August 19, 2020

REMINDER: PURA/Legislative Hearings on Eversource/UI

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Upcoming Public Hearings Regarding

Connecticut Utilities

I would like to remind you about three upcoming public hearings regarding Eversource and United Illuminating (UI), the two main electric distribution companies in Connecticut.

PURA hearing on Eversource – Monday, August 24, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
Energy & Technology Committee hearing on Eversource/UI – Thursday, August 27, 2020 (TENTATIVE)
PURA hearing on UI – Friday, September 4, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

Hearing #1 – August 24

The first hearing will be conducted by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) on Monday, August 24 beginning at 10:00 a.m. This hearing is in response to Eversource’s recent delivery rate increase, which contributed to unusually high energy bills for customers last month. The rate hike has since been temporarily suspended.

PURA officials will be questioning Eversource representatives to determine whether or not the electric distribution company had been over-collecting revenues in the short term at the expense of their customers.

This public hearing, via Zoom, will give you the opportunity to convey your frustrations directly to PURA and Eversource. Here’s the information:

To register, click here.

Meeting ID #: 927 7463 1605

The hearing will also be streamed on Connecticut Network (CT-N).

You may email your testimony at any time to pura.information@ct.gov. Testimony will be accepted through the last day of the hearing.

Hearing #2 – August 27 (tentative)

Residents statewide are also infuriated with Eversource’s and UI’s sluggish response to the outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias, which left thousands without power for over a week. In response, the legislature’s Energy & Technology Committee will hold a separate public hearing, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, August 27.

The hearing will cover storm management response, delivery rates, initiatives to improve the grid, and investment in powerline workers. You will also have the opportunity to submit testimony or testify via Zoom. When that information becomes available, I will be sure to pass it along promptly.

Hearing #3 – September 4

PURA will hold a second public hearing focusing on UI in response to the company’s recent request to increase their transmission charge and non-bypassable federally mandated congestion charge to become effective on August 1, 2020. This hearing is scheduled for Friday, September 4 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The hearing will further examine the Company’s proposed increases, which will initially denied by PURA.

To register, click here.

Meeting ID #: 911 3858 5806

You may email your testimony at any time to pura.information@ct.gov. Testimony will be accepted through the last day of the hearing.

Bringing more energy options to Connecticut, such as renewable power sources, will yield more competition and will ultimately break Eversource’s and UI’s monopoly on Connecticut’s electric distribution market. This will also lead to better efficiency and reliability with our power grid. Most importantly, it will help ensure that customers are getting a fair deal.

For the past few years, I have introduced and reintroduced a proposal to bring in private sector investment in green power sources. The bill would have the added benefit of creating thousands of job in our state. Despite Eversource’s attempts to block my proposal year after year, I will continue to reintroduce it until it passes and is signed into law. Given the events of the past few weeks, I believe my proposal will receive more attention this year and, hopefully, more support in the legislature.

As always, I will keep you posted on any developments.

If you have any questions about the above or any other state issue, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Email: Tom.ODea@housegop.ct.gov