Happy Saturday Everyone!

Thank you for all your support! With enough voices, change will happen. Keep sharing this petition! Write to your Reps! Make a video and post your comments! That's the only way we can get results! We have 4,559 signatures and growing! Apologies for the length of this update.

I want to thank my #1 activist, Christine, for spearheading an email campaign by writing to our Representatives and CT State Comptroller. I will include their response to her and her sister for transparency. 

Here are some bullet points from the emails and items that I have learned along the way. I included hyperlinks for additional info. 

• There have been nearly $11 billion in State of Connecticut budget surpluses since 2017. And just two years ago, the state shattered all modern records, closing $4.3 billion in the black, a 20.8% surplus, larger than the second- and third-largest ever combined. (CT mirror)
• The largest share of public benefits - 77% (unverified due to lack of transparency) of it is related to Millstone and the fact that in 2017 the legislature passed the bill to guarantee that we would be buying power from Millstone,” according to (NBC CT).
• In 2020 during the pandemic, the legislature prohibited the Utility Companies from shutting off service to non-paying customers- this has been extended more than once and it has now been 4 years to the tune of $160 million
• Legislature and the Governor knew that these bills would eventually have to be paid and of course, now it falls on the ratepayers who have been paying their bills to pick up the tab
• PURA authorized Eversource to recover $873 million
• PURA authorized UI to recover $356 million in rate increases
• PURA Vote was 2-1
• PURA Chairperson Gillett voted NO - she believed that a portion of the nuclear power purchase agreements should be recovered by the utilities over the course of 2 to 3 years to reduce the price shock to ratepayers
• John W. "Jack" Betkoski III - PURA Vice Chairman voted YES
• Michael Caron - PURA Commissioner voted YES
• Joe Nolan Jr, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eversource Energy total compensation for 2023 is $11,053,105 (salary.com) and (ct insider)

NOW The emails - The following letters are responses from Lezlye W. Zupkus, Robin Comey, and Sean Scanlon, State Comptroller

---------- Original Message ----------
From: zRepresentative Lezlye Zupkus <Lezlye.Zupkus@housegop.ct.gov>
Date: 08/01/2024 6:17 PM EDT
Subject: RE: Zupkus Online Contact  
Hi Christine,

Thank you for your email and I share your frustration. I will do everything in my power to combat this issue that we cannot afford! Below is some background and what my House Republican colleagues and I are doing to combat this.

Earlier this year, the two electric distribution companies (Eversource and UI) filed requests to PURA for adjustments to their delivery rates to recover costs that exceeded their revenues. In the filings, Eversource was seeking $784 million (18.7% increase) and UI $388 million (12% increase). After a case review, PURA authorized Eversource to recover $873 million and UI to recover $356 million in rate increases. The main reason for the jump in price is because the amount of people who are eligible for energy assistance was far greater than what was originally proposed with the original rate increase numbers.

PURA approved the rate increases on a 2-1 vote. Chairman Gillett voted “no” on the decision because she believed that a portion of the nuclear power purchase agreements should be recovered by the utilities over the course of 2 to 3 years to reduce the price shock to ratepayers. The draft decision originally suggested that a portion of Millstone costs be amortized over a 22-month period but that was struck from the adopted decision to allow the utilities to recover the costs in a timely manner.

In addition, PURA is restructuring how it approves and review base- rates. Pursuant to PA 20-5, PURA is working on creating a performance-based rate setting process that incentivizes and punishes utilities based on their performance. This new process will hopefully help regulators better determine whether the rates meet or exceed the value provided to ratepayers by the utilities

I have consistently voiced concerns and been opposed to many of the public policy decisions that have led to the rate increases. The combined public benefits charges reflect several mandated costs that provide money for education and financial hardship programs for electric customers.

Other portions go to the state Renewable Energy Investment Fund, which provides incentives for renewable energy projects and energy efficiency programs. In other words, the reason for the rate increases has more to do with legislative priorities to achieve zero-carbon energy by 2040 and a misaligned directive requiring the utilities to provide power to some individuals, regardless of whether they will make payments on their bill.  In 2020 during the pandemic, the legislature prohibited the utilities from shutting off service to non-paying customers- this has been extended more than once and it has now been 4 years to the tune of $160 million.  

The Democrats in the legislature and Governor knew that these bills would eventually have to be paid and of course, now it falls on the ratepayers who have been paying their bills to pick up the tab.  PURA claims they are protecting the ratepayer when, they just delayed the inevitable and we are paying the price!!

I have consistently advocated that these public policy objectives be taken out of electric bills and instead go through the budget process. I will continue to push for this. In this situation, the low-income programs and power purchase agreements would not have been funded directly by Eversource and UI ratepayers.

I know this information does not solve our immediate situation in experiencing high electric rates, but I will continue to fight against this.

Thanks again for your email,

Lezlye

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Hi Christine, 
 
Thank you for the email. And I can assure you, my wife and I were both not happy to receive our bill either! It's a big cost for working families. But, respectfully, this has nothing to do with the surplus; it has to do with a dispute between Eversource and their regulator PURA. And the state is working to resolve it so that we can lower the public benefits charge you're speaking of. 
 
Best,
 
Sean Scanlon
State Comptroller

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On Aug 2, 2024, at 2:54 PM, Rep. Comey, Robin <Robin.Comey@cga.ct.gov> wrote:

Hi Michelle - 

You have good reason to be upset and frustrated by the higher rates. This stems from a legislative change in 2017, before I was actually in office. 

Most recently, The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which makes decisions on electricity regulations in Connecticut, allowed Eversource and United Illuminating to recover funds it previously expended. The ten-month order will be in place through May 2025 and will likely add up to about $30 per month for many households.

What previously allocated funds?

About 77% of the current increase in the public benefit cost on your bill originates from a bipartisan agreement half a decade ago to save the Millstone Nuclear Power Station located in Waterford, CT. This effort came from a good place, with a need to shore up our state’s carbon-free energy resources and protect thousands of jobs in Connecticut.

As I mentioned, I wasn’t in office yet so I didn’t play a part by casting a vote. 

It’s an honor to be your state representative. 

Robin Comey

State Representative

102nd Assembly District

Proudly Serving Branford

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