PROUDLY SERVING THE 16TH DISTRICT
State Senator Rob Sampson
Senior Deputy Republican Leader
Rob Sampson, re-elected to a fourth term in 2024, represents Connecticut’s 16th District. He is the Ranking Member on the Government Administration & Elections Committee, the Housing Committee, and the Labor & Public Employees Committee. Rob is widely known as an advocate for America’s core principles, restoring our system of limited, representative, constitutional government, protecting private contracts and defending the natural rights of his constituents.
“I am honored to be chosen by the people of the 16th District as their voice at the State Capitol. I remain committed to defending our American principles of freedom, representation, limited constitutional self-government, and the rule of law. I believe that with hard work and our collective voices, Connecticut can become a safer and more affordable state with a bright future for all. As always, I will put in the hard work to make it happen.”
LATEST COLUMN
'America at 250: Let Us Be Exceptional Again' (July 2026)
This year, we will celebrate the United States of America’s 250th birthday. For me, it will be far more than an anniversary on a calendar, and I believe millions of Americans feel the same. It should mark a season of celebration, reflection, gratitude, and national renewal: a chance to remember what made America different, honor those who built and defended her, and recommit ourselves to keeping this extraordinary experiment in liberty alive.
One of the highlights of our time in Washington, D.C., during America's 250th anniversary was meeting fellow Connecticut residents from across our state.
Hearing each person proudly share their hometown was a reminder of the people and places that make Connecticut amazing.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Connecticut booth and helped make this milestone celebration a memorable one! 🇺🇸
This is why I take the time to answer constituents directly.
A constituent recently wrote to me about one of the many unfair costs buried in Connecticut electric bills. He correctly pointed out that traditional ratepayers are often left paying infrastructure and public-policy costs that are shifted away from other users.
He also seemed to assume that I might not understand the problem, or that I had not been doing anything about it.
I understand his frustration. Most residents do not have the time to follow every bill, amendment, debate, and vote at the State Capitol. They hear politicians from both parties complain about electric rates, and it can be difficult to determine who has actually been fighting to change the policies responsible for them.
That is why records matter.
Below is his email, followed by my response. I have withheld his name for privacy.
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CONSTITUENT EMAIL:
Hi, I keep hearing politicians talking about the high cost of electricity in Connecticut.
I don’t know if you have solar or not, so I might be wasting my time, but I don’t. I am charged for the electricity I use and an additional charge for delivery—the poles, wires, towers, and other infrastructure.
I only use those systems to have power delivered to my house. People with solar use the poles, towers, and transmission lines both to buy power and sell power back to the electric company. They use the infrastructure and require tree trimming and maintenance, but they do not pay their fair share of the delivery or infrastructure costs.
I don’t mind paying my fair share, but why should I also pay their share?
You could start there and make things fair. This has been going on for too long. Germany encountered this same problem years ago when it moved aggressively toward solar power. As more people installed solar, fewer customers were left paying to maintain the infrastructure.
Sorry to bother you. I just don’t want you to think that we don’t know what is happening.
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MY RESPONSE:
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for writing. You are certainly not bothering me, and I agree with the fundamental point you are making: everyone who relies on the electric grid should pay an appropriate and transparent share of maintaining it.
I do not believe ordinary ratepayers should be forced to subsidize solar customers, customers in towns served by municipal electric companies, people who do not pay their bills, or anyone else who benefits from the electric system without paying a fair share of its costs. Nor should an electric bill be used to collect hidden taxes or finance government programs created by the Democratic majority.
I have a perfect record of voting against policies that redistribute wealth, raise spending or taxes, or otherwise impose unnecessary costs and fees on Connecticut residents.
When state government adopts a statewide policy, it should not place the cost primarily on Eversource and United Illuminating customers while exempting other groups. Your electric bill should pay for producing and delivering electricity, not serve as a political slush fund through which politicians quietly redistribute costs and conceal public-policy spending.
I do need to respectfully correct the apparent assumption that I am unaware of this problem or have not been fighting it.
I am one of the strongest and most persistent allies Connecticut electric ratepayers have at the State Capitol. Along with Senator Ryan Fazio and a small number of other legislators, I have been leading the fight for genuine energy reform for years.
Among other efforts, I have:
• Introduced legislation, including Senate Bill 598, to eliminate the Public Benefits Charge from electric bills:
www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=598
• Co-authored Senate Bill 647, a comprehensive Republican proposal addressing electric affordability, reliability, transparency, generation, and the structure of Connecticut’s energy policy:
www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2025&bill_num=647
• Fought to move public-policy expenses off electric bills so customers are charged for electricity and its delivery—not used as a captive source of tax revenue.
• Opposed renewable-energy subsidies and mandates that shift costs onto people who do not receive the corresponding benefit.
• Opposed forcing Eversource and UI customers to bear statewide costs from which municipal electric customers are exempt.
• Supported greater accountability for unpaid bills rather than automatically transferring those costs to responsible customers who pay on time.
• Participated in numerous public hearings, press conferences, television interviews, radio programs, and public campaigns focused on lowering electric rates.
• Helped deliver tens of thousands of petition signatures from Connecticut residents demanding relief from the Public Benefits Charge.
Here are a few examples of my work on this issue:
Public Benefits Charge petition press conference:
youtu.be/_ykQbOPbTo8?feature=shared
Senator Rob Sampson demands immediate action as constituents struggle with surging electric bills:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKd78JQMnSY
Senator Sampson opposes water and power rate hikes—S.B. 501:
youtu.be/iYZd-5PziNI?si=yUYpIltxFtrs6plQ
NBC Connecticut interview on electric rates:
youtube.com/shorts/M3Zqf4ckUig?feature=shared
Republican electric-rate reform press conference:
youtu.be/Ylq5X0jq5vw?feature=shared
There also needs to be honesty about who is responsible.
Connecticut Democrats have controlled the General Assembly for decades. Today, they hold a greater than two-to-one majority in both chambers—25 Democrats to 11 Republicans in the Senate and 102 Democrats to 49 Republicans in the House. They also control the governor’s office.
No matter what individual Democratic politicians may say at election time, they have the votes to decide which bills pass, which amendments are rejected, what goes into the state budget, and which government programs are placed on your electric bill.
They cannot credibly blame an 11-member Republican Senate minority for policies they possess overwhelming power to change.
That does not mean I am powerless, and I do not use minority status as an excuse. I have been effective at exposing these costs, forcing votes, offering concrete alternatives, organizing public opposition, and keeping pressure on the majority.
But lasting reform requires changing the balance of power at the Capitol.
That is where I need your help.
Please continue talking about this issue and make electric rates matter in the November election. Connecticut residents need to hold the people who have controlled state government accountable and elect more Republicans who will remove hidden taxes and subsidies from electric bills.
We are on the same side of this issue. I would much rather have concerned ratepayers working with me than assuming I am part of the problem.
I encourage you to review my record and the videos above. I believe you will find that I have been fighting for exactly the fairness and accountability you are asking for.
You are also welcome to call me directly on my cell phone at 860-508-1969. I am always willing to speak with constituents about this issue and the reforms I have proposed.
Sincerely,
Senator Rob Sampson
16th Senate District
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I do not expect every constituent to know every detail of my record. But before assuming that every politician is the same, take a few minutes to find out who has actually been standing up, offering solutions, forcing votes, and fighting to protect Connecticut ratepayers.
I have been, and I will continue to be, one of the strongest voices at the Capitol for affordable, reliable electricity and honest, transparent electric bills.
Your electric bill should pay for electricity, not hidden taxes, political mandates, subsidies, and somebody else’s unpaid expenses.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Hartford— State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16) released the following statement after representing Connecticut at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., celebrating America’s 250th anniversary:
“America only turns 250 once.
This should have been a moment of pride for every Connecticut resident, regardless of political party.
When Connecticut was left without official representation at one of our nation’s most historic celebrations, State Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco (R-80) and I, along with a dedicated group of volunteers, stepped up because we believed our state deserved to be there.
We weren’t paid to go. We weren’t reimbursed. Every member of our group paid their own way for travel, hotels, meals, and transportation. Connecticut Republicans, generous grassroots supporters, and local businesses made our booth possible because they believed Connecticut should have a seat at the table.
What I find disappointing is how little attention Connecticut news outlets gave to citizens who stepped up to represent our state during one of the most significant patriotic celebrations in our nation’s history.
Instead, the focus became political attacks and misinformation.
That’s backwards.
America’s 250th anniversary shouldn’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. It belongs to every American.
At a time when so many people say they want less division, you would think Connecticut showing up to celebrate our country’s founding would be a story worth telling.
I was proud to stand beside thousands of Americans from every corner of this nation celebrating the principles that have made America the greatest experiment in self-government the world has ever known.
We represented Connecticut with pride.
I only wish more people back home had been given the opportunity to see it.”
WATCH: Sen. Sampson & Rep. Mastrofrancesco Represent Connecticut in Washington D.C. for America 250: youtu.be/-CF9ZS9BJHA?si=aTzS4T_Q0z30cg5s
www.ctsenaterepublicans.com/2026/07/sen-sampson-connecticut-showed-up-for-americas-250th-annivers...
www.ctsenaterepublicans.com
Hartford— State Sen. Rob Sampson (R-16) released the following statement after representing Connecticut at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., celebrating America’s 250th anniversar...