The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has denied the request made by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to review the recent rate case of Berlin electric utility Connecticut Light & Power.
Blumenthal specifically asked FERC Chairman Cheryl LaFleur to look at the increase of CL&P customer basic monthly power grid connection fee from $16 to $19.25 and examine whether FERC should cap such fees for utilities across the nation.
Blumenthal’s request raised the ire of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which approved the CL&P increase, especially after he called PURA’s actions unconscionable, horrendous, and misguided.
In the letter denying Blumenthal’s request, LaFleur wrote that FERC doesn’t not have the authority to review state rate cases and any federal guidance on such rate cases must come from the U.S. Secretary of Energy.
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