Nashua Mayor Bernie Streeter's hopes for acquiring Pennichuck by eminent domain took a turn for the worse as the PUC issued its opinion that Nashua cannot pursue the taking outside its own borders. Pennichuck Water Works is all the exists within Nashua, with the greater part of Pennichuck Corporation beyond its borders. This has lead all the surrounding towns that were involved, with the exception of Amherst, to rethink their positions on it.
Amherst was the only town that said Thursday that it sides with Nashua in the case. Representatives of other towns, including Bedford, Litchfield and Pittsfield, said they have to think things through based on Wednesday’s PUC decision.
The state’s Office of Consumer Advocate, PUC staff, and Anheuser-Busch, in addition to the towns of Milford, Merrimack and Hudson, said they have not taken a position...
Attorney Edmund Boutin, representing Merrimack, said the town is not endorsing either side, but expressed skepticism about Nashua’s ability to run the water system.
Boutin called Pennichuck a well-managed utility, and said Merrimack is pleased with the company. Merrimack has a larger interest than other towns because Anheuser-Busch consumes about 15 percent of Pennichuck’s average daily flow.
While Nashua citizens had voted 77% in favor of the taking, there are others who voice concerns about that ability to run the water company.
Nashua resident Fred Teeboom said the city has not made its case for a public taking of Pennichuck, nor has the city demonstrated it could do a better job running the water system...
“If Nashua takes this over, there’s no more PUC oversight,” Teeboom said. “I’m worried about not having PUC oversight, seeing how the city of Nashua conducts its business.”
Pennichuck will file a motion on January 3rd seeking a summary judgment limiting Nashua's taking to only that property within its borders, as stated in the PUC opinion. Nashua will have until February 4th to rebut.
Comments