How Much Do Columbia Gas Executives Make?

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- At Saturday morning's question and answer session with Columbia Gas executives in North Andover, one resident said he had looked up the salaries of key executives with NiSource Inc., the utility's parent company. The speaker did not reveal those salaries, but they are readily available online. As a publicly-traded company, NiSource is required disclose the annual compensation of its chief executive officer, chief financial officer and the three other highest-paid executives.

According to Morningstar, which tracks executive compensation, the total compensation for NiSource Chief Executive Joe Hamrock was $14.7 million last year, up from $13.5 million in 2016. Executive Vice President Pablo Vegas, who has been named chief recovery officer as the company tries to restore service in the Merrimack Valley following last month's gas explosions in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence, made $1.8 million in 2017, down from $2.3 million in 2016.

The company is not required to disclose the compensation of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant, the other executive at the open houses. The fourth speaker, Chief Recovery Officer Joe Albanese, was hired by the company in September under an order by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Related Story: Columbia Gas Executive: 'We Have Let You Down'

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is still working on its investigation, has blamed the explosions on overpressurization in gas lines. On Friday, the family of the 18-year-old Lawrence man killed in the explosions said they plan to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the company.

Columbia Gas declined comment on the lawsuit. Last month the company was targeted in a class action lawsuit that claimed Columbia Gas knew of 150 leaks in its transmission system and $27 million it needed to make in infrastructure improvements nearly a year before the explosions.

The executive were scheduled to appear at similar open houses at Lawrence High School at 1 pm and at the Doherty Middle School at 50 Bartlet Street in Andover at 3 pm.

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Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant and NiSource Chief Executive Joe Hamrock (right) listen to residents' questions in North Andover Saturday morning. Photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).