Sen. Gordon, CT Senate and House GOP Offer Ideas to Provide Ratepayers Relief on Electric Bills

February 23, 2024

With steep electric rate hikes on the horizon, State Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) is joining Connecticut Senate and House Republicans to unveil a set of policy goals that aim to bring about long-term rate reduction, long-term stability, and short-term relief for consumers.

 

“Hard-working people, families, seniors, and businesses are maxed out when it comes to their electric bills. Earlier this week, I said ‘enough is enough’ about the news of yet another proposed rate hike in May. Much of the blame lies in the public policies of the majority Democrats in the legislature.  We must remain ever mindful that what the legislature does, even if good intentioned, has consequence. Past energy policies must be paid, and it falls on us all to do so during a time of financial strain and high cost of living.

 

“Last year my Republican colleagues and I proposed meaningful ways to make energy costs less expensive in the state, work toward a sustainable and cost-effective energy procurement process, and allow for better oversight of utilities. The Republican proposals introduced today are meaningful ways to address Connecticut’s energy affordability in the long- and short-term. These are reasonable ideas that everyone should agree on. I reach out to my Democratic colleagues and ask that they work with us in a bipartisan way. We did it last year. We must do it this year,” said Sen. Gordon. 

 

Sen. Gordon and Republicans are proposing to:

 

  1. limit all future Power Purchase Agreements so that no contract can be for more than 100% over the wholesale electric market price
  2. provide relief to ratepayers by using unspent ARPA money to pay down the portion of the proposed Revenue Adjustment Mechanism adjustment that is attributed to arrearages as a result of the shut off moratorium
  3. redefine Class I renewable energy sources to include all forms of hydropower and all nuclear power to lower the cost of these energy sources and bring relief for ratepayers
  4. separate the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
  5. study ways to increase natural gas supply in the New England region
  6. study moving public policy charges off ratepayer bills and into the budget

 

In addition, Sen. Gordon and Republicans have worked on ways to move the additional fees and taxes on energy bills moved to the state budget (if the state mandates extra fees for public programs, then the state should pay); diversify the energy portfolio in a cost-effective way; continue energy savings programs for houses, businesses, and municipalities; work with the utilities to improve and secure our energy grid and infrastructure for the future; and continue to make energy bills understandable for us all.