The CT Ratepayers’ “Toothless Watchdogs”
March 23, 2018State Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, is criticizing Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for failing to take adequate action to protect consumers from a billing problem involving Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Co.
Suzio called PURA’s commissioners “toothless watchdogs,” after the regulatory agency issued a draft ruling requiring that minor changes be made to customers bills.
PURA had agreed to review the billing issue in February after Suzio discovered that Eversource had been charging him at rate higher than what had been stated on previous bills.
The dispute involves an August 2015 requirement that bills of residential electric customers include information concerning the per-kilowatt hour rate that will be charged in the next billing cycle.
Suzio found he overpaid by $80 because he was being charged at the same, higher rate rather than a new, lower rate that in previous bills had been indicated would take effect with the next billing cycle.
Neither Eversource, which is Suzio’s electricity distribution company, nor PURA officials have addressed Suzio’s claim that he was overcharged because his electric bills did not reflect the most current rate information.
Suzio said he is concerned that thousands of other customers of both Eversource and UI may have also overpaid as a result of their bills not having accurate rate information.
In its draft ruling Monday, PURA ordered UI and Eversource to display no information or “not provided” for the rate at which customers will be billed, in the event an electric supplier fails to provide that information in a timely manner. PURA ordered the utilities to make the changes on or before July1.
A final decision by PURA in the case is expected to be issued March 28.
Suzio said the regulatory agency’s ruling was “completely inadequate in terms of protecting the interests of ratepayers.”
“I am not going to let them get away with this,” Suzio said. “These companies are required to provide accurate, timely information and they are being allowed to get away with doing business as usual.”
Suzio said he is considering taking the utilities to court or requesting the General Assembly’s Energy and Technology Committee hold a hearing on the issue at which PURA officials would be asked to testify.
“This has been going on for more than two years and it has to stop,” Suzio said. His legislative district includes Cheshire, Meriden, Middlfield and Middletown.
Mitch Gross, an Eversource spokesman, said company officials are reviewing the ramifications of PURA’s draft ruling.
Eversource has 1.2 million customers in 149 Connecticut communities.
“We will be submitting comments to PURA regarding this in the next few days,” Gross said.
Ed Crowder, a spokesman with UI, said company officials believe that “the onus is on (electric generation) suppliers to provide accurate rate information to those customers who choose their services.”
UI has about 333,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in New Haven, Bridgeport and 15 surrounding communities.