Malloy, Cassano Tout Energy Reform on Hottest Day of Year

On what might just be the hottest day of the year, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, State Sen. Steve Cassano, and a handful of local leaders stopped by the Manchester Senior Center Friday to offer tips to local seniors on ways to beat the heat, as well as highlighting recently passed legislation aimed at decreasing the state’s high energy costs.

As part of the recently enacted biennial $40.1 billion budget, lawmakers agreed to eliminate a 5 percent surcharge on the bills of all Connecticut Light and Power customers, which provides power for the bulk of Connecticut residents. The surcharge elimination, effective July 1, is estimated to save CL&P customers a total of approximately $113 million throughout the state this year.

Lawmakers also voted to pass Public Act 11-80 during the most recent legislative session, a sweeping bill that aims to lower the cost of energy for all Connecticut residents through a combination of energy efficiency programs, investments in “clean” and “green” energy, and a restructuring of the state’s electrical market.

“With today’s extremely hot weather, air conditioners will be cranking, and seniors’ electric bills will be going up. Fortunately, we eliminated an electric bill surcharge in the state budget this year, which will amount to a 5 percent savings for the average household or business, for a total $113 million in savings statewide. That should help significantly,” said Cassano, a Democrat who represents Manchester and the surrounding area in the state Senate. “We also passed major energy reform this year, which will revamp our state’s approach to energy policy, and help lower electric costs even further over the coming months.”

Malloy noted that Connecticut residents pay among the highest electrical costs in the nation, and an average of 18 percent higher than their neighbors throughout New England.

“Which is why we are taking an aggressive approach to overhauling statewide energy policy,” said the governor, who appeared in shirt sleeves no doubt due to Friday's extreme heat. “Legislation signed into law this year represents a new, strategic path toward reducing costs for families and businesses. Days like today are a good reminder about why we need to have a smart, sustainable, affordable energy policy in our state.”

Malloy said the new legislation was estimated to help further reduce Connecticut’s energy costs an additional 5 to 10 percent by the end of the year through a combination of:

• Streamlining the state’s electrical contracting and procurement procedures to allow electric companies to take better advantage of the volatile natural gas market to obtain the lowest possible prices.
• The creation of a new state agency, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and the creation of the position of Electric Procurement Manager within the department to work with utilities on lower rates.
• The DEEP will also have the ability to work with struggling families and seniors to develop options for discounted electric and natural gas rates.
• Develop assistance and incentive programs that help homeowners and businesses with the replacement of inefficient boilers and furnaces.
• Allow towns to establish low-rate financing for home energy upgrades by providing loans which may be repaid on property tax bills; the accounts would transfer with the sale of the property, Malloy said.
• Create a new “green bank,” through a combination of state and private dollars, to invest in clean energy businesses, jobs and projects; support and encourage zer0- and low-emission electric generation technologies.

“Let me be very clear, in this new energy bill, we’re doing a lot of things for the citizens (of Connecticut), all of which are designed to make our environment cleaner, with fewer emissions, and lower cost energy,” Malloy said. “…This bill will help lower the price of energy in Connecticut; put our state in the forefront of clean, green energy creation.”

, president of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said that the elimination of the five percent surcharge would make a big difference to many local businesses and residents.

“We represents roughly 500 businesses in 31 towns throughout the state, and the thing I hear most often is that utility and health care costs are affecting businesses, so thank you Governor for your efforts at reducing energy costs,” O’Connor said. “I know that even at home I hate to see my electric bill, almost as much as the oil bill.”