity, which sells, transfers, or conveys any load or capability responsibility of a customer to a third-party is a sale prohibited by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the rules and regulations of the SMLD and this Proclamation; and

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that any retail or wholesale competition by a third party with any SMLD customer located within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Sterling, Massachusetts for any purpose is prohibited by this Proclamation and has been since 1910.
 
 

 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010

The recent snowstorm on Wednesday February 24, 2010 dropped approximately 8” of slushy snow on the Worcester regional area.  Large amounts of rain followed on Thursday February 25, 2010, and snow fell again on Friday February 27, 2010.

This is not the kind of weather that the Sterling Municipal Light Department (SMLD) finds appealing.  As we all know from December 2008, these conditions can be perilous.  The SMLD is fortunate to have completed permanent repair work from that December 2008 Ice Storm, along with ongoing tree-trimming work, and having a strong power system.  Mix the proactive work in with Wednesday’s storm and we only had three (3) minor outages in Sterling.  These customers were back on line within a short period of time.

What we learned from this particular storm (and from the more than a dozen phone calls that we received) however was that our community often sees downed wires and thinks that they are all SMLD power wires.  Calls on Wednesday were actually relative to cable television (Comcast) and/or phone wires (Verizon). 

In an effort to help us focus on our primary work, the electric utility power lines, please be very descriptive when you call into the SMLD Customer Service team to report downed wires.  The more detail that you give us will help us to determine the correct course of action.  For instance, did you hear a noise prior to your power outage?  Do you still have power?  It is important to note if you still have power, but no cable or telephone service.

The SMLD would like to help its customers to identify cable television, phone and power wires.  Please see the picture below showing a detailed image of these lines with each labeled for your information.   Please recognize that the SMLD is not responsible for Comcast or Verizon lines, or their exact location to your residence.  This general diagram is being provided to assist the SMLD in responding to power outages quickly and effectively when you report them to us.  As always, please call the SMLD Customer Service team at 978-422-8267 with any questions.  Thank you.

* Given the proper information, we can dispatch our crews to SMLD outages efficiently and effectively.  So, when calling in to report an outage or a downed line let us know:
bulletDo you have power in your home?
bulletIf not, can you tell which line is down?
bulletIf so, is there a problem with a circuit in your own home?  Please check your home’s circuit breaker panel.
bulletWas a generator ever in use?
bulletDo you have blinking lights?
bulletDo your neighbors have lights, or is a town street light on?
bulletIs your cable out?
bulletIs your telephone out?

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Last modified: March 05, 2010