Laura H. Ortiz v. Department of Public Utilities (SPR 20241508)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records June 3, 2024 SPR24/1508 Mathieu Cunha, Esq. Legal Department Department of Public Utilities One South Station Boston, MA 02110 Dear Attorney Cunha: I have received the petition of Laura Ortiz appealing the response of the Department of Public Utilities (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 16, 2024, Ms. Ortiz requested the following records: [1.] Emails that discussed [a specific] records request and/or the investigation of the July 18, 2023 fire that occurred at the Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02108 Sent to/from [specified] DPU Email Addresses... [2.] ... Final Reports by DPU or CC’d to DPU of any findings and/or conclusions of the July 18, 2023 fire that occurred at the Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02108... [3.] Any letters or official correspondence to/from Eversource including Eversource Energy and/or National Grid regarding the July 18, 2023 fire that occurred at the Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02108 and their electric utility company... On March 5 and March 19, 2024, Ms. Ortiz modified her request to exclude numerous communications. Previous Appeals and Petition This request was the subject of previous appeals and a petition from the Department. See SPR24/0671 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (March 8, 2024); SPR24/0747 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (March 25, 2024); and SPR24/1155 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (May 1, 2024). In my May 1st determination, I found that the Department had met its burden to provide a reasonable fee estimate for the production of records responsive to the request. On May 17, 2024, Ms. Ortiz contacted the Department to discuss One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832 • Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Mathieu Cunha, Esq. SPR24/1508 Page 2 June 3, 2024 potential further modifications to her request. Claiming to have received no further response from the Department, Ms. Ortiz further appealed, and this case was opened as a result. Conclusion Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, I learned that the Department provided a supplemental response by email to Ms. Ortiz and this office on May 30, 2024. As this appeal was opened based on the Department’s previous responses, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. If unresolved issues remain, Ms. Ortiz may further appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s May 30th response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Laura Ortiz