CT Regulators Approve Another Rate Hike For Eversource, UI Customers

CONNECTICUT — There is currently no surge protection for the latest power bill spike Eversource and United Illuminating customers can expect next month.

On Wednesday, commissioners with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved an increase to go into effect on Sept. 1.

The bump will add 0.835 cents per kilowatt hour to the electric bills of Eversource customers, and raise UI bills by 0.4592 cents per kilowatt hour. That translates to an additional $3 per month from Sept. 1 through April 30, 2025, for typical residential customers using 700 kilowatt hours per month, according to a statement from Eversource spokesperson Tricia Modifica.

The new increases, to be found in the Public Benefits sections of residents' electric bills, are intended to offset $80 million in grid upgrades to support electric vehicles, including rebates for owners to install charging equipment in their homes. Public benefits payments support energy efficiency improvements, development of renewable energy sources, and power bill assistance for those in need.

The September hike follows last month's "rate shock" which Eversource attributed to the costs necessary to keep the Millstone nuclear power plant running, and its attempt to recoup money lost during the moratorium on power shutoffs during the COVID pandemic.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, United Illuminated officials said they were "pleased" with the decision of the PURA commissioners:

"Connecticut cannot continue delaying the funding of legislatively mandated public benefits programs collected on customers' electric bills instead of the State's General Fund." The power company noted that, "The public benefits costs associated with administering these programs are passed directly to consumers with no markup by the company."

Rep. Bill Buckbee, representing the 67th District and Ranking Member of the Energy & Technology Committee, released a statement saying, "While I think it's critical to maintain consumer choice, proposals requiring you to purchase an EV were resoundingly rejected. Now, you're being asked to foot the bill to add more charging stations."

Buckbee joined House Republican Leader Vincent J. Candelora and Senate Republican Leader Steven Harding calling upon the legislature to convene a special session to "take immediate action on legislation to help mitigate some of the cost being placed on ratepayers."

In a letter delivered Thursday to the PURA commissioners, the House Democrats Moderate Caucus requested the regulators reconsider their ruling on the rate hike.

"Our members represent diverse districts with varied socioeconomic factors and uniformly we are hearing outrage and distress from our constituents. PURA must resist undue influence from the utilities and their allies."

Specifically, the Connecticut "Blue Dogs" urged PURA to delay implementing the new EV standards which Eversource contends are at the crux of the cost increases.