Sen. Jeff Gordon: Connecticut’s Affordability Crisis Worsens as PURA Pushes New Hidden Tax on Electric Bills

HARTFORD, CT — State Senator Jeff Gordon (R–Woodstock) today responded to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) latest decision to impose new costs on electric bills, calling it yet another example of how Connecticut’s affordability crisis continues to worsen with out-of-touch energy policies.

“Connecticut is becoming more and more unaffordable for too many hard-working people, their families, seniors, and job-creating small businesses,” said Senator Gordon. “Instead of relief, we’re seeing a growing list of hidden taxes, like this new public benefits charge, that drive electric bills even higher. Electricity bills should only be about the electricity you use and nothing else! Yet, PURA is forcing ratepayers to subsidize private electric vehicle charging stations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, even if they don’t own an EV themselves. That’s not fair, and it’s not sustainable. I support reasonable ways to address climate and environmental concerns and to support the EV market. But it all needs to be done responsibly without whacking people with more tax burdens.”

The proposed PURA decision (Docket No. 21-09-17) would add the cost of a new EV charging station rebate program to the “public benefits” section of monthly electric bills starting next year. This follows a similar policy enacted for light-duty vehicles, which was already heavily criticized for shifting the cost of government mandates onto consumers in the form of sky-high bills.

“People are frustrated, and rightly so,” Gordon said. “Electric bills remain high, groceries cost more, necessities for daily living are expensive, yet state government continues to pile on. I’m working to change that, by fighting for common sense, affordability, and transparency. We have made inroads, such as income tax cuts, expansion of the tax exemption for retirement accounts, the child tax credit, and childcare/early education funding. But the PURA decisions continue to go in the direct opposite direction. They are decisions being advanced by bureaucrats who don’t seem to understand or care how difficult things already are for the people in our communities.”

Senator Gordon noted that the legislature made efforts earlier this year to reduce the cost burden on electric ratepayers, including provisions in Senate Bill 4, a “big” energy bill passed this year. “More needs to be done to rein in the out-of-control taxes on electric bills,” Gordon said. “S.B. 4 was an initial step in the right direction, but not a big enough step. We cannot backtrack. PURA ‘conveniently’ waited until Chairwoman Gillett’s and Commissioner Arconti’s renominations were approved, and the legislature was out of session, to move for a new tax. Bad policy and a bad way of doing things. People deserve better! I continue to push back against decisions that deepen the affordability crisis.”