Happy Tuesday! We have 68,401 signers with 372,910 petition views. Change.org received $12,787 donations. Remember. NONE of this money goes to me but the website to support operating cost. Please click on all the hyperlinks for better context.
Well, It happened! On Thursday October 24th, 2024, the petition was delivered to Gov Lamont's Office. This jouney now has closure.
As more people signed the petition, my obligation to make your voices heard became stronger as my passion for this endevour. I needed to see this through. I needed to get your voices to Hartford. I needed to tell some of your stories. There was so much planning to make this invitation only event happen.
I had to:
-Get approval for both my wife and I to take off from our full-time jobs
-Coordinate with Senator Gordon who secured the room in the LOB
-Coordinate with three important people - Elda Smith, Renee Daconto, and Donnetta Campbell
-Get in sync with Yankee Institute
-Get in sync with local Media
-Print 1574 pages totally 3.5 hours.
THE EVENT
It couldn’t have gone any better and finally got to meet the people I have been so engaged with this insanity that is public benefits.
I asked Senator Gordon and Rob Sampson to focus on the ratepayers and not make this political. They respected my request. Jeff and Rob stated how the republicans can fix this injustice, and Rob shared a heartfelt moment with a constituent. Click on their names to see their videos.
Renee Daconto
"Some citizens in CT have no choice but to use Eversource or United Illuminating, hence definition of a monopoly, supposedly against the law to be a monopoly, feel the Public Benefit charge was secretively included on our electric bill.
Lamont found a way to take funds from CT residents without being accountable on how these funds are spent. If these expenses were included in the regular state budget, discussion would have to happen between all legislatures.
The way Lamont has it set up is totally a SLUSH fund for whatever his agenda is with no over sight. This has to be hammered HOME! I wish some lawyer would take this and sue him for misappropriating funds. Because that is what he is doing!!
There are some towns in CT that do not have to use Eversource and UI so they are not paying this added tax. How is that fair??
I am probably moving from this state because I cannot consciously support a State Government that is running rogue"
Donnetta Campbell had some good airtime on NBC News. She states:
My bill was around $1,200 a month, [then] my bill was $3,200, I just about fell off my chair,” Donnetta Campbell, of Middlebury, said. “It is making me look at my kids who are down in Raleigh, should I relocate to Raleigh sooner than I planned?"
After the messages to the media were delivered, off to the second floor to Gov Lamont's office.
Did Gov Lamont meet you? NO. Did I expect him to come to the door? NO. Did I wanted to me him? Not really but it would of been ok. I would of tried to have a heart to heart with a Governor for a few mintues. Remember, public, famous, or whatever, people are people. Respect gets you a long way but not today. No expectations, therefore, no disappointments.
Mehgan Portfolio from Yankee Institute covered the event. You can read the article here along with 2024 Communist Award Winners Announced Ahead of Event Celebrating ‘Freedom’.
Bryce Chinault, Yankee Institute Director of External Affairs also spoke. Read the article here. Love Bryce and Mehgan from the Yankee because they call out these bad actors in our legislators!
WTNH Channel 8 covered the event. Lamont did not meet me but came out to meet the reporters. You can view their coverage here.
Lamont said “there’s some politics at play with the petition dramatically dropped at his front door.
No no…. No no! To Anne Nyberg from WTHN 8, and Gov Lamont - this was not a "political stunt". It always has been about the ratepayers, nothing more. It’s about implemented policy, not politics. Guess I have to keep saying this a few thousand times but its all good. See it on youtube here.
NBC Connecticut Gov Lamont interview stated that “I don’t want taxpayers to pay for electricity.” What? This makes no sense! What taxpayer, or anyone for that matter, doesn’t use electricity? Watch it here
Lamont just wants Eversource and UI ratepayers to fund his green energy mandates, covid moratorium, and a Millstone agreement. Forget about the rest of Connecticut (Wallingford Electric and South Norwalk Electric and Water just to name two) not to contribute to this tax (public benefit).
Does this make sense to anyone?
Hartford Courant Sean Krofssik wrote about it here. Thank you for the coverage, Sean.
OUR GOV IS ACTING LIKE A BROKER FOR ELECTRICITY AND ITS NOT WORKING
Len Suzio wrote in the Hartford Courant with intriguing information. He writes in part:
"How does Wallingford do it? Does Wallingford have its own electric generation facility or some secret source of electricity?
The answer is Wallingford faces the same challenges as Eversource and United Illuminating. Wallingford does not have its own power generation station. In fact, Wallingford must purchase its electricity in the open market just like the major utilities here in Connecticut.
The irony is that Wallingford gets its energy through the same transmission lines that Eversource uses and must pay Eversource for the transmission of that electricity.
Wallingford does have its own local delivery facilities, but they are just like the local delivery facilities Eversource uses to get electricity to the homes of its customers. Wallingford has no advantage there
How can electricity from Wallingford’s electric division be almost 45% cheaper than Eversource electricity?
The big difference is Wallingford consumers don’t pay a “Public Benefits” charge like Eversource and United Illuminating customers. But there’s more to consider here.
The latest excuse for the recent big increase in electricity costs is the deal with Dominion Energy for electricity generated at its Millstone Nuclear facility. That deal costs $0.0499 per kWh. But the current standard offer rate for the generation charge from Eversource is $0.899 per kWh.
In other words, the Millstone deal is 44% cheaper than the standard generation rate offered to residential ratepayers by Eversource.
Only in Connecticut can politicians claim that cheaper electricity causes higher electricity costs.
The Millstone electricity paid for by Connecticut ratepayers is not sold by Eversource and UI to Connecticut ratepayers. That electricity is sold on the open market. Connecticut ratepayers don’t get the carbon-free nuclear-generated electricity from Millstone. But Connecticut ratepayers guarantee and subsidize a price on the Millstone electricity and don’t get credit for it!
THE SOLUTION
If the Millstone deal were restructured to permit the utilities to sell the Millstone electricity directly to Connecticut ratepayers at the Millstone negotiated price (at no profit to Eversource just like the standard offer rate) and if the politicians were to allow that electricity (which is 100% carbon-free) to be recognized for its carbon-free benefits and thereby replace the politically mandated Renewable Energy portfolio standards that account for 37% of electricity sold in Connecticut during 2024, a substantial decrease in the cost of electricity sold in Connecticut could be achieved quickly.
Written by Len Suzio is a former Republican state senator. This makes sense!
Last Comment
I had no expectations but I couldn’t ask for better way it turned out! It was perfect! Each of us touched on important talking points that didn't overlap. Media coverage was good - minimum airtime on me – That’s a good thing.
If it wasn't for Dr. Senator Jeff Gordon, this event wouldn't be possible. Thanks again, Jeff!!! You truly care about the people of Connecticut! You're the best!
In addition, thank you to Senator Rob Sampson, Senator Eric Berthel, Donnetta Campbell, Renee Daconto, Elda Smith, Yankee Institute (and company) coming out with me to the Capitol LOB and making my petition journey's end a success!
Love meeting you all and can't thank you enough for all the hard work you put into this quest! You have enriched my life.
Hopefully we can enrich many more people's lives struggling fiancially and get rid of this insanity called Government Benefits... oops... typo :) public benefit tax in our electric bill.
~scott