Atty General Tong has yet to acknowledge the legislation responsible for higher bills
Attorney General Tong has issued two press releases, decrying the rate hike request of Yankee Gas, and the Winter Rate of Eversource, Inc. Yankee Gas is owned by Eversource.
Meanwhile, Yankee Institute published “Why You’re Electric Bill Is So Expensive.” which both deciphers an electric bill, and then demonstrates the public acts which led to the rate hikes. Excerpt:
Beginning in 1998, Connecticut’s General Assembly started passing legislation dealing with customer hardship cases while promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. Most of these charges cost Connecticut residents, sometimes significantly. We include the monthly cost, hyperlinks to relevant legislation, and year the legislation passed in each bullet point.
- $23.28. Systems Benefit Charge. CGS § 16-245l, (2000). This charge reimburses companies like Eversource to help customers who have difficulty paying their electric bills.
- $4.20. Conservation & Load Management Charge. CGS § 16-245m, 1998. Partially funds the state’s energy efficiency and weatherization programs.
- $3.98 PA 05-01 (2005), JSS & PA 07-242, Contracts for Differences
- $1.18 PA 11-80, § 107, § 127 (2011) Net LREC/ZREC Costs, Administrative Costs.
- $0.93 PA 05-01, JSS, § 8 (2005) Energy Independence Act Costs.
- $0.91 CGS § 16-245m (2001)- Project 150 EPAs.
More public acts and statute adjustments are listed. The Office of the Attorney General’s press release excerpt, Yankee Gas rate hike:
“Read the room, Eversource. Connecticut families are fed up with sky high energy costs and can’t afford this massive increase. This is yet another tone-deaf slap in the face from our out-of-touch public utilities. You don’t have to be a lawyer to see some basic obvious overreach in this filing. They’re asking for profits that are completely out of whack with other public utilities, including tacking on a non-starter ‘regulatory risk premium’ to account for the fact that our public utilities don’t like oversight and accountability….”
Attorney General Tong may be unaware that PURA regulates energy company rates. Formerly DPUC (Dept of Public Utility Companies), PURA’s chairwoman Marissa Gillette is also pushing for a not-so-cheap Equitable Modern Grid, and implementing clean energy programs starting in 2021.
Excerpt: “These rates are the result of a competitive bidding process. This is pretty much set in stone at this point. But that doesn’t mean we just need to take it and move on. Connecticut families have a right to be outraged, and have a right to demand better. Everything has to be on the table, and that includes reckoning with why New England has the highest electric transmission costs per mile of anywhere else in the country. That includes reckoning with the consequences, both positive and negative, of the Millstone deal. That includes how we pay for the cost of necessary programs that have kept the lights on for families facing unprecedented challenges. That must include a real commitment from our public utilities to stop their onslaught of padded revenue demands….”
Utility companies don’t make a profit, but Attorney General Tong seems to think either a) they do make a profit or b) wants CT voters to believe they do.
Additional Sources:
Office of AG: Yankee Gas rate hike of $209 million
Office of AG: Eversource’s Winter Rate
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