HARTFORD, CT. — As Connecticut residents are opening up their January electric bills, Connecticut Republicans recently unveiled details of their six-point plan to bring about stability and relief for consumers during a press conference at the Capitol.
“We had proposals in February 2024, before enormous spikes on electric bills even took effect, but the Democrats decided not to even hold a public hearing on the ideas,” State Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe. “I hope now that we’re in the long session they take up our common sense proposals.”
One proposal is to separate the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).
“We should at least get the conversation started on long-term changes,” Scott said in a press release. “Right now, DEEP’s and PURA’s missions don’t align. PURA is supposed to be holding utilities accountable and making decisions that are in the best interest of the ratepayer. DEEP is pushing alternate energy, like wind, which currently is double the rate of natural gas.”
House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora said, “it’s time for majority party Democrats who control the energy agenda to acknowledge what utility ratepayers and analysts have made clear: their entire approach to energy policy, rooted in flawed priorities and misguided philosophy, has failed everyone.”
“This session is an opportunity to shift toward affordability, and unfortunately their recent news conference made it clear they’re out of ideas,” Candelora said. “We urge Democrats to adopt our proposals as the foundation for the action residents want and deserve.”
The Republicans’ plan would:
- Remove Public Benefits Charges from electric bills
- Prohibit agreements that buy electricity at 150-percent above the wholesale price
- Redefine “Class I renewable energy source” to include any electricity generated from a hydropower or nuclear power generating facility
- Separate PURA from DEEP
- Eliminate any incentive program that increases electric demand
- Study ways to increase the supply of natural gas
The General Assembly session adjourns on June 4
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