Delnicki, CT House and Senate Republicans Offer Ideas to Provide Ratepayers Relief on Electric Bills

CT House and Senate Republicans Offer Ideas to Provide Ratepayers Relief on Electric Bills

HARTFORD –With steep electric rate hikes on the horizon, State Rep. Tom Delnicki along with his Connecticut House and Senate Republican colleagues today unveiled a set of policy goals which aim to bring about long-term rate reduction, long-term stability, and short-term relief for consumers.

“South Windsor electric ratepayers deserve better from their state government and the ideas discussed today are a good step forward in saving them money, said Rep. Delnicki. We need an independent Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) looking out for ratepayers NOT serve the interests of state government.”

The Republicans are proposing to:

1. limit all future Power Purchase Agreements so that no contract can be for more than 100% over the wholesale electric market price
2. provide relief to ratepayers by using unspent ARPA money to pay down the portion of the readjustment caused by unpaid electric bills as a result of the shut off moratorium. Responsible ratepayers should not have to pay the electric bill for users who didn’t pay their bills.
3. redefine Class I renewable energy sources to include all forms of hydropower and all nuclear power to lower the cost of these energy sources and bring relief for ratepayers
4. separate the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
5. study ways to increase natural gas supply in the New England region
6. study moving public policy charges off of ratepayer bills and into the budget

“Let’s pass these common-sense reforms,” Rep. Delnicki added. “South Windsor families are already paying too much for their utility bills.”