Senator Rahman Votes for Ratepayers First Act, Cutting Millions from Electric Bills Over Next Three Years

Senator MD Rahman, D-Manchester, voted Monday to advance the Ratepayers First Act, energy legislation that will deliver long-sought financial relief to residents. The legislation will cut consumer electric costs by nearly $800 million in the next three years, increase consumer protections, and control future fluctuations in energy costs.

Connecticut’s energy costs have sparked controversy in recent years due to fluctuations in the state’s power grid, record-high summer temperatures, global pressures including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the state’s reliance on a volatile natural gas market.

The Ratepayers First Act aims to provide relief by saving electric ratepayers hundreds of millions in coming years. It is also designed to recommit state utilities to transparency and accessibility, review the state’s energy policies and work toward reforms supporting consumers and the long-term reliability of the electric grid.

“Residents in my district made it clear that the cost of electricity was too high, and something had to be done,” Senator Rahman said. “The Ratepayers First Act answers that call by delivering real savings and putting the needs of families and small businesses first. This is a responsible, forward-thinking bill that brings both immediate relief and long-term stability to our energy system.”

Senate Bill 4 takes a variety of steps including cost savings with short- and long-term achievement goals and reviews of current policies.

Short-Term Cost Savings

The bill authorizes $250 million in general obligation bonds in the next two years to support hardship payment recovery, intended to reduce consumer debt accumulated due to hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and the spike that all ratepayers incurred as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. Shifting that debt to bonding will enable direct savings for consumers.

It authorizes another $50 million in general obligation bonds in the next two years to support state electric vehicle charging programs, while also placing limitations on that program to further rein in costs.

The bill also lowers required percentages of electric power generation through renewable resources through 2030 to save customers money without sacrificing long-term investment on environmental goals. Lowering this percentage can represent $75 million in cost savings by omitting generating resources like landfill gas, biomass and some aspects of fuel cells.

By updating definitions used for rate reduction bonds, the state’s bonding process can support certain storm repair recovery costs, representing savings of just over $100 million.

Long-Term Cost Savings

In a long-term approach to energy efficiency, Senate Bill 4 also updates rate reduction bonds to support additional initiatives such as smart meters. Covering smart metering via bonding allows state utilities to pursue investment of up to $1 billion in future upgrades without applying those costs to consumer electric bills.

A new provision adjusts the state’s energy procurement strategies, with electric purchasing direction focused on lowering costs, keeping customers’ delivery stable and electric companies being required to purchase some energy themselves based on market prices, delivering savings by protecting against a volatile energy market.

The bill also seeks to improve state collaboration with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, allowing it to select third-party entities to implement clean or renewable energy programs, expanding the market in which it can operate for maximum efficiency. PURA will also evaluate time-varying electric rates to incentivize improved efficiency, seeing if such a model works in Connecticut.

Additionally, PURA will study renewable tariffs and the state’s low-income discount rate program for means of savings, with further study of time-varying rates and grid-enhancement technologies seeking further improvements.

Reviewing and Improving Current Practices

Under this legislation, the Office of Consumer Counsel will prepare an explanatory report about public benefits charges for consumers, while electric distribution companies will work alongside it to design an education and engagement program aimed toward the public.

The low-income discount rate program will also undergo review at the end of a three-year period starting July 1, 2025 when its new form is enacted for the first time for Eversource and United Illuminating customers.

Senate Bill 4 also protects lineworkers, who perform important tasks to keep the grid operational, and addresses direct concerns they raised with legislators. Lineworkers will be made part of an emergency service restoration planning committee that delineates training, safety and health measures, and electric distribution companies will be prohibited from requiring crews to work in unsafe conditions.
Among additional elements of the bill, there is a review of possibilities for new nuclear capabilities in the state and a reduction of required use of renewable energy in some instances, specifically where renewable sources are more costly than efficient for state needs.