Governor Lamont’s Announcement Signals Need for Further Utility Accountability Reforms

Governor Ned Lamont announced a sweeping package of utility reforms designed to help communities lower their energy bills, increase utility competition, and create stronger consumer protections. These reforms would require regulators to consider affordability when setting utility rates, increase oversight of utility profits and infrastructure investments, expand the authority of consumer advocates to investigate utility practices, and establish regular reviews of utility franchise agreements. The package also seeks to encourage greater competition by creating opportunities for new energy providers to develop local infrastructure and deliver services directly to customers. Altogether, this can help ensure Connecticut residents receive reliable and affordable energy. 

Vote Solar’s Northeast Regulatory Director, Lindsay Griffin, issued the following statement: 

“We were excited to see Governor Lamont’s announcement calling for sweeping utility reforms.  Communities in Connecticut are facing steadily rising energy bills, while utilities continue to make record profits. This moment calls for exactly the kind of bold action the Governor is describing. Our current energy system is not designed with communities in mind. We need utilities to be rewarded for performance, meaning delivering the outcomes people care about— lower bills, reliable service, resilience during extreme weather, and access to clean energy— not simply for spending more money on infrastructure.

“While PURA has taken steps toward performance-based regulations, those efforts have repeatedly collided with a hard reality: Connecticut’s utilities have shown a willingness to test the boundaries of their relationship with regulators. The recent WFSB investigation reveals just how open the dialogue between United Illuminating and former Commissioner Caron had become, raising serious questions about whose interests were being prioritized. That is why Connecticut needs a strong, independent PURA that remains focused on protecting ratepayers and maintaining public trust in the regulatory process. 

Governor Lamont’s proposal to reinforce performance-based approaches, cap utility profits, strengthen transparency, and give regulators real enforcement teeth could change that dynamic— but only if implementation is equally serious. Vote Solar fully supports transparency, performance-based approaches, and making energy more affordable. We look forward to working with the administration and the legislature on legislation, and eventually with PURA and the Office of Consumer Counsel to put the reforms into action.”

Vote Solar | https://votesolar.org/