By State Senator Norm Needleman.
Recently, a number of you in my district, as well as throughout Connecticut, have contacted me alarmed by the sudden rise in the amount of your monthly Eversource electric bill. As Senate chair of the Energy & Technology Committee, and an Eversource customer, I share your concerns. Along with a bipartisan coalition of legislative and committee leadership, I have asked the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), an independent body which sets and approves utility rates, to suspend the increases which took effect on July 1. To read the text of that letter click here.
Based on our letter, PURA has agreed to review this matter “expeditiously” and rule on a motion to reconsider the increases. The agency wrote to us, saying that “PURA …expects to expeditiously rule …after considering comments received by other stakeholders and members of the public”.
I encourage you to share your concerns or thoughts with PURA. You can contact them by phone at 1-800-382-4586, or email pura.information@ct.gov.
Eversource has suggested that the bill increases stem from the deal with Dominion (the Millstone nuclear power plant operator) that requires the utility to pay more for electricity and an increase in customer usage related to a heat wave and continued conditions that require people to work from home. Dominion has challenged Eversource’s statement about higher electricity costs, highlighting that Millstone is charging the utility 4.999 cents per kilowatt hour, about a third less than Eversource’s standard rate.
These charges and counter charges are not helpful and do nothing to address the rising costs. It appears as if we are not getting a complete and transparent story. This is not the time for additional charges on our utility bills while we are still in the midst of a pandemic and the resulting economic stress and turmoil. We expect to hold public hearings not just to address this surge in billing, but to examine in greater detail just how electricity rates get calculated and made. I will be in contact to inform you when those proceedings take place.
I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. As always, if I may be of assistance to you, feel free to contact me at my office at 860-240-0428 or by email Needleman@senatedems.ct.gov.
