Scott Pearson, a Monroe resident spearheading the advocacy against the Public Benefits Charge on Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) bills, has formally requested a meeting with Gov. Ned Lamont.
In July, Pearson launched a petition demanding that the governor and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) end the charge, which has since garnered 67,700. His aim is to personally deliver the petition to Gov. Lamont, who has yet to respond, on Oct. 24.
The Public Benefits Charge is the part of your electric bill that covers the cost of government mandates imposed on power companies for grid reliability, affordability, clean energy and other state energy policies.
However, Pearson — like the other signatories — view it as an unfair tax on electric bills. He was inspired to start the petition after seeing a Facebook post by Lisa S., a fellow Monroe resident, who shared a picture of her $952 electric bill, noting that $200 of it was for the Public Benefits Charge. Lisa’s post quickly gained attention, prompting Pearson to take action.
However, Lisa recently informed Pearson in an email that she has decided to move to North Carolina, citing frustration with Connecticut’s high taxes and cost of living, writing, “I’m so over this state’s ridiculous taxing and expenses.”
Pearson has been persistent in requesting a five-minute audience with Gov. Lamont, especially recently, reaching out via email and phone calls on Oct. 3, 4 and 8th. If the governor fails to grant a meeting, Pearson will still deliver his message: leaving the 1,573-page petition with one of Gov. Lamont’s staff.
Despite the lack of response from the governor’s office, Pearson remains hopeful.
In the past, Gov. Lamont has met with various groups to discuss issues affecting their lives. In 2023, he sat down with members of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union to address concerns impacting their membership. Just last month, Gov. Lamont took time to walk the picket line at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, where workers were on strike over wages, healthcare, and retirement benefits.
However, the governor hasn’t always met with activists directly. In 2019, Patrick Sasser from No Tolls CT presented over 100,000 petition signatures from residents opposing tolls. Instead of meeting with the governor, they were greeted by Gov. Lamont’s then-Chief of Staff, Ryan Drajewicz.
Pearson is optimistic that Lamont will take the petition seriously, especially as public discontent with rising utility costs grows. “I’m looking forward to delivering the petition,” Pearson told Yankee Institute. “It’s important that the voices of Connecticut residents are heard on this issue.”
As Oct. 24 approaches, the spotlight is on Gov. Lamont to see if he will address the growing movement against the Public Benefits Charge, or if Pearson will be left handing off the petition without a face-to-face meeting.
CCM Joins the Fight
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the state’s largest, nonpartisan organization of municipal leaders, is calling on policymakers to utilize excess federal resources to offset the recent skyrocketing utility costs.
The proposal was approved by CCM’s Board of Directors on Sept. 10.
This move comes as Connecticut residents face some of the highest electricity rates in the country, with the Public Benefits Charge — which covers the costs of government mandates imposed on power companies — adding to the strain. The charge, applied to both residential and commercial utility bills, has become a focal point of frustration as energy rates continue to rise statewide.
The CCM laid out its plan in a Sept. 17 letter to Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield), suggesting that instead of forcing residents to foot the bill for unpaid utility costs caused by the state’s four-year COVID-era moratorium (which prevented companies from disconnecting people’s electricity when they did not pay their bills), that lawmakers dip into America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
However, the organization didn’t stop there, adding that “if a special session is needed to accommodate this recommendation, CCM supports this action.” In other words, CCM is ready to push lawmakers into action to finally address the skyrocketing utility costs that have been squeezing residents for too long.
As frustration grows over Connecticut’s increasing utility costs, the pressure on Gov. Lamont and state lawmakers to address the Public Benefits Charge continues to build. CCM’s call for relief is perhaps one of the most significant developments in the saga, pushing the issue to the forefront further.
With more residents and businesses voicing their concerns, the debate over utility costs is far from over. How the state responds in the coming weeks could prove critical, especially with elections on the horizon. Lawmakers are likely to face increased scrutiny from voters who are eager to see action on the rising costs that are impacting their daily lives.
PURA Wants Your Help Figuring Out How to be More Accessible.
On Sept. 17, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) announced it will be holding public meetings, on March 20 and May 8, 2025, to “identify improvements to equity and accessibility in proceedings” and communication with various stakeholders.
Through the public meetings, PURA aims to gather stakeholder feedback, particularly from “low-income residential customers, residential customers that experience high energy burdens and individuals and communities impacted by their decisions,” according to the notice from Jeffrey R. Gaudiosi, PURA’s Executive Secretary.
The Authority is asking for input on how to make participation in dockets easier, more meaningful, and more efficient; addressing obstacles limiting effective engagement; miscellaneous information that would help consumers better understand regulated services; and the accessibility tools, such as translation services, that PURA and public service companies should prioritize.
PURA could begin by simplifying the public comment process. In its announcement, stakeholders are instructed to submit recommendations by 4:00 p.m. on January 17, 2025, to allow “sufficient time for consideration and planning.” However, the announcement lacks a direct link for submitting recommendations, instead directing stakeholders to the agency’s website, where they must search for submission instructions.
Already, one organization has weighed in on the process. The Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) submitted written comments raising concerns about the lack of diversity in PURA’s proceedings. According to the CCA, participation in these regulatory processes is consistently narrow and does not represent diverse segments of the community, and in particular the low-income community.” The Center emphasized that in order for PURA to make informed choices, it must first hear from those who are most affected by its rulings.
The CCA also criticized PURA’s communication methods, arguing that many ratepayers are unaware of available protections and programs. The Center called for PURA to retain consultants with expertise in communicating complex legal and regulatory information to the public to ensure that “financially vulnerable ratepayers” are fully informed. CCA suggested that PURA use current technology, like short-form videos and social media, to better reach and involve the public.
As the public comment period moves forward, the real question is whether PURA will genuinely embrace the feedback and make meaningful changes. If the authority truly listens to stakeholders and addresses their concerns, this initiative could mark a significant step in the right direction. The upcoming meetings offer PURA the chance to demonstrate its commitment to creating more inclusive and accessible processes for the ratepayers affected by its decisions. Ultimately, the true measure of success will be whether these discussions lead to concrete, impactful results.
