Fazio, In Waterbury, Vows Relief From Rising Energy Bills

by Donald Eng

WATERBURY, CT — Rising and unpredictable electricity rates are forcing Connecticut families into impossible choices, according to state Sen. Ryan Fazio. And the Greenwich Republican and candidate for governor laid the blame squarely at the feet of Gov. Ned Lamont, Eversource and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. 

Fazio, at a press briefing at Dasco Welded Products in Waterbury, expressed his concern over reports that Eversource was expected to file an electric rate increase with PURA, which he said would likely be around 11%. He called the potential increase disastrous for families.

“The governor recently released an advertisement claiming he’s holding the utilities accountable,” Fazio said. “How exactly is he holding them accountable? By creating a system where utilities continue to raise rates, shift costs onto ratepayers, and charge families and businesses for programs and services they don’t even use.”

Fazio was joined at the event by a handful of local business owners and Republican candidates for office. Dawn Maiorano, of Maiorano Funeral Home and a former Republican candidate for mayor of Waterbury, said Connecticut’s small businesses were facing growing challenges due to rising energy costs.

“Running a small business has never been easy. But today, it’s becoming nearly impossible — not because we aren’t working hard enough, but because the cost of doing business keeps climbing,” she said. “Here in Waterbury, we already pay some of the highest property taxes in Connecticut. Then, on top of that, we’re hit with Eversource rate increases and new fees. Small business owners have done our part. Now it’s time that the state does theirs.”

Eversource, in response, said the company made an easy target for politicians in an election year. In a statement, company officials said their customers deserved better.

“Constant attempts to politicize energy policy and trade on charged rhetoric around electric rates do not serve the interests of customers, nor does it do anything to solve the pressing energy issues facing our state and region which is energy supply constraints, and the unregulated supply market, that continue to drive half of the customer electric bill, and which we don’t control,” according to a statement. “The distribution rate, which we’ve not filed to adjust in almost 10 years, will be the focus of our upcoming rate review application. The Local Delivery portion of the bill, which includes this rate, is typically about 30% of the bill.”

The statement continued that electric power is necessary for public safety, economic security, education and the public’s health and wellbeing.

“Our rate request will demonstrate a clear need for continued investments to ensure the safety and reliability of the electric system, which is a necessity for both customers and policymakers in reaching their goals to move the state forward.”

Fazio urged residents to submit testimony in the upcoming PURA proceedings. In response to a media question about former PURA Chair Marissa Gillett, a consistent opponent of rate hikes whose confirmation vote saw Senate Republicans stage a walkout, Fazio said PURA needed leaders who were tough but also adhered to the principles of transparency.

He said if elected utilities cost would be one of his top priorities. In contrast, he said Connecticut’s current leaders had allowed utility costs to spiral out of control. 

“Connecticut deserves better, and together we can build a state where people no longer have to choose between keeping the lights on and making ends meet,” he said.

Fazio’s potential opponents in November, Lamont and Democratic state Sen. Josh Elliott of Hamden, had differing reactions.

Elliott, who is challenging Lamont in an August Democratic primary, said there was not much new in Fazio’s statements.

“He is obsessed with the public benefits charge – and he’s identified something I agree with,” Elliott said. “It’s a regressive fee. But where we dramatically differ is how to ensure the programs it funds remain intact.”

The public benefits charge is a utility bill surcharge that funds energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-income assistance programs and typically accounts for up to about 30% of residential electricity costs.

“He seems obsessed with killing subsidies for solar power because he deems it as us choosing winners and losers,” Elliott said. “But in this case, we should be choosing winners if that is the difference between dramatic climate change or stabilization.”

Rob Blanchard, a spokesperson for the Lamont campaign, said Fazio wanted voters to think he was serious about energy, but his actions showed otherwise.

“All Fazio has proposed is grandstanding against regulators with zero follow-through, and not a single idea for lowering utility costs, with no other proposals on anything else Connecticut families care about, like housing, healthcare or jobs,” he said. “Governor Lamont has actually done the work of assembling an independent utility watchdog that holds utilities accountable and puts ratepayers first. That’s the difference between a talking point and a track record.”