Last Thursday, at the State Capitol in Hartford, Democrats and Republicans on the Legislative Energy and Technology Committee met to exchange ideas on how to lower consumer electricity bills.
Republicans say: Remove the public benefit charge portion on CT ratepayer electric bills and roll the charges into the state budget where it belongs to get the transparency and debate it deserves. The public benefit charge is the combined cost of 40 different programs mandated by the state, including assistance for low-income ratepayers, programs for energy efficiency and initiatives for renewable energy. CT State Senator Ryan Fazio (R) makes a good case here.
Democrats say: The Republican proposal would have a catastrophic impact. Katie Dykes, Commissioner of the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) said removing the public benefit charge would disrupt the rate payer-backed contracts for nuclear and offshore wind that were put in place to meet the State's clean-energy goals.
Between the Lines - With Democrats holding supermajority control of the CT State House and Senate - don't expect any relief soon from your high electric bill.