State Representative Lanoue’s Written Testimony for August 24th’s PURA Hearing

COMMENTS ON DOCKET NO. 20-01-01

PURA PUBLIC HEARING

AUGUST 24, 2020

I am submitting this testimony in strong opposition to any rate hike consideration by Eversource. This year, 2020, has been a trying and grueling time for many families in my district. We have experienced many hardships related to COVID-19 including employment furloughs, as well as losing businesses and jobs due to forced industry shutdowns. People’s incomes have been put in jeopardy, as well as the financial futures of them and their families.

I also represent thousands of senior citizens whom have worked very hard their entire lives in Eastern Connecticut, raised their families, paid their taxes and have faithfully paid their utility bills. Now in their retirement years and living on fixed incomes, they are already struggling to continue to live in this state with the counterproductive and disincentive public policy environment for retirees. This rate hike may be “the final straw” that will cause an unfortunate and massive exodus of our already overburden retirees/senior citizens, families and many other hardworking residents out of Connecticut. This will only cause greater negative impact on our economy and place a larger burden on the rest of Connecticut citizens/ratepayers as we will have even fewer residents contributing to our state and paying utility charges.

For all of the above reasons, I strongly request PURA deny the Eversource Rate Hike.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian Lawrence Lanoue

State Representative 45th District