Vernon Officials Pushing Petition Protesting Proposed Eversource Rate Increase

VERNON, CT — Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne and members of the Town Council are urging Eversource customers to speak out against the utility’s proposed residential rate increase by signing a petition that will be sent to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

The mayor and council members signed the petition Tuesday, according to information released by the town. The petition is posted on Vernon’s website — vernon-ct.gov/forms/petition-against-eversource-2026-rate-increase — and the town said anyone can sign it, regardless of where they live. The town said the petition will be forwarded to PURA.

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Eversource notified regulators that it plans to file a rate increase request next month. If approved, the increase would take effect in July 2027. The town said Eversource has indicated the request would be a 13 percent increase for residential users and an 11 percent increase overall.

The town said that would amount to about $25 more per month for Connecticut families. Vernon officials said the increase would reach beyond household budgets because municipalities also pay electric costs for schools and public buildings.

"Here we go again," Champagne said. "One of the most profitable utilities in the nation is asking its customers to pay more and more for electricity. It’s outrageous and we can’t afford it. I hope the people who will be forced to pay these rates will join us in telling Eversource 'no way.'"

Champagne also said taxpayers would feel the effect if electricity costs rise for municipal operations.

"Customers need a break," Champagne said. "And because this rate increase will affect most Connecticut residents, we invite everyone affect to sign our petition, which can be found on the town website."

The next step, according to the town, is Eversource’s expected filing with PURA next month. The petition campaign is aimed at giving customers a way to register their opposition before regulators consider the request.