Connecticut Republicans call for special session on electricity rates

(The Center Square) — Connecticut Republicans are calling on the Democratic-controlled Legislature to hold a special session to tackle rising electricity rates that are putting a squeeze on the state's energy consumers.

They've organized an online petition declaring that electric rates are "out of control" and urging Connecticut voters to pressure their representatives to return for a special legislative session to consider a package of reforms aimed at reducing electricity costs.

"Connecticut residents are being crushed by electricity bills," House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora said in remarks on Tuesday. "They are demanding action. Let’s listen to them. Let’s do something."

The petition calls for consideration of GOP proposals to provide rate relief by tapping into federal pandemic funding, redefining renewable energies to improve the state's competitiveness, and permanently removing "Public Benefit Charges" for clean energy from ratepayer bills. It also seeks limits on Power Purchase Agreements by utilities so that no contract can be for more than 100% over the wholesale electric market price.

The plan, which Democrats have rejected so far, would also separate the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and require the agencies to study ways to increase natural gas supply in the New England region.

Lamont responded to the Republican demands by saying he has reached out to members of the Democratic-controlled Energy and Technology Committee to "once again meet" to discuss the issue and invited GOP leaders to attend the talks. He said the leaders should discuss "the costs and the benefits of each of our supply options" at the meeting.

“Like you, I believe that Connecticut residents are paying too much for electricity and more needs to be done to lower energy costs,” Lamont, a Democrat, wrote in a letter to GOP lawmakers. "Some solutions I have been working on is drawing down as much federal resources as possible to strengthen our grid and to work on a regional basis on identifying additional supply.”

The political wrangling comes as Connecticut consumers struggle with rising energy costs, with two of the state's largest utilities, Eversource and United Illuminating, proposing double-digit rate increases this year.

Connecticut has the third-highest electricity rates of any state in the country, which lawmakers say is hurting middle and low-income families already paying high prices for groceries and fuel for their vehicles.

"Electricity rates in Connecticut are too damn high," state Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, a member of the Legislature's Energy and Technology Committee, said in a statement. "But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right reforms, we can cut the average family’s costs while ensuring reliability and environmental protection in the future too. However, we cannot keep doing the same thing and expecting different results."

Energy bills reflect a combination of supply prices, utilities say, which are based largely on market conditions and delivery prices, which state and federal regulators set. Utilities also point out that seasonal electricity rates are pass-through charges that cover just the cost of power, which they don’t control and are not allowed to profit from under state law.

But Republican lawmakers argue that state policymakers have a role to play in keeping energy costs low and ensuring consumer choices.

"Connecticut residents can't afford to wait until next year for you to tackle this crisis during the next legislative session," the petition reads. "We need — and deserve — action from our elected leaders now."