POLL: Should National Grid face fines for last year’s lengthy power outages?

The Associated Press reports that National Grid could be facing more than $16 million in fines connected to its response to two major power outages last year.

Attorney General Martha Coakley is scheduled to announce today that she will seek the penalties against the utility for violations during their response to Tropical Storm Irene and the surprise October snowstorm in Massachusetts.

In an advisory announcing the news conference, Coakley's office said that the violations include "unacceptably low staffing levels" and the utility's failure to adequately communicate with municipal officials, first responders and customers.

Hundreds of thousands of customers of National Grid and other utilities lost power during the storms and some waited longer than a week for crews to restore their electricity.

To read the Attorney General's full press release, click here. 

POLL: Do you think National Grid should face charges for last year's extended power outages?  Take our poll and let us know.  

Have more to say?  Do you think the fine should be more? Less?  Tell us in the Comments.