by Paula Panzarella, Fight the Hike

Last session, the Legislature voted in favor of a bill that would have helped lower electric rates, promote renewable energy and call for corporate accountability of the electric companies. This was path-breaking legislation that Fight the Hike supporters throughout the state helped get passed. However, the Governor vetoed it, and there was no attempt to override the veto.

And now, we are in a worse situation. In order to balance the budget, a special tax will be added to the electric bills that will go to the state, unless we fight it. The Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) has to hear from us!

The Competitive Transition Assessment (CTA) charge is scheduled to end in Dec. 2010 for CL&P customers and Dec. 2013 for UI customers. The budget that was approved will keep CTA charges on and the money will go to the state.

Excerpts from Office of Consumer Counsel’s statement:

The legislature is balancing the state budget for this fiscal year (July 2010 – June 2011) by adding a special charge to most electric bills across the state. CL&P and UI will be required to put this charge on customer bills for the next several years, even though it has nothing whatever to do with the electric services these companies provide. This new charge is nothing more than a state budget tax.

The new charge continues an electric bill item called the “CTA”, which otherwise would have expired soon. Instead of granting CL&P and UI customers at least some of the rate relief which has been expected, the legislature is helping keep rates high for these customers.

Fight the Hike is calling on everyone to oppose this new tax on ratepayers. Contact the DPUC and let them know they should NOT allow this to be imposed on our utility bill. When you contact them, please refer to DPUC Docket No. 10-06-20.

Public hearings are scheduled for:

  • Sept. 7, 7 p.m., Hearing Room G-2 in the Mitchell Hall of Records, 200 Orange St., New Haven
  • Sept. 14, 7 p.m., the Brass City Room, 2nd Floor, in the Sovereign Bank, 24 Leavenworth St., Waterbury.

You can also call the DPUC at 1-800-382-4586, e-mail: dpuc.executivesecretary@po.state.ct.us,  or write:

State of CT Department of Public Utility Control
10 Franklin Square
New Britain, CT  06051

For information about Fight the Hike, call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.