CT Republicans Petitioning for Special Session on Electric Rates

Lawmakers continue to offer proposals for long-term relief, demand a Special Session at www.SpecialSessionCT.com

Today, House and Senate Republicans announced a petition drive calling for Majority Party Democrats and Governor Lamont to hold a special legislative session to tackle perpetually high electric rates in Connecticut.

The petition, which will be submitted to Connecticut’s Secretary of the State, states that the lawmakers deem it “necessary for the General Assembly to meet in special session” for the purpose of passing several policies which aim to provide ratepayers with long-term relief.

If you’re as upset about these electric rate increases as I am, I encourage you to join us and reach out directly to legislative Democrats to demand a special session at www.SpecialSessionCT.com

The common-sense policy solutions we are offering will serve as a foundation for improving the state’s energy landscape in a way that will benefit ratepayers in the long run.  Earlier this month, we outlined proposals to provide rate relief to customers who for years have been frustrated by costly bills, and once again urged action and reminded Democrats about the financial pressure on constituents caused by high electric bills.

The proposals outlined in the petition include:

• Moving “Public Benefit Charges” permanently off ratepayer bills
• Providing immediate electric rate relief by reallocating unobligated end-of-year American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and re-examining budgetary options that could make available additional dollars to (a) cover the portions of rate increases associated with the moratorium on electric service shutoffs and the costs associated with electric vehicle charging programs and (b) provide additional rate relief to ratepayers to the maximum extent possible as funds allow
• Capping all future Power Purchase Agreements to no more than 150% over the wholesale electric market price
• Redefining Class I renewable energy sources to enable competition to lower the cost of these energy sources
• Restoring the independence of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), by separating it from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).