Norwich — Norwich Public Utilities General Manager Chris LaRose received another “outstanding” performance evaluation this week from city utilities commissioners, who praised his leadership “in normal times,” emphasizing that 2020 was anything but normal.

“Chris has done a great job,” Board of Public Utilities Commission Chairman Robert Staley said. “He would have done a great job had there not been all the impacts of the (coronavirus) pandemic and (revenue) losses. Given those problems, he’s done an even greater job.”

LaRose, a 23-year NPU veteran employee, was named general manager in November 2018 after former General Manager John Bilda resigned following his federal criminal indictment on public corruption charges in the wake of controversial lavish trips taken by officials of the utility co-op CMEEC, of which NPU is a member, to the Kentucky Derby.

Since the pandemic hit a year ago, NPU has seen utility revenues plummet, as hundreds of customers were thrown out of work with business closures and couldn’t pay their utility bills. The Freeport McMoRan Copper Products plant, one of NPU’s top customers, closed permanently in August, and a second top utility customer, Atlantic City Linen Service, closed temporarily when its top customers, the region’s two casinos, also shuttered temporarily.

The utility cut expenses by $12 million in response, with all employees — including LaRose — delaying raises from July to December, and deferring many capital projects. LaRose also declined a $10,000 bonus authorized by the board along with his glowing evaluation in late March 2020.

With his new performance review, the board awarded LaRose a 2% raise, bringing his salary to $215,893, and a $5,000 bonus.

LaRose called 2020 “the most challenging year in NPU history,” as most employees were forced to work remotely, and field crews were restructured into small cohorts to avoid widespread exposure to COVID-19. NPU also suspended customer deposit fees and overdue penalties and expanded payment plans for customers with growing back-due balances.

In the NPU 2021-22 budget approved by the board Tuesday, NPU projected a $2.2 million drop in purchased power due to losses of major customers. The 10% gross revenue share turned over to the city each year also will drop by $521,418 due to pandemic revenue losses.

“I’m very appreciative of the confidence placed in me by the board,” LaRose said. “I have a very good working relationship with the board. They place a lot of confidence in me. This past year has been challenging for everyone, our customers, all our employees. I’m very proud to lead the team through this unprecedented time. The pandemic has really made the job more challenging this year, but it has been rewarding to see the success of shifting to working remotely and serving all our customers without losing any safety in services we provide.”

Staley also noted that in the midst of the pandemic, LaRose “led NPU, along with its great employees to another outstanding storm recovery performance” when Tropical Storm Isaias hit the region Aug. 4.

c.bessette@theday.com