Rep. Nuccio Shares Multi-Point Energy Plan to Address High Costs

HARTFORD – In response to an ongoing crisis that has caused a massive spike in energy bills in Connecticut, Rep. Tammy Nuccio released a multi-point plan to help reduce costs for residents.

Rep. Nuccio joined her Republican colleagues recently in calling for an immediate special session to legislatively address high costs.

Following the outrageous increase in electricity bills that have impacted Connecticut residents in recent months, Rep. Nuccio set up multiple meetings and phone calls with energy experts as she worked to find solutions to address a problem that continues to consume budgets across the state. Rep. Nuccio has put together a multi-point energy plan to reduce costs and provide relief to ratepayers, families and businesses, which includes easing pathways to new energy supplies, removing costs from bills and directing the Governor to work with other states.

Though she has offered to meet with its representatives, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has not been open to meeting with Rep. Nuccio.

Her plans include short-, mid-, and long-term solutions that can be introduced in the legislature:

Short-term:

• Revoke the power of PURA to create energy assistance programs and reverse the implementation of its new program, removing $101 million from the public benefits fee. This was forced on residents without input from the legislature. If the legislature decides there is a need for this program, it can be introduced, debated, negotiated and funded through the regular legislative process.
• Remove the cost of Electric Vehicle rebates from customer bills  – which is another $80 million.  If the legislature wants to provide this rebate it should be introduced, negotiated, debated and planned in the general fund or via a tax credit, not added to utility bills.
• Allow Eversource to adjust their rates for the Millstone recovery on a rolling six-month basis.  They have to buy their energy on the market in 6-month periods. They know, right then and there, how much they are over, or under, Millstone. Right now, PURA requires them to use the prior year to project the current year; this year that is $304 million of losses they are recovering based off last year’s loss.  If the market improves, we won’t see that savings for at least a year. We need it in a timelier fashion, perhaps bi-annually to start.
• Use the roughly $160 million left over from the last fiscal year budget – not revenue – to pay off the $140 million in COVID utility arrearages.  This spending, if approved, would be under the existing spending caps.  Since it was part of the budget it could be available for use and within the state’s fiscal guardrails.

Mid-term:

• Reconsider the 96-hour restoration mandate for electricity to better account for whether or not a storm ACTUALLY materializes.  For instance, the 96-hour mandate creates strain on the workforce and we are paying for over preparedness just “in case” something happens. A fix may include having work crews here within 24 hours of losing power and then require restoration of power within 96 hours from that point. That way, if a storm doesn’t materialize then we’re not paying for crews to sit and wait.

Long Term:

• Issue a directive that the governor’s office has to work with other New England state to create more natural gas pipelines to alleviate supply issues and work closely with New York to alleviate their concerns.
• Issue a directive that the governor’s office has to work with other New England states to create a pipeline for hydro power from Canada.
• Revisit opening of Killingly power plant, while finding a way to create more options for power that are green but less expensive, such as nuclear.

Rep. Nuccio can be contacted at Tammy.Nuccio@housegop.ct.gov or (800) 842-1423 with any questions or concerns related to state government. You can also follow her legislative activity by visiting her website, www.cthousegop.com/Nuccio or