Sen. Jeff Gordon: “Energy Affordability is a Must — S.B. 4 Provides Some Long-Overdue Rate Relief But Falls Quite Short Of What’s Needed – I’ll Keep Fighting For Ratepayers.”

HARTFORD, CT – State Sen. Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) issued the following statement after the Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 4, a big energy bill rolled out at the end of legislative session. S.B. 4 will provide $200 million of real, annual relief to electric ratepayers across shocked by high bills they must keep paying:

“For years, I’ve been calling for meaningful action to address the crushing cost of living in Connecticut, and high energy bills have been a major part of that affordability burden. State government could have taken decisive action in February of 2024 to use ARPA money to cover the expensive costs built up by the 4-year long ‘pandemic’ shut off moratorium when people did not have to pay their bills, yet others had to pay not just their own bills but the bills of others. Democrats and the Governor ignored common sense proposals. Then, when July 1st hit people with sky high bills, they continued to stick their heads in the sand, ignoring people’s cries for help. They ignored a rally at the Capitol. They ignored me when I joined my friend, Scott Pearson, who delivered a petition signed by 68,000 people.”

“My Republican colleagues and I have dragged the Democrats to the negotiating table to fight for rate payers. This is why S.B. 4 was brought out. I am proud to have led the charge with my Republican colleagues to move things forward, keeping ratepayers first.”

S.B. 4 includes $100 million in savings from the public benefits taxes on electric bills. There is another $100 million in savings from transmission delivery charges. Overall, the real savings to ratepayers is $200 million. This is a step in the right direction, but far away from the $1 billion in charges and taxes that people throughout Connecticut pay.”

A concerning part of S.B. 4 is that there is $125 million of fake savings by moving shut off moratorium bad debt and EV charger rebates to state bonding. Although these charges will not be in electric bills, taxpayers will have to pay more than $125 million because bonds must be paid back via taxpayer money plus interest on the bond. This translates to an overall cost expense.

“S.B. 4 is an initial win for Connecticut taxpayers, but not enough,” Gordon said. “I’ve worked alongside my Republican colleagues to demand and persistently push for rate payer relief. Hard-working people, families, retirees, small businesses, non-profits, and municipalities deserve to keep upfront more of what they earn instead of watching their utility bills climb higher and higher with no explanation, burning up their finances.”

Senator Gordon emphasized that S.B. 4 is a critical step, but not the finish line, in the broader fight for short-term and long-term energy affordability, procurement contracts, and how the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority operates.

“Let’s be honest: energy rates in Connecticut are still far too high, and we have more work to do. But this shows that when we stay focused and stand firm fighting for the people of Connecticut, we can deliver results. I’ll keep pushing for policies that further bring down costs, reduce hidden taxes, and ensure the state government works for people, not against them.”