Suspend Eversource Increases, Lawmakers Tell Regulators

CONNECTICUT — The leadership of the legislative Energy and Technology Committee asked the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to suspend the Eversource Energy "delivery charge" increases on electricity bills until they can be examined at a public hearing.

The request was made amid a firestorm of consumer complaints that included a petition with more than 80,000 signatures on it Wednesday afternoon. The new charges have increased some customers' bills by $100 a month.

"It has come to our attention that several charges on the Eversource bills, recovered through the delivery charge, have increased, effective July 1," the committee wrote in a letter to Eversource. "We are requesting that (PURA) suspend the increase."

Charges cited include:

• The transmission charge
• The electric system improvements tracker charge, or ESI
• The federally mandated congestion charge

The primary source of an increase has been the Millstone nuclear power plant, Eversource officials said.

The committee leaders said they while they understood usage is up because more customers are at home amid coronavirus restrictions, people are generally financially strapped.

"It is important that PURA thoroughly vet proposed rate increases to ensure that a utility is not over-recovering," the letter said.

Eversource spokeswoman Tricia Modifica said Wednesday the utility has seen the letter.

"We understand and appreciate the efforts expressed by our legislators to address the high bill concerns from customers," she said. "We've recently received a copy of the Energy and Technology Committee's letter and are reviewing it. We will consider any and all options we may have."

PURA announced Wednesday afternoon it will investigating Eversource's delivery fee increases after push-back from lawmakers.

State Rep. Liz Linehan called for a public hearing:

An online petition protesting the increase had more than 84,700 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon. The petition appeared on Change.org over the weekend.

The heading reads: "Residents have been abused by the delivery charges that Eversource is allowed to charge. It's time to take a stand and let our legislators hear the people’s voice and finally get something done once and for all. Delivery charges should never be 3 times the usage. Let them hear our voices."

Eversource offers a detailed explanation about charges under its "understanding my bill" section on its web site, accessed here.

Eversource spokesman Mitch Gross offered an explanation:

"Eversource is required to file adjustments to certain rates with PURA twice a year that go into effect on January 1 and July 1. The increase to the Non-Bypassable Federally Mandated Congestion Charge (or FMCC) is related to payments associated with state-approved power purchase agreements for Millstone Nuclear Power Plant — which we entered into as a result of legislation and accounts for approximately 90 percent of this increase."

Gross added, "People are also spending more time working from home, using more energy on air conditioning — especially now during the hot summer weather."

Gross said Eversource has been offering steps customers can take to reduce their energy usage:

• Increasing the temperature on air conditioners. Keep air conditioners set at a moderate temperature throughout the day. Cranking the unit up uses more electricity. Programmable thermostats or temperature timers can also help keep costs more manageable.
• Keeping air conditioner filters and coils clean. Clean air conditioner filters and coils at least every three months. Dirty filters block air flow, reducing efficiency and making it harder to deliver the cool air.
• Don’t block air flow. Keep air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains and rugs. For those with central air and floor vents, consider using vent deflectors to direct the cooled air.
• Sealing home cracks and gaps. Seal cracks or gaps in walls and outlets, and window and door frames, to keep cool air from escaping and letting hot air in.
• Saving major appliance use until the evening. Help conserve energy by using appliances like clothes washers and dryers early in the morning or late in the evening, when there is less demand on the electric system.

Gross added, "We continue to support our customers during this unprecedented time with a variety of programs that can help them manage their energy bills and reduce energy consumption. We offer special, flexible payment plans for past-due bills and encourage any customer who needs assistance with their bill to contact us at 800-286-2000."

Starting July 1, the supply charge per kilowatt-hour rate went down about 22 percent for most customers, according to Eversource officials. But complaints about the delivery charge have centered around $100 increases on some monthly bills.

On Monday, in a joint statement, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, Majority Leader Matt Ritter and House Energy & Technology Committee Chair David Arconti said, "Connecticut residents, already pushed to financial limits because of the pandemic, now are seeing large increases to their electric bills. We want to know why. The Energy & Technology Committee should schedule an informational hearing in the near future to hear from ratepayers, utilities and state regulators."

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