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Progressive Action Roundtable: A forum for progressive groups in the Greater New Haven Area where actions and ideas may be publicized so that others are aware of peace, health, justice, energy, environmental and other issues for the common good.

Archive for category Fight the Hike

Five Years of Fight the Hike

Apr 2

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by Paula and Frank Panzarella, Fight the Hike

In five years, many thousands of Connecticut residents and business owners have rallied behind Fight the Hike’s demands for lower energy rates, transparency and a greater emphasis on developing renewable energy. The state legislature last year passed a comprehensive energy bill because of the determined work of all who:

  • Contacted their state representatives and senators;
  • Testified at the various public hearings for the Energy and Technology Committee;
  • Rallied and demonstrated;
  • Spoke up at town council meetings in North Haven, Milford, Branford, Bridgeport, West Haven, Hamden and New Haven;
  • Wrote letters and articles to the newspapers;
  • Spoke at UI and CL&P “meet the public” events;
  • Handed out flyers in West Haven, Milford and Hartford in below-freezing temperatures.

In December 2006, we were brought together by our anger, indignation and desperation over 25% and 50% increases in the electric rates. We have broadly raised the issues of corporate transparency, accountability and large-scale clean energy generation. In our five years, we have worked with people throughout the state and met with legislators to get to where we are today: with energy legislation that can, if implemented, lessen pollution, create jobs in the clean energy industries, lower rates, and subsidize more clean energy projects for Connecticut residents.

Together, we have made an enormous impact in Connecticut. Fight the Hike has reminded, and at times reprimanded, the electric companies and our elected officials that they have a responsibility to the public to ensure that we have affordable, safe, non-polluting and sufficient electricity.

If there is an electricity issue that you want to work on, please send an e-mail with “For Fight the Hike E-List” in the subject heading to paulapanzarella@yahoo.com. Others interested in that issue can then contact you directly.

Thank you all for your many years of intense work on Fight the Hike, and for your diligence, fairness, compassion and sense of justice in the struggle.

Don’t Let Good Energy Legislation Get Short-Circuited

May 4

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By Paula Panzarella, Fight the Hike

The legislature is still considering two very good bills that would help consumers of Connecticut. Our electricity is the highest in the continental U.S. and there is a chance that Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1176 can alleviate that, as well as promote renewable energy and create Connecticut jobs in the clean energy industry.

HOWEVER, this is also the time when bills go through various committees and can get drastically changed.  Call your legislators and demand that there be no increases, no new charges, no taxes for the consumers on your electric bills.  If the corporations are taxed they cannot pass that along to the sorely overcharged consumers.  Taxes have to be paid from their profits!

Fight the Hike meets the third Thursday of each month at  7 p.m., NH City Hall, 165 Church St., 2nd floor meeting room 3. Our next meeting is scheduled to take place May 19. For info call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

Bill To Lower Electric Rates, Promote Renewable Energy Gains Support

Apr 1

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By Frank Panzarella, Fight the Hike

Senate Bill 1 encompasses Gov. Malloy’s plan to merge the Dept. of Environmental Protection and the Dept. of Public Utility Control. This single agency, Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), will oversee issues of the environment and energy.

The goals of DEEP are: 

  1. Reducing utility rates;
  2. Providing for a reliable and safe energy supply;
  3. Increasing the use of clean energy in Connecticut; and
  4. Creating jobs in clean-energy industries.

The Energy and Technology Committee of the Legislature voted S.B. 1 out of committee. It is a comprehensive energy bill that encompasses many suggestions from Fight the Hike.

DEEP, and not the electric companies, will control the Energy Conservation Loan Fund, the Clean Energy Fund and the Energy Efficiency Fund. DEEP will also have responsibility for creating energy reports – the electric companies previously wrote these.

The bill is a positive step to take control away from the electric companies. As corporations, they are accountable to their shareholders. DEEP, as a government body, is accountable to the people of Connecticut. This presents a greater opportunity for accountability, oversight and transparency over the energy industry.

There are specific provisions in the bill for discounted rates, renewable energy projects, more solar development in CT, jobs in clean energy and efficiency programs for lower-income people as well as specific programs to bring renewable energy to distressed communities.

Another important bill for ratepayers is S.B. 1176 which calls for a tax on power plants to produce revenue that will be used to lower rates, eliminate the CTA charge on our bills and balance the state budget. We urge PAR readers to call or e-mail their legislators in support of these bills.

At our last Fight the Hike meeting, it was proposed that we call Sen. Blumenthal, Sen. Lieberman and Rep. DeLauro to demand that all current nuclear power plants be shut down permanently, and that the government bring renewable energy to the fore. “Remind them that the technology is ready, it’s the political will that’s lacking,” said Fight the Hike member Mary Johnson. The suffering in Japan due to the earthquake and tsunami is compounded by the spread of radiation from the damaged nuclear reactors. We need to shut reactors down before there are any more nuclear disasters.

Fight the Hike meets the third Thursday of each month at

7 p.m., NH City Hall, 165 Church St., 2nd floor meeting room 3. Our next meeting will be on April 21. For info call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

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State Senate Drafts New Energy Legislation

Mar 1

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–Paula Panzarella, Fight the Hike

The Energy and Technology Committee of the state legislature has still not released a draft version of Senate Bill 1, which was promised to be a new version of the electricity legislation that Gov. Rell vetoed last year. A public hearing for this has been scheduled  for Tuesday, March 15th. Fight the Hike urges people to testify in favor of this, and hopes to arrange car pooling for everyone who wants to get to Hartford that day.

Fight the Hike was featured on The Alma Hall Show and it will be shown every Saturday in March at 9 p.m. on Comcast Channel 27 (New Haven, Hamden and West Haven).

Joe Markley’s lawsuit against the electricity tax (continuation of the competitive transition assessment charge) will be heard by the CT Supreme Court sometime in March. We pay the highest electrical rates in the continental U.S. already, and it is obscene that the legislators in the last session approved this scheme to build up the state coffers through our electricity bills.

Fight the Hike will be meeting the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., New Haven City Hall, 165 Church Street, 2nd floor, meeting room 3. All are invited to join us. Our next meeting is March 17.

If you would like to come to Hartford to meet with legislators, testify at the public hearing, or be involved with our planning, please call (203) 562-2798 or email paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

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Judge Dismisses Lawsuit, Allows DPUC To Levy Tax On UI And CL&P Customers

Dec 29

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— Paula Panzarella, Fight the Hike

On Dec. 20, Sen.-elect Joe Markley of Southington and Paula Panzarella of Fight the Hike presented arguments before Superior Court Judge Henry Cohn in New Britain to be allowed to contest charges on electric bills that are in effect a new tax. Markley began his lawsuit in October, and named the Competitive Transition Assessment (CTA)/ Economic Recovery Revenue Bonds (ERRB) charge “the sneaky tax,” as most people do not realize that any new taxes have been levied by the 2010 state legislature.

This was the second time Markley and Panzarella were before the judge, ready to argue motions for the tax to be rescinded. The first motion heard was the State’s to have the case dismissed. Judge Cohn decided in the State’s favor. If the case were to have continued, the judge would have then heard the motion to allow Panzarella, representing Fight the Hike, to officially intervene as a plaintiff. At this time Markley is the sole plaintiff. After Jan. 1, he will decide how he will further pursue having this tax removed.

In other Fight the Hike news, energy legislation similar to last year’s will again be presented to the legislature. In 2010, the bill that Fight the Hike worked on was approved by the entire legislature and then vetoed by Gov. Rell.   Fight the Hike will again meet with legislators to get the bill passed. Connecticut still has the highest electric rates in the continental United States. For questions and ideas or to join on to the Fight the Hike e-group list, please call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

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News From Fight The Hike

Dec 1

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By Paula Panzarella, Fight the Hike

Joe Markley of Southington has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Public Utility Control for its role in agreeing to institute a tax on most Connecticut residents and businesses through their electric bills with UI and CL&P. There is a possibility that Fight the Hike may be able to join this suit.

Please call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com  for updates. Joe is a newly-elected Republican State Senator who sees electricity concerns as bi-partisan.

As soon as Fight the Hike hears of new electricity legislation for the 2011 session, we will let you know.
For questions and ideas or to join on to the Fight the Hike e-group list, please call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

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News From Fight The Hike

Oct 24

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By Paula Panzarella, Fight the Hike

The Competitive Transition Assessment CTA) charge on our electric bill was approved by the Legislature and the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) to continue on as a tax to help balance the state budget. Many PAR readers joined with Fight the Hike in presenting testimony against this. Passionate and eloquent statements were presented, yet the DPUC decided to allow this tax-by-another-name on our bills for years.

At the Sept. 14 DPUC hearing in Waterbury, Joe Markley of Southington testified, and in mid-October, he filed a lawsuit against the DPUC for approving “the sneaky tax.” 

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/candidate_files_lawsuit_against_sneaky_tax/

As of this writing, the lawsuit will go before a judge on Nov. 8 at New Britain Superior Court. Other people may be allowed to sign onto the lawsuit with him. Please call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com for updates. Fight the Hike supporters should try to arrange their schedules to be at the court house with Joe when he presents his case against the tax.

Connecticut’s electric bills are the highest in the continental U.S. The Legislature should have lowered the rates, not approve a bait-and-switch tactic that prevents relief. The charge will not even be for an electricity issue, but for the state budget deficit.

In other energy news, People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) will feature “Solartopia” on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Unitarian Society of Hartford, 50 Bloomfield Avenue in Hartford.

The event is free and donations are welcome. There is a minimal charge for food. From 5 – 6:30 p.m. there will be exhibits, displays and entertainment.  The annual meeting will begin at 6:30, followed by be music, drums, videos and the award ceremony. Awardees include Senator John Fonfara, Bob Stannard of Vermont Citizen’s Awareness Network, Ray Shadis of New England Coalition Against Nuclear Pollution, Michael Trahan from Solar Connecticut and guest speaker Harvey Wasserman, author of Solartopia.

For information about this event, call (860) 693-4813 or visit the website. www.pace-cleanenergy.org.

As soon as Fight the Hike learns of new electricity legislation for the 2011 session, we will let you know.  For questions and ideas, please call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

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We Got The Legislature, Governor And Electric Company Blues

Aug 31

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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.

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Fight The Hike: Gov Vetoes Energy Bill, U.I. To Buy 3 Gas Companies

Jun 1

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by Paula Panzarella

On May 25, the same day that United Illuminating announced it intends to buy three gas companies for $885 million, Gov. Rell vetoed S.B. 493, the energy legislation that would have helped lower electric rates, promote renewable energy and call for corporate accountability of the electric companies.

It’s imperative that the politicians call for a special session and override Gov. Rell’s veto. Please call your representative and senator (see page 3). If you don’t know who they are, go to http://votesmart.org and enter in your zip code on the upper left portion of the screen.

Find out how they voted on S.B. 493 here: http://tiny.cc/046qr and here: http://tiny.cc/e9tn9. Thank them if they voted in favor, and demand they work to override the veto. If they didn’t vote for the bill, tell them you expect them to do right by Connecticut consumers and businesses and vote now for an override. Remind them that the Energy and Technology Committee worked on the legislation since mid-March, and held public hearings on the issues presented in S.B. 493 (at that time, the bills were named H.R. 5505, H.R. 5507, H.R. 5508, and S.B. 463).

Tell Gov. Rell that by vetoing S.B. 493 she betrayed the people and the businesses of Connecticut. Her phone number is 1-800-406-1527. Her e-mail is Governor.Rell@ct.gov.

United Illuminating has shown itself to be a dishonorable corporation, and its acquisition and control of gas companies will further impoverish Connecticut residents and businesses. Honest antitrust legislation should deny their request, but that may be determined by how much people are willing to take on this struggle. Fight the Hike’s next meeting is Thursday, June 17. For details, call (203) 562-2798.

Fight The Hike Update

Mar 31

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by Frank Panzarella

Fight the Hike has been working on energy reform issues for 4 years now and our work has included developing bills as well as grassroots education campaigns to develop public opinion and understanding of the issues facing Connecticut.

There are a number of energy bills worth supporting. Our focus is on HR 5505, a bill that would create a Connecticut electric authority, which would enable the state to create new energy generation under state auspices, end-run the current buying process and buy directly from generators, and promote renewables, among other important pieces.

H.B. No. 5505, An Act Concerning Electric Rate Relief, would mandate the creation of a discount electric and natural gas rate for low-income customers to help struggling families keep up with their bills.

It would also create a new agency, a power authority called the Connecticut Electric Authority that would be tasked with ensuring that Connecticut’s electric rates go down. It would have the power to create new generation under state auspices and be able to bond monies for this purpose.

In addition, this bill would ensure that Connecticut has reliable electric service, including contracting with new power plants or existing power plants.

The Connecticut Electric Authority would be the agency responsible for making sure that State buildings are leading the way in adopting new technologies

This bill would also create a windfall profits tax to tax generation companies that take advantage of the efficiencies and poor design of the regional energy market. The proceeds of the tax would go directly back to ratepayers, with the goal that we will finally stop having the highest rates in the Continental United States.

Other bills that Fight the Hike would like passed are: H.B. No. 5507, An Act Concerning Consumer Protections In The Retail Electricity Market; H.B. No. 5508, An Act Establishing The Division Of Electricity Policy And Procurement; and H.B. No. 5362, An Act Concerning Renewable Energy.

The next Fight the Hike meeting is Thursday, April 15 at 6 p.m., New Haven City Hall, 165 Church St., 2nd floor. For more information, call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarelle@yahoo.com.

Fight the Hike

Mar 4

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By Paula Panzarella

One thousand leaflets were distributed in Hartford during January, about the need for energy reform and the necessity of Hartford residents to contact their state senator John Fonfara. Sen. Fonfara was personally responsible for no energy legislation being passed in the 2009 session. As senate chair of the energy and technology committee, he blocked the energy bills from being reviewed by the Senate. We don’t want a repeat of that this year!

The residents and businesses of CT are still paying the highest electrical rates in the continental US.  Fight the Hike will continue to demand that our state senators and representatives help get electricity prices under control, promote clean sustainable energy, and work towards undoing the damage of electricity deregulation. As of this writing, the details of proposed 2010 energy legislation are not available.

The next meeting of Fight the Hike will be Thursday, March 18, 6 p.m., at New Haven City Hall, 165 Church St., 2nd floor. For more information, call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

Fight the Hike Update

Jan 30

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By Paula Panzarella, Fight the Hike

On Jan. 9, Fight the Hike members handed out 500 leaflets door-to-door in Sen. John Fonfara’s district about the need for electricity legislation in the 2010 legislative session. Last year, Sen. Fonfara blocked the energy bills from being reviewed by the Senate, after the representatives in the House passed the bills by a large majority.

Fight the Hike will again leaflet in Hartford on Saturday, Jan. 30. We will leave New Haven at 11 a.m., and be back by 3 p.m. If you wish to join us and carpool, please call (203) 562-2798 for more information.

In February and March we will leaflet in the districts of Sen. Don Williams, Senate president pro tempore, and Sen. Martin Looney, Senate majority leader.

The residents and businesses of CT are still paying the highest electrical rates in the continental US, and the legislature owes it to CT residents and businesses to undo the damage of electricity deregulation.

The next meeting of Fight the Hike will be Thursday,
Feb. 18, 6 p.m., at New Haven City Hall, 165 Church St., 2nd floor. For more information, call (203) 562-2798 or
e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.