Green Mountain Power

Vermont spends nearly $4 million annually to keep seven petroleum-based power plants on standby, which operate about 10 hours yearly during peak demand. The state relies heavily on imported hydropower from Quebec but uses these fossil fuel plants as a backup during extreme weather. Ratepayer funds cover 10-20% of utility bills to maintain the plants, despite Vermont having the lowest energy-related CO2 emissions in the U.S.

Carrie Hathaway, a homeowner in Vergennes, criticizes the Lightshift battery energy storage project for its lack of transparency, safety concerns, and speculative benefits. Lightshift's project, which could reduce electric bills but is not utility-owned, has faced public opposition due to unaddressed safety risks, non-compliance with fire safety standards, and unresolved legal issues in other locations.

Thunderstorms caused power outages for over 20,000 Vermont customers, downed powerlines, and triggered a flash flood warning in Bennington County's Dorset and Sandgate. Severe weather included high winds, heavy rain, and potential tornadoes, with Green Mountain Power and the National Weather Service reporting impacts across multiple regions.

The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that Green Mountain Power was not liable for injuries suffered by a child who entered a locked substation with warning signs in 2013. The decision upheld precedents protecting landowners from liability involving trespassers, stating the child's entry despite visible warnings and locks negated negligence claims.