The state is embarking on a thorough review of Vermont’s 14 municipal electric utilities. The decision comes amid investigations into the finances of two such entities.

Department of Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson has asked all of the state’s small public electric utilities to submit data on their finances, grid reliability and staffing issues.

Johnson said the goal is to make sure the utilities are healthy as they contend with increasing costs and challenges from new technologies, cybersecurity, climate change-induced storms, and demand from electric vehicles and heat pumps.

He also pointed to recent problems at two of the state’s utilities.

Customers in Hyde Park are now facing a more than 20% price increase as its electric utility struggles under $4.5 million of debt.

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