August 15, 2024

Rep. Scott Op-Ed – Why Are Our Electric Bill Higher: Legislation Plays A Part

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I understand the high cost of living we in this state face already and like you, was shocked by just how high my monthly electric bill spiked this month. There are a few reasons why this happened, and I am joining my Republican colleagues in offering solutions to combat Connecticut’s absurdly high electric rates.

We are also calling on the majority party and Governor Lamont to convene a Special Session to address some short-term relief.

Let’s back up. How did we get here?

The Public Benefits portion of our bills skyrocketed this month because of three factors. One was an agreement voted on by the legislature in 2017 to purchase power from Millstone Nuclear Plant. Another is to cover the cost tied to a roughly four-year state-imposed moratorium on electric service shutoffs. The debt from both of those are what the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) decided can be ‘recoverable costs’ for the utilities. That brings us to the third factor. PURA voted to allow Eversource and United Illuminating to recover hundreds of millions of dollars over 10 months.

We as ratepayers are stuck with this ‘back payment’ until April 2025. Unless the legislature takes action.

We can go into Special Session right now and cover the portion of rate increases associated with the moratorium by reallocating any remaining end-of-year American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. We wouldn’t have to call a special session if the Democratic majority had taken up that suggestion in February, before these rates went into effect. And before a big chunk of ARPA money, which was meant as pandemic relief, was diverted to UConn and other higher ed institutions.

Connecticut was the last state in the country to have a shut-off moratorium still in effect from COVID-19, now resulting in this rate shock. The decision not to vote on using ARPA funds left ratepayers covering the bills of those who didn’t pay theirs.

There are long-term solutions that could address this problem, instead of putting the burden on the backs of the ratepayer, too. PURA is supposed to have five members on the deciding board. These are appointed positions and for years, governors have only appointed three. Leaving two vacancies and fewer people to push back on behalf of the consumer. Another proposal is to separate the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and PURA. Right now, their missions don’t align. PURA is supposed to be holding utilities accountable and making decisions that are in the best interest of the ratepayer. DEEP is pushing alternate energy, like wind, which currently is double the rate of natural gas.

These long-term rate stability solutions were also proposed back in February and the Democrats decided not to even hold a public hearing on the ideas.

This is about priorities. If we’re not working to better the lives of Connecticut residents, then what are we doing with our time in office?

I know none of this situation is ideal, but I will continue to advocate for ways to ease this burden, including reforms that could reduce government impact on utility rates.