Energy - 2007 Legislative Highlight

Energy - Deregulation of CT’s electric industry has resulted in CT having the highest electric rates in the continental United States and it has failed to lower prices for ratepayers in any other state where they have deregulated. The General Assembly passed a bill (HB7432) that fell far short of the energy reform policy that is needed to provide rate relief to CT’s consumers. The (bill) included investments for energy-efficient appliances, which CCAG supports, but we opposed the bill because even as its proponents admitted, it did nothing to lower electric rates or offer a structural change in the way this broken system works. CCAG fought hard to pass a Windfall Profit Rebate that would have resulted in $355 million going back to the consumers pockets and a Public Power Authority that would have provided more affordable electricity than that of the unregulated for profit generators. A Windfall Profit Rebate is not the long term energy reform solution we need but was the best short term way to bring relief to the rate payers immediately.