Rep. O’Dea, CT Republicans Unveil A Better Way To Energy Affordability

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

HARTFORD – On Tuesday, Deputy Republican Leader Rep. Tom O’Dea (R-125) joined Senate and House Republican Leaders to detail a comprehensive package of policy proposals to reduce the cost of electric bills and make energy more affordable over the long term.

The policies 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.

[View the plan here]

“The quest for lowering energy costs for ratepayers in Connecticut will be a priority in the legislature this session, and the Republican plan is careful to balance goals of energy affordability, sustainability, and reliability. The addition of necessary oversight of utility companies will reinforce our state’s commitment to energy independence, which will drive down costs. Residents have been calling for a remedy to the increased burden on their utility bills, and we are answering that call,” Deputy House Republican Leader Rep. O’Dea (R-125) said.

“Wagging a finger at utility companies to grandstand for ratepayers when their frustration understandably boils over is a singular path that produces very little. We instead need an integrated approach that not only introduces systemic change to reduce monthly bills, but one that also examines to what extent residents’ financial stress is fueled by energy policy and goals adopted by the legislature and state agency bureaucrats,” said House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford).

“Connecticut is one of the most unaffordable states to live in, with the highest energy costs in the continental United States. The rising cost of energy in our state has been an issue for far too long. It is past time for action to make energy more affordable and reliable,” said  Senator Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich), ranking member of the Energy & Technology Committee.  

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.