Happy Thursday! We have 65,737 signers and 338,536 petition views! I can't thank everyone enough who has joined this bipartsan effort to end this craziness!
First, if you read my update a few weeks ago regarding my conversation with State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), co-chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, he stated during our hour long conversation that he was going to write a letter to PURA on reversing the decision.
Since I keep all conversations confidential, I did not relay this information. However, Senator Needleman, a man of his word, did just that.
Last Friday, Aug 30, 2024, PURA made the decision. This was voted down, again, 2-1 with Marrisa Gillett, again, the dissented on the 3 member panel. Rinse and Repeat.
On FOX61 Marrisa Gillett stated in part "As we’ve heard from thousands of ratepayers over the past two months, this was an increase that was not budgeted for, anticipated or understood....
Democratic state Rep. Jamie Foster, who is vice-chair of the Energy and Technology Committee."I'm pretty upset. I'm really frustrated. I feel very strongly that it's the responsibility of the regulators to, from an unbiased perspective, regulate the utility companies and represent the interest of the sort-of three-legged stool of energy policy,"
"They're supposed to make sure that the ratepayers' interests are being represented in the way they're making decisions, and that's certainly not the case. It feels like a tone-deaf response."
Second, Lamont finally agrees to meet with legislators (damage control?) but warned immediate or significant relief is unlikely. Reported by the CT Mirror, Lamont stated: "There’s no easy, pat answers where, you know, a 12-hour special session will solve these problems.”
CT Mirror reports that Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich, the ranking Senate Republican on the energy committee, said many of those public benefit expenses should be part of the state budget and examined annually. Currently, he said, "those costs are buried in electric bills as “a hidden tax.” He is absolutely correct!
Fazio said he counted 41 separate programs funded by the public benefits portion of electric bills!
HE SAID WHAT?? So am I to understand that there are 41 line items baked into our bill?? Are you friggen kidding me? This is soooo wrong!
Lamont stated in the same article “If we did not have Millstone, if we did not have nuclear power in this state and in this region, our electricity prices would be much, much higher than they are today".
Well, I am calling you out Mr. Lamont! That's only part of the story. Yes, I know it's complicated. Connecticut loves to complicate things.
Here are some of the reasons not mentioned why our electric bills are outrageous:
-Push for Carbon Free emission agenda by 2030
-Renewable Energy Policy - More expensive!
-Pushing electric vehicle infrastructure on ratepayers of Eversource and UI, not the other smaller electric companies.
-Connecticut Ratepayers to actually pay for rebates of EVs!
-COVID moratorium lasted four years - well past COVID ended - and cost $160 million, which is now being recouped through the CBP.
My thoughts:
With all the bad actors with high CO2 emissions, like China and the EU, Connecticut is but a grain of sand on the beach of this world. Every country needs to get together to make a difference or this pain is for nothing!
Our Gov thinks this will blow over. People remember when they are stripped from their hard earned dollars and I am talking hundreds of dollars!
I went to a deli long ago and they short changed me a few dollars on my lunch. Before I got to my car, I went back to confront the person at the counter. His answer was - "you left, too bad". I never went back to that deli again even though they had the best lunches! That was only for a few dollars! People will remember this for years!
To the 1% - Do not lash out or threaten anyone! I know your pissed but this is just bad behavior and it is unacceptable. Be angry at the situation. Not at people. Always be respectful and polite when writing or talking to the people that are in play with our crisis.
That's it. Have a great weekend.
~scott