Sen. Gordon Statement on Huge Proposed Electric Rate Increase

HARTFORD, CT – State Senator Jeff Gordon (R-Woodstock) released the following statement regarding the proposal to raise electric rates next year by an average of 13% for residential customers starting July 1, 2027.

Eversource is seeking approximately $503 million in rate increases, which could raise residential electric bills by an average of 13%, and potentially as much as 17% if an additional $1 billion in storm-related costs is approved. The proposal marks the first major rate review since 2018.

“Connecticut’s hardworking people, families, seniors, and job-creating small businesses are already struggling under the weight of the 2nd-highest electric costs in the nation, and now Eversource is proposing yet another double-digit rate hike. Our state continues to become more unaffordable for more people, and ratepayers are being crushed while government agencies and utility companies continue to pass the burden onto the people who can least afford it.

“As a State Senator, I have consistently put ratepayers first. That is why I was there, in person, when a petition of over 60,000 signatures demanding state action to address a huge increase in electric bills was presented to the Governor’s office, although the Governor chose not to be there. I was there fighting the Governor and Democrats to get the public benefit program taxes off electric bills, which resulted in $200 million of the $1 billion taxes being moved, but a huge amount of taxes remains. My Senate Republican colleagues and I proposed this year to remove the remaining public benefit program taxes and put any worthy programs in the state budget without raising taxes. This would have been a major savings for ratepayers, but Democrats voted it down. I was there to pass legislation to put ratepayers first whenever the state seeks to enter energy purchase agreements, and I voted against legislation that would extend some of the public benefit program taxes and allow the state to bind ratepayers to long-term, expensive energy purchase agreements.

“Connecticut ratepayers deserve accountability and transparency from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. That is why I fought against former Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Chairwoman Marissa Gillett, who later resigned in disgrace when court proceedings uncovered illegal activities. It is also why I voted against the nomination of every PURA Commissioner brought before the Senate this year and have continued pressing PURA to account for the 4-year long shutoff moratorium that was extended in a deal between the Chairs of the Energy & Technology Committee and former Chairwoman Gillett. This deal made ratepayers pay their own bills and the unpaid bills of others. I was disappointed in the weak response by the current PURA Chairman, Thomas Wiehl, saying to me that no accounting could be done. This is a bad excuse by PURA not to do its job and to hide in secrecy from ratepayers.

“The small rate decrease announced to start July 1st is due to ratepayers overpaying for charges, thus getting a refund on their bills. Ratepayers should not be overcharged in the first place!

“PURA is not working for the people of Connecticut, and I continue to have little faith that the agency, along with the Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Office of Consumer Counsel, will deliver the meaningful reforms needed to make our state more affordable. Too many decisions impacting electric bills are being made by unelected bureaucrats and involve back-room deals instead of being made by the vote of the elected representatives and officials who are accountable directly to the public.

“I am not discouraged. By working with the public and keeping the fight ongoing to bring common sense and relief for ratepayers in Connecticut, we can continue to get some things done, just as we were able to get some things done in the past several years. There is more to do, and we need to keep the public and political pressure strong.

“Connecticut’s affordability crisis demands real leadership and real reform. We need to reclaim legislative responsibility over energy policy, focus on lowering costs for residents and businesses, and ensure state government works for ratepayers, not special interests. I will continue holding utilities and state agencies accountable and push for policies that finally make Connecticut affordable again. I will continue to always put ratepayers first.”