Senator Hwang Petitions Gov. Lamont for Special Session, Calls for Bipartisan Effort to Address Energy Affordability

Today at the CT State Capitol, House and Senate Republicans joined together to petition Governor Lamont for a special legislative session to address skyrocketing energy costs in Connecticut. Following a groundswell of constituent complaints due to the sticker-shock of their July and August electricity bills, Republicans are proposing solutions to this issue, calling on the Governor and legislative majorities to join them in helping fix this affordability crisis.

Senator Tony Hwang called for both parties to work together to find meaningful relief for ratepayers. “I welcome my fellow Democrat legislators to join the Republicans and sign this petition to Governor Lamont, emphasizing the dire need for a special session to address rising energy bills as a nonpartisan issue,” Senator Hwang remarked. “I am not interested in playing the blame game of how we got here. We must look forward to addressing utility prices and the impact of the “public benefits” section on ratepayers’ bills. Let’s work together to promote affordability, transparency, and most importantly, immediate relief for residents struggling under the weight of their electric bill along with other cost of living factors in Connecticut.”

Senator Hwang emphasized the importance of immediate action. While some members of the majority proposed waiting until after the election season to hold a special session, Senator Hwang warned against waiting too long to act on this issue. “People are struggling. This is the number one issue I hear from my constituents. To wait until November to address energy affordability would mean allowing residents to pay exorbitant rates for at least another three months before receiving state support. That is too long. No family should be forced to choose between paying their electric bill and putting food on their table when we have the chance to bring relief now,” Senator Hwang added.

Lawmakers can submit the petition to Connecticut’s Secretary of the State, stating that the lawmakers deem it “necessary for the General Assembly to meet in special session” for the purpose of passing several policies, which aim to provide ratepayers with short and sustained long-term relief.” The proposals outlined in the petition include:

• Moving “Public Benefit Charges” permanently off ratepayer bills
• Providing immediate electric rate relief by reallocating unobligated end-of-year American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and re-examining budgetary options that could make available additional dollars to (a) cover the portions of rate increases associated with the moratorium on electric service shutoffs and the costs associated with electric vehicle charging programs and (b) provide additional rate relief to ratepayers to the maximum extent possible as funds allow
• Capping all future Power Purchase Agreements to no more than 150% over the wholesale electric market price
• Redefining Class I renewable energy sources to enable competition to lower the cost of these energy sources
• Restoring the independence of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), by separating it from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Interested ratepayers can also sign this petition at www.SpecialSessionCT.com. To read more on Connecticut’s recent energy crisis, see Senator Hwang’s recently penned an op-ed earlier this month offering additional solutions to lower electric utility costs.