Last year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a comprehensive Energy Bill in the waning moments of the legislative session, to the praise of supporters long seeking energy reform and to the chagrin of critics objecting to its sweeping provisions.
This year, with a like-mined governor, co-authors Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, and Rep. Vickie Nardello, D-Prospect – the co-chairs of the Energy & Technology Committee – hope to get the bill signed into law, as last year’s was vetoed by former Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Based on Tuesday’s public committee hearing on the legislation, the same jeers and cheers for the bill have carried over from last year with the usual suspects voicing their same praise and critiques.
“Energy policy reform is the top priority in the legislature this year. Senate Bill 1 will create, for the first time in decades, a dedicated energy agency committed to developing and implementing energy policy for Connecticut,” Fonfara said in a statement “This legislation will place Connecticut at the forefront of our country in generating innovative solutions to our energy problems.”
The bill will combing the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Public Utility Control into one agency called the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP. This proposal was proffered by Gov. Dannel Malloy in his budget as well.
The legislation also will study the role of ISO New England on electric rates, create a procurement manager at DEEP to lower standard rates, establish non-ratepayer funds for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, provide credits for solar power, offer low-cost financing for homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements, and create innovation hubs at the state’s universities.
At Tuesday’ hearing, the AARP Connecticut chapter voiced its support of the legislation, saying the state needs to lower electricity rates that rank second highest in the nation. The organization particularly support streamlining the way the state buys electricity, providing protections for customers that switch to competitive energy suppliers, establishing a low-income discount rate and giving incentives to replace old, inefficient furnaces.
The AARP still opposed a few provisions of the complex bill. The agency didn’t want the state to implement a smart meter program that sets higher prices for peak use times, as many senior citizens are home during peak use times. The organization also was concerned about the costs of the solar programs.
The Retail Energy Supply Association, made up of 12 Connecticut electricity suppliers opposes the Energy Bill’s provisions. The organization said many of the consumer protections for those buying from electricity suppliers would be burdensome on the industry.
By having a DEEP procurement manager to lower the standard rates, the electricity suppliers argued that they would be undermined in offering better pricing to customers than those standard rates. This would undo the impacts of 1998 deregulating of the energy market.
“The competitive energy market is still young,” RESA President David Fein said in a statement. “We encourage Connecticut legislators and policy makers to work to expand the competitive options and protect consumers, instead of frustrating customer choice.”
