Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on how PURA can improve stakeholder participation, engagement, and accessibility in its proceedings. My name is Meghan Portfolio, and I am the Manager of Research and Analysis for Yankee Institute, a non-profit public policy organization in Hartford dedicated to empowering Connecticut residents to forge a better future for themselves and their families.
Despite the far-reaching impact of PURA’s decisions on Connecticut’s residents, participation in its proceedings remains limited with ratepayers often left out of the process. A key obstacle is the highly technical and legalistic language used in dockets, which makes them inaccessible to most ratepayers. When critical regulatory decisions are conveyed in these complex terms, the public cannot fully understand their implications or meaningfully engage in the process.
It is essential for PURA to take steps to engage ratepayers and provide transparent, accessible information about regulatory decisions and their implications.
Yankee Institute offers the following recommendations:
- Plain-Language Docket Summaries:
PURA should require the creation of summaries for all dockets impacting ratepayers. These summaries should clearly outline why utilities are requesting changes, the anticipated costs to consumers, and the rationale behind PURA’s decisions.
- Comprehensive Notification Requirements:
Utilities should notify customers about upcoming PURA meetings and decisions that could affect their rates. Notifications should appear on both mailed and online
billing statements, and utilities should send email alerts to ensure customers are informed in a timely manner.
- Enhanced Communication Strategies:
PURA should expand its outreach efforts by utilizing multiple communication channels, including social media, email updates, and public announcements. Proactive communication would ensure that ratepayers are not only aware of proceedings but also feel encouraged to participate.
These measures would not only create a more inclusive and equitable process but also ensure that PURA decisions are better understood by the public they affect.
Respectfully submitted,
Meghan Portfolio
Manager of Research and Analysis
[email protected]
