August 15, 2024
ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE CHAIRS, VICE-CHAIR SEEK REOPENING OF EVERSOURCE RATE INCREASE FROM PURA
The House and Senate chairs of the Energy and Technology Committee, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport), and House Vice Chair State Representative Jaime Foster (D-East Windsor, Ellington, Vernon) this week submitted a request for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to reconsider its decision made earlier this year to approve rate adjustments for Eversource and United Illuminating amid extreme increases in cost for customers statewide.
Acknowledging serious “rate shock” experienced by ratepayers when this increase went into place – a combination of June and July 2024 having the highest temperatures in Connecticut history and significant increases to public benefits portions of bills due to PURA’s action – the lawmakers called for action as “communication by the utilities and others regarding anticipated bill increases have significantly underestimated impact and public harm is significant.”
The legislators cited a subsection in state law, CGS Sec. 4-181a subsection (4)(b) in making their request. The written text says the agency has the power to reverse or modify its decisions at the request of individuals or the agency itself on a showing of “changed conditions,” with procedures in such cases allowing for reversals or modifications of final decisions as long as impacted parties are informed and participate in proceedings.
This call was compounded by another vote approved by PURA on August 14 that will further increase residents’ bills through restitution of funding related to an electric vehicle infrastructure support program.
The increases approved by PURA earlier this year largely stem from action to keep the Millstone nuclear power plant in Waterford active, with further impacts from the state’s pandemic-era moratorium on power shutoffs. About 77% of the increase stems from Millstone costs of electric suppliers purchasing nuclear power on the market at a higher cost than natural gas.
An increase of this magnitude impacts all ratepayers, from families trying to keep cool in the heat to businesses of all industries. Rep. Foster noted that some of the hardest-hit ratepayers are restaurants, grocers and farms needing electric services to provide their wares as well as nonprofits such as food pantries with refrigeration units. The organizations keeping Connecticut families fed experiencing these cost increases could have ripple effects across the state economy, further compounding this squeeze on consumers.
“With four summer heat waves so far making the timing of these increases approved by PURA even worse, and with countless state residents struggling under staggering increases to their bills, now is the time to reconsider this rate increase,” said Sen. Needleman. “There are ways to relieve the pressure on residents, including increasing the amount of time this increase is in place to reduce its monthly impact. Otherwise, our residents will continue to pay extreme costs that harm our state’s economies, families and livelihoods.”
“Many were critical of PURA’s actions earlier this year, and our concerns have proven to be correct as constituents continue to report dramatic increases in cost statewide,” said Rep. Steinberg. “PURA has the power to reconsider this increase in a form that can help hundreds of thousands of households. We are calling for it to do just that.”
“Without action, Connecticut residents will suffer a cycle of anger and frustration upon receiving their bills each month. These spikes in cost for energy will have a significant impact on household spending and affordability in our state and could cause economic harm,” said Rep. Foster. “PURA has a responsibility to consider the severe changed conditions this decision has placed upon our state and find a means of relief for ratepayers.” |
