RGE, Frontier reach $10 million settlement in utility pole violations

ALBANY, N.Y. (WHEC)— Both Rochester Gas & Electric and Frontier Telephone of Rochester Thursday dealt out a joint settlement worth more than $10 million in penalty payments.

The New York State Public Service Commission announced the payout was for alleged violations for failing to comply with the PSC’s rules for utility poles.

The PSC says an investigation found that Frontier and RG&E allowed non-conforming pole attachments to remain in place on their respective utility poles without fixing the issue, which it says was in violation of the state’s safety standards.

The funds taken in from the settlement will go towards the state’s broadband program. Additionally, both companies will have to identify and fix all violations by December of 2022.