OUTCRY OVER EVERSOURCE RATES LEADS TO STATE RESPONSE

Eversource working on a power line on Green Hill Rd in Madison early Christmas morning in 2024 to restore power. Photo: Eversource Facebook page.

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After thousands of Eversource customers took to social media to publicly complain about rising electricity rates, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has ordered the company to suspend the excessive charges and restore service to affected customers.


“PURA’s decision to pause the delivery rate increases assures our residents that utility requests can be reconsidered and, most importantly, that customers will not be overcharged in the meantime,” said Governor Lamont.

On Thursday, Attorney General William Tong pressed Eversource to explain how it is calculating the recent increase in electricity rates.

According to the Attorney General's press release, there are three components driving the price hike:

• The amount of electricity consumed per household
• The cost of generating that electricity at the power plant, and
• The cost of delivering the electricity to consumers.

He also noted that the amount Eversource charges for energy itself has actually decreased by about two cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Additionally, two other factors are contributing to the price increase:

• A federally mandated transmission charge that rose from 2.601 to 3.785 cents per kWh — an increase that, according to Tong, adds about $8.29 per month for the average consumer.
• A state-mandated charge to support clean (eco-friendly) energy in Connecticut — specifically, carbon-free energy initiatives aimed at helping the state meet its regional emissions standards.
• While the clean energy charge is important, it has resulted in an added monthly cost of $10.24 for the average consumer.

According to a statement from Attorney General Tong’s office, Eversource explained that increased electricity use during the pandemic significantly contributed to the rate hike, as more people were working from home and using household appliances more frequently.

PURA (the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority) will hold a public hearing in August to gather input from residents.

However, the public is also questioning the agreements between state agencies and their relationships with private companies. On June 26, 2020, PURA approved a request from Eversource to increase electricity rates for Connecticut consumers. The new rates went into effect on July 1, 2020. But following public outrage, PURA has since ordered Eversource to restore more reasonable rates starting August 7.

Connecticut Republican Senator Rob Sampson has strongly criticized the relationship between the state and private companies in several social media posts this week. In one of his statements, the senator emphasized the need for a clear, well-structured plan for transitioning to clean energy, one that ensures a smooth shift from the current energy system to renewable sources, so consumers aren’t burdened by drastic price increases.

“Seventy-five percent of the blame lies with Connecticut lawmakers who have repeatedly supported poor energy policy, including an overly aggressive push for clean energy instead of a balanced, realistic approach; a failure to foresee the consequences of relying on out-of-state natural gas; generous benefits for those who don’t pay their electric bills, forcing others to cover the gap; and a massive amount of money spent on tree trimming, among other things.


Twenty-five percent of the blame lies with Eversource. It’s not like other private companies, it's a regulated utility with no competition in its delivery operations. Shame on its executives and on the state,” said Senator Sampson.

The public has echoed the senator’s concerns. Senator Sampson is currently running for re-election to retain his seat in the Connecticut Senate, as his current term ends in January 2021.

“I have never voted for a tax increase and have consistently opposed legislation that would add costs or make life harder in our state—especially for seniors living on fixed incomes,” Sampson stated.


Eversource is now under investigation to determine the cause of the recent price increases.