Central Vermont Public Service, state settle dispute over utility staffing levels; vote awaits

Utility, Vermont settle on company staffing levels

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Central Vermont Public Service Corp. and the state say they’ve tentatively settled a complaint over the utility’s staffing levels, reaching an agreement that calls on the company to eliminate 17 jobs within five years.

The state Public Service Board still must approve the settlement.

Under it, the Rutland, Vt.-based electric utility agreed to cut the positions from the 549 it had as of Jan. 1, 2009. Since 1993, CVPS staffing has decreased from 751.

The case stemmed from the state Department of Public Service’s contention that CVPS staffing levels were causing higher costs for consumers.