Dive Summary:

• Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's office will defend the more than $24 million in fines issued against appeals filed by National Grid, NStar, and Western Massachusetts Electric Co. (WMEC).
• The fines were handed out in early December to the utilities following their responses to Hurricane Irene and an October snowstorm.
• The three utilities were expected to file appeals; National Grid was fined $18.7 million, NStar was fined $4.1 million, and WMEC was fined $2 million.

From the article:

The Department of Public Utilities fined the companies in early December for their responses Tropical Storm Irene and an October snowstorm last year. Hundreds of thousands of customers lost electricity and many waited longer than a week for restoration after each storm.

Coakley said Monday the companies have filed appeals as expected. ...