CT residents are crying foul because a 100% increase in Eversource and UI electricity on the supply side is excessive and unwarranted. Next on the agenda is a 27% rate hike over three years on our water bills by Eversource-owned Aquarion Water Company. Why is it excessive and unwarranted?

• CT energy bills are among the highest in the US exceeded only by Hawaii and Alaska. These states have inherent barriers to electricity production unlike CT who has ports to receive products necessary to produce energy. CT is neither isolated like Hawaii nor does it have issues with the turbines freezing and unpaved roads like Alaska. In addition, Hawaii is assisting their residents by requesting a state of emergency after a 20% increase in electricity rates followed by a 7% increase in rates within the past year. These increased rates are promised to be temporary until Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) can obtain cost-effective renewable energy sources. CT Attorney General Tong advocates “Connecticut consumers – especially those on fixed or limited incomes – are simply unable to absorb any further increases in their cost of living.” Food, housing, gasoline, utilities, and other goods, rose by 7.7% over the past 12 months — nearly a 40-year-high. People are living paycheck to paycheck.
• Over-priced electric prices are a chronic problem in CT and it’s just getting worse. In fact, the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) as of November 2014 writes “Empirical analysis requires evidence to prove any theory. We are aware of no empirical analysis as to why Connecticut's rates are so high.” .
• Oil prices have decreased from $120.00 per barrel during the summer to $80.00. Oil prices are no longer a valid reason to justify utility increases.
• State buildings are practically vacated as employees are working from home. Costs to run the State are practically nil compared to fully occupied buildings.
• A comment to make you scratch your head at the discrepancies within the State mentioned in this NYT comment J.
• Some question the validity of “the supplier” as John describes in his NYT comment.

Solutions?

There is a glimpse of hope. 'Take Back Our Grid Act,' signed into law in October 2020 has given PURA the authority to create “discount rates” for folks with fixed or limited income. Unfortunately, that won’t appear until 2024 even though it was promised in 2023. With PURA’s track record, don’t count on it.

Another glimpse of hope is House Bill 5013 which was introduced in January 2023 which would require legislative approval of rate increases for electricity and natural gas. This would ensure there is a system of checks and balances in place to prevent issues like PURA playing favorites with utilities companies at the cost of taxpayers. Sadly, it will take an age, if at all.

A more hopeful viable solution is to petition our legislators to call for a State of Emergency. Like Hawaii, it would be temporary until a more sustainable affordable energy source is in place. So far, Governor Lamont’s solution to protect residents from financial crisis is looking to Eversource/UI to find a solution to control fossil fuels or to sit on the ISO NE council to have input in price decisions. Being proactive is a sensible approach. Dealing with what we have in front of us NOW is what we need from leadership. Bring down utility prices more inline with the rest of the country in response to a world energy crisis. Then you can sit on boards and play with fossils with Eversource and United Illuminating.

We have a “right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being”

Finally, if Eversource and United Illuminating and PURA are unable to provide fair competitive prices, and the system truly is broken, yank their licenses. All the actors in this gig are completely disconnected to CT residents or they just don’t care. The average income for CT residents is $38,865.00. We can’t afford this! Regardless of who is at fault, we need help NOW. There is a World Energy Crisis going on people, Find a way!

Readers and petitioners should email detailed real life situations that describes financial hardship to:  Christine.Conley@cga.ct.gov

Include things like unable to meet budget, using savings to pay utilities, inability to buy foods usually in your diet, skipping medical care, not buying prescriptions…things like that, can’t afford to own a pet anymore, unable to afford insurance, unable to afford to drive, gasoline, oil,  etc…