Shelton Lawmakers Unveil A Better Way To Energy Affordability

Will Save Families Over $210 Per Year Immediately, More Over the Long Term

HARTFORD – Senator Kevin Kelly, Representative Jason Perillo, and Representative Ben McGorty released a comprehensive package of policy proposals to reduce the cost of electric bills and make energy more affordable over the long term.

The policies, proposed by the Senate and House Republican caucuses, will reduce energy costs for CT families by over $362 million per year, saving the average household over $210 next year.  In the long run, the plan will drive down costs by even more and implement important ratepayer protections against utilities.

The package of legislative proposals will address two major goals:

1. Make energy more affordable and reliable, by reducing costs immediately as well as expanding and encouraging reliable and affordable generation over the long term; and
2. Ensure strong oversight of utility companies to protect the best interest of ratepayers.

“No one should be struggling to keep the lights on or heat their home. We need independent oversight and policies that work for ratepayers and protect all our families. The policies we are sharing today will both reduce costs now, and in the future. They also put into place important protections for ratepayers and needed oversight of our utilities,” said Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly.

“These high energy costs are a shared concern among all Connecticut residents. Our plan seeks to employ long-term solutions that will provide necessary transparency in rate regulation and will work to ease current and future utility costs. No one deserves to be left in the dark, and this plan illuminates better initiatives that guarantee more oversight and ultimately, more affordability,” said Representative Jason Perillo.

“It is a top priority of Republican legislators this session to bring immediate and sustainable relief from rising energy costs to Connecticut residents,” said Representative Ben McGorty. “This proposal attacks the issue head-on and lays a framework for how the legislature can make serious progress reducing the financial burden on ratepayers across the state. I am proud to support this plan.”

Connecticut ranks number one in the continental United States as the most expensive state for electricity (Source: Energy Information Administration via Ownerly October 2021 through September 2022). This January, our state utilities implemented shocking rate increases, raising everyone’s electric bills by at least 43 percent at a time when families already face historic inflation.

The proposals detailed by Senate and House Republicans include:

• Moving charges resulting from public policy decisions from ratepayer bills to the state budget. (estimated savings: $362 million annually)
• Bringing all clean energy sources into the state’s green energy strategy by adding nuclear power and all sources of hydro power to the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard program.
• Improving the Standard Service Procurement process by examining the differing ways CT’s large utilities, small municipal owned utilities, and other states all procure power.
• Restoring independence to utility rate regulators by separating PURA from DEEP.
• Giving PURA more discretion and flexibility in decoupling to protect ratepayers.
• Establishing utility rate case oversight to ensure that resolutions of rate cases and settlements are made in the best interest of ratepayers and not for other political considerations.

Read the plan here.