Chaleski Joins GOP Colleagues In Call For Session On Electric Rates

**News Release Submitted by Connecticut House Republicans**

Aug. 8, 2024

State Representative Rachel Chaleski (R-Danbury) joined her Republican colleagues on Thursday in offering solutions to tackle perpetually high electric rates in Connecticut. They called for a special legislative session and said it's time for Governor Lamont to take a more active role in bringing together lawmakers, utility companies, and government regulators to develop a reasonable state strategy on energy.

"We're renewing our call to take up long-term solutions to lowering energy costs for our residents. There are also some short-term proposals we're offering to ease their burden now. I am just as frustrated as my constituents with this massive inflation in their bill, on top of all other rising costs," said Chaleski. "For right now, we could strike language in the 2024 budget 'stabilization' bills allowing ARPA funds to be used for a budget deficit in FY25 and put those dollars toward offsetting the debt owed to Eversource and UI. In the long-term, I would support an effort to reevaluate the Public Benefits portion of the bill to determine which policy mandates should be funded by the state budget."

Connecticut Republicans held a news conference at the Legislative Office Building, where they outlined proposals to provide rate relief to customers who for years have been frustrated by costly bills that they say are squeezing their personal finances. The proposals mirror those offered by the House and Senate Republicans in February, when they urged action as they reminded Democrats about the financial pressure on constituents caused by high electric bills.

The proposals outlined Thursday include:

• Limit all future Power Purchase Agreements so that no contract can be for more than 150% over the wholesale electric market price.
• Study moving public policy charges off ratepayer bills and into the budget.
• Redefine Class I renewable energy sources to include all forms of hydropower and all nuclear power to lower the cost of these energy sources.
• Separate the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
• Cover the portion of rate increases associated with the moratorium on electric service shutoffs by reallocating remaining end-of-year American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and examining budgetary options that could make available as much as $1 billion.