August 27, 2024

Join the CT Republicans’ Petition for Special Session on Electric Rates

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Republican lawmakers continue to offer proposals for long-term relief, demand a Special Session at www.SpecialSessionCT.com

As authorized by the Connecticut Constitution, today I joined my Republican colleagues in petitioning Majority Party Democrats and Governor Lamont to allow a special legislative session to address Connecticut’s high electric rates.

Ratepayers across the state who were already struggling to pay bills and make ends meet were recently hit with a massive increase to cover the cost of the government’s 4-year shutoff moratorium, and costs associated with the 2017 bipartisan Millstone Nuclear agreement. If that wasn’t bad enough, PURA granted ANOTHER adjustment (read: increase!) to Eversource and UI, this time to recoup the cost of setting up EV charging stations! On top of paying the past due bills from those who chose not to pay during the pandemic, you are now going to be paying for someone else to be able to charge their expensive electric car! It’s ridiculous, and yet another reason my Republican colleagues and I demand a special session to develop a reasonable state strategy on electric rates. The petition, which will be submitted to Connecticut’s Secretary of the State, states that the lawmakers deem it “necessary for the General Assembly to meet in special session” for the purpose of passing several policies which aim to provide ratepayers with long-term relief. If you’re as upset about these electric rate increases as I am, I encourage you to join us and reach out directly to legislative Democrats to demand a special session at www.SpecialSessionCT.com I proudly signed my name. The common-sense policy solutions we are offering will serve as a foundation for improving the state’s energy landscape in a way that will benefit ratepayers in the long run. Earlier this month, we outlined proposals to provide rate relief to customers who for years have been frustrated by costly bills, and once again urged action and reminded Democrats about the financial pressure on constituents caused by high electric bills. The proposals outlined in the petition include:

Moving “Public Benefit Charges” permanently off ratepayer bills
Providing immediate electric rate relief by reallocating unobligated end-of-year American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and re-examining budgetary options that could make available additional dollars to (a) cover the portions of rate increases associated with the moratorium on electric service shutoffs and the costs associated with electric vehicle charging programs and (b) provide additional rate relief to ratepayers to the maximum extent possible as funds allow
Capping all future Power Purchase Agreements to no more than 150% over the wholesale electric market price
Redefining Class I renewable energy sources to enable competition to lower the cost of these energy sources
Restoring the independence of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), by separating it from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).