Dear Legislator,
Connecticut needs a sound energy policy that protects consumers and promotes a clean, secure energy future for our state. As the leading retiree, consumer, environmental and low income family interest organizations in Connecticut, it is our fervent hope that a bill can be worked out between both chambers that meets these needs.
We are cautiously optimistic that negotiations between the House and Senate will result in a single bill addressing Connecticut’s needs: a clearly articulated energy policy for the future
There are many points of agreement between the two bills, but also significant unresolved issues. Critical outstanding issues that must be resolved include:
• Cost-of-service generation – Retail competition has resulted in Connecticut having the highest electric rates in the continental United States and it has failed to lower prices for ratepayers in any other state.
Both the Senate and House support cost-of service generation in the short term for generation capacity needed for reliability. Cost-of-service generation must also be included for base and peak generation in all of Connecticut’s future energy planning.
• Advanced metering – Consumers should not be forced to pay for expensive high-tech meters providing them with no benefit. Such metering is only useful to industrial and large commercial customers. Otherwise they cause confusion and costs hundreds of millions with no demonstrable benefit.
• Global warming pollution permits – Connecticut is moving forward under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to set a national precedent on reducing power plant global warming pollution. Power plants should have to pay for each ton of their pollution and the resulting revenue must be used to benefit ratepayers -- with no loopholes.
• Emergency diesel generation – We oppose measures enabling more emergency diesel generators to run at times of peak demand at ratepayer expense. Increasing emergency diesel generation will be the equivalent of adding pollution from almost 10,000 unfiltered diesel school buses to our air on days when air quality is already at its worst. Ratepayers should invest in clean and renewable distributed generation instead. We also oppose any measures stripping citizens of the right to public hearings on proposed diesel generators.
We also have concerns about the existing Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and the proposed Connecticut Electric Efficiency Partnership Program:
• Funding for the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund should be fully restored, with the state taking over repayment of securitization necessitated by the taking of this fund for General Fund purposes to resolve the state’s fiscal situation.
• The Electricity Efficiency Partnerships is a new program (Sections 94 and 96 of the Senate bill) that needs greater oversight, must be done in the context of state conservation planning, and ensures residential ratepayers will not subsidize business interests.
Again, we are hopeful that negotiations will result in a unified bill which meets all of our needs. As the leading retiree, consumer, environmental and low income family interest organizations of Connecticut, we have been able to stand together publicly behind the principles and the language of HB 7098, and we will work hard to support a final bill which incorporates these principles and the appropriate language to ensure a successful energy policy.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.
AARP Connecticut
Clean Water Action
Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG)
Connecticut Legal Services, Inc.
Connecticut Public Interest Group (ConnPIRG)
Connecticut State Employees Association (CSEA/SEIU)
Environment Connecticut
Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut, Inc.
New Haven Legal Assistance Association
