Connecticut families are already paying too much
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
For years, families and businesses in Connecticut have struggled with some of the highest electricity costs in the nation. And now this week, Eversource filed another major rate increase. The company’s own estimate would raise residential bills by roughly 11% and potentially up to 18% if storm-related costs are added on top.
I oppose the electricity rate increase.
At a time when families are already feeling squeezed by the cost of housing, groceries, childcare, and healthcare, the last thing they need is another increase in their monthly electric bill. Seniors on fixed incomes, working families, and small businesses are already making difficult choices. Asking them to pay even more is simply not acceptable.
What makes this proposal especially troubling is that it comes from a company that reported $1.69 billion in profits last year, increased shareholder returns, and awarded its CEO nearly $15 million in compensation. Connecticut residents should not be asked to shoulder additional financial burdens without a clear demonstration that every dollar of this increase is necessary and justified.
We all want a reliable electric grid, and investments in infrastructure are important. Even so, ratepayers deserve transparency, accountability, and confidence that costs are legitimate and that the business is being managed to benefit consumers. For these reasons, I am concerned about Eversource’s proposal to recover billions of dollars in deferred storm-related expenses from current and future customers. Before ratepayers are required to cover these costs, there must be a thorough and independent review to ensure the costs are appropriate and that Eversource is investing responsibly in system resiliency.
The proposal now sits in front of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). But here’s what troubles me—Eversource initially sought to keep its entire filing hidden from public view, offering the public only a table of contents. Fortunately, PURA recently rejected that request, signaling that broad secrecy is not acceptable. PURA’s review must be rigorous, transparent and accessible to the public.
So today, I’m asking PURA for two things before it makes any rate increase decisions. First, make Eversource put their whole filing on the public record, subject to very limited redactions. Second, hold a hearing here in our district. If Eversource’s case is as strong as they say it is, they need to show up and tell us to our faces why they deserve this rate increase.
You don’t have to wait for a hearing to share your thoughts on this proposed rate increase. PURA takes comments from residents. Just email PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov and put Docket No. 26-05-10 in the subject line and tell them what another rate hike would mean for your family or business. That’s what I’m going to do. Every comment goes on the public record.
As your State Senator, I will fight every day to keep costs down for Connecticut residents.
Warmly,
Jill