Mass. AG fines National Grid for delay in pay

National Grid fined $270,000 by Massachusetts for delays in paying workers after Sandy

BOSTON (AP) -- National Grid has been hit with a $270,000 fine for delays in paying hundreds of Massachusetts workers after Hurricane Sandy.

Attorney General Martha Coakley says the state's largest utility violated wage and hour laws.

National Grid reported technical problems with a new payroll system that resulted in as many as 2,000 workers not being paid for work they performed in restoring power to residents in Massachusetts and neighboring states following the October storm.

Coakley sent a letter to the utility on Dec. 14 warning of penalties if the problems were not rectified.

She said many workers have suffered financial hardship as a result of not being paid.

National Grid said in a statement Monday that it has been "aggressively addressing" the issue and has apologized to affected workers.