Vernon Officials Campaigning To Protest Possible Electric Bill Hike

VERNON, CT — Officials in Vernon are actively protesting a potential big warm weather hike in electricity bills from the region's primary supplier and have gone as far as to sponsor a petition that will be sent to the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

It seems to be another chapter in tense relationship between the town and the utility.

"The Town of Vernon urges Eversource customers who oppose the utility's 19 percent rate increase request to make their views known to PURA," officials in Vernon said.

If approved by PURA, the increase would go into effect in May and would cost the average residential customer using 700 kilowatt-hours an additional $38 a month.

The power company is attributing the rate hike request, in part, to a 2019 state deal cut with Dominion Energy, which operates the Millstone nuclear power station in Waterford. The arrangement locked in a minimum rate for Dominion over the next decade. Eversource officials are also blaming state initiatives adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic to shield low income and medical hardship customers from high energy bills.

"Overdue customer balances are paid for by all customers," the utility said in a February news release Friday.

No so fast, Vernon officials said.

Or, better yet, not so much.

"The Town of Vernon opposes the rate increase request as it would dramatically increase what the town, residents and businesses pay for electricity," officials said.

Mayor Dan Champagne himself has been urging residents "who oppose the increase"
to make their position known by signing the petition.

He invited non-residents too.

"Connecticut electric rates keep climbing and climbing and consumers need a break," Champagne said. "I am going to oppose this increase to PURA and I urge others to join me in doing so. We have to speak up."

Any Eversource customer, regardless of where they live, is invited to sign Vernon's petition, Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said.

“All are welcome and encouraged to sign our petition. This rate increase will impact everyone, which is why we welcome people from throughout the state to sign on with our effort," Purcaro said. "We encourage other communities to take the same steps we are taking in standing up to Eversource and its continued rate increases. We need to join together on behalf of our residents."

The town will forward the petition directly to PURA, Purcaro said. The petition was released at about 2 p.m. and by 4, more than 100 signed, and not all were from Vernon, Purcaro said.

"It's a proposed punishing increase," Purcaro said. He said "senior executive compensation" in a tough economy compromises "the selling point."

Eversource responded with a statement of its own:

"Vernon’s town leaders are dead wrong if they think their approach is anything other than a disservice to their constituents. This rate increase is almost entirely driven by state-mandated and approved programs, which we earn no profit on, and is exacerbated by regulatory policies that delayed and deferred costs. Vernon's misinformed strategy would only create a further piling up of costs which will lead to an even greater burden for customers next year, which we strongly oppose. Eversource has proposed solutions, with a clear explanation for this rate increase available at eversource.com/solutions. We remain engaged with key stakeholders as we advocate for customer-focused solutions and encourage anyone concerned about rate volatility to contact their legislator or the governor's office to tell PURA to employ policies that make rates predictable. If Vernon’s town leaders are interested in a constructive conversation about bill predictability, avoiding rate shock, and coming up with solutions, they're always welcome to join us in the collaborative process we began months ago. Charged political rhetoric makes for good headlines but it does not accomplish anything for residents."

Vernon's relationship with Eversource has historically been a bit testy.

Two relatively recent instances stand out, though town officials have been complaining about the utility's storm response times since the "Snowtober" storm of 2011. In 2020, Eversource officials discounted a claim by Vernon officials that the utility owed the town for expenses related to Tropical Storm Isaias. Vernon demanded $84,000 out of a total municipal storm bill of $140,000. The utility was sanctioned by PURA.

In December, 2022, town officials actually placed a sign at the Dart Hill Road bridge project blaming extensive delays on Eversource and a natural gas pipe installation.