Bethany Residents Could Face Electric Rate Hike

On the eve of a series of public hearings on the matter, state Senator Joseph J. Crisco (D-Woodbridge) today voiced his opposition to Connecticut Light & Power’s proposed $232 million electric rate hike, saying it will financially hurt the 58,000 residents in his district who rely on CL&P and could reduce energy-saving initiatives in the state, according to a press release.

Here is the rest of Crisco’s press release:

The state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will conduct three public hearings on CL&P’s request; the first is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday August 27, at 6:30 p.m. at PURA headquarters in New Britain. Two others will follow on August 28 in Stamford and September 3 in New London.

“I’ve got about 16,000 households in Bethany, Naugatuck and Beacon Falls and an untold number of businesses in my district that are going to be hit very hard by this unprecedented and indefensible rate increase. I encourage everyone to attend one of these public hearings or write PURA and the Office of Consumer Counsel to express their opposition,” Sen. Crisco said. “Looking to hike the fixed portion of a consumer’s bill is not the way to go, especially when people are trying to save electricity to help the environment and their pocketbooks.”

According to the state Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), on June 9, 2014, CL&P submitted an application for a distribution rate increase of $231.8 million. CL&P’s proposed $231.8 million rate increase includes pre-approved costs of $89.5 million for storm cost recovery and $25.3 million for system resiliency costs.

The OCC has actively reviewed the CL&P application and has recommended adjustments that would reduce CL&P’s proposed rate increase from $231.8 million to $122.6 million, a reduction of $109.2 million or about 47 percent. The OCC notes that one of the most significant aspects of the rate application for residential customers is CL&P’s proposed increase of the fixed monthly customer charge from $16 to $25.50. This is a 59% increase which, if approved, would give customers significantly less control over their monthly bills. The OCC has filed testimony in opposition to CL&P’s rate change and instead proposes to decrease the fixed monthly customer charge from $16 per month to $11.68 per month.

Sen. Crisco encourages residents to contact OCC and PURA at occ.info@ct.gov or PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov