Mar 14, 2009 4:32 pm US/Eastern
Unitil CEO Gets Big Bonus
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Ashley and Pete/WBZ
The CEO of Unitil is getting a big bonus, despite heavy criticism for his utility's response to the
December ice storm.
Robert Schoenberger was recently awarded nearly $300,000 for outperforming his 2008 job goals.
According to
the Boston Globe, the bonus increased Schoenberger's total annual compensation to nearly $1.3 million - up from almost $1.2 million in 2007.
Fitchburg Rep. Stephen DiNatale called the bonus another insult to the customers the company claims to care about.
Company spokesman Wesley Eberle wouldn't comment on the payment, but defended Schoenberger as an effective leader and said Unitil was well-run.
"We've learned a lot of lessons and instituted many changes that are already allowing us to better serve our customers," he said in a statement to WBZ Saturday.
"But the recognition of Mr. Schoenberg(er) as one of the top 100 CEOs in America, the very successful acquisition of Northern Utilities last year and the upcoming decreases in rates we will be passing on to our customers are all affirmations that this company is is a well-run utility with effective, efficient management that is working hard for its customers and working hard for its shareholders."
The Globe reported the largest part of Schoeberger's bonus was based on company earnings, with the smallest part based on customer satisfaction.
Some Unitil customers in Worcester County were without power for two weeks.
The state is investigating Unitil's response to the storm.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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