Posted on August 28, 2024
House and Senate Republicans met on Tuesday to announce our petition for a special legislative session aimed at tackling the persistent issue of high electric rates in Connecticut. We emphasized the urgency of addressing this matter promptly to serve the best interests of the state’s residents. Delaying action until the 2025 regular session would only exacerbate the financial burden on families as electricity costs continue to rise.
I fully supported this initiative and encourage everyone to visit www.SpecialSessionCT.com to directly urge legislative Democrats to convene a special session.
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).
I will continue to keep you all updated on the latest.