Bills to hike state’s energy costs fail in
committees

(April 13, 2006) Lawmakers this week rejected two measures that would have hiked Connecticut consumers' fast-rising energy bills even higher.

• SB-353, which could have isolated Connecticut from the New England electricity marketplace, died in the Judiciary Committee; and
• SB-570, which would have created new programs that relied on state electric rates to help pay for them, died in the Planning and Development Committee.

CBIA applauds the members of the committees who appropriately saw that the bills would hurt the state's energy consumers. Connecticut has among the highest energy costs in the nation and new national forecasts are calling for higher prices this year.

And as recent headlines have attested, high energy costs are seriously affecting the viability of many employers — particularly manufacturers.

But SB-353 required the state to develop a plan to withdraw Connecticut from the regional electricity market overseen by ISO New England. Such a move would have resulted in severe energy price increases for state consumers and reduce Connecticut's energy reliability.

For example, Connecticut consumers are now scheduled to pay approximately 27% of the $1.5 billion in project costs for the state's critical transmission upgrades — with the other New England states set to pay the balance.

If legislators had pulled Connecticut away from ISO New England, consumers in the state would have had to pay all of the transmission cost — and potentially hundreds of millions extra to provide adequate back-up generation and operational costs.

SB-570 proposed to add more than $250 million in new energy programs in Connecticut. The bill had a public hearing on March 9, but on March 27 the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) announced a series of similar energy programs called for in last year's Energy Independence Act. The DPUC programs provide state consumers with immediate opportunities to control their energy costs.

How the Judiciary Committee voted on SB-353

SB-353 required the state to develop a plan to withdraw Connecticut from the regional electricity market overseen by ISO New England. Such a move would have resulted in severe energy price increases for state consumers and reduce Connecticut’s energy reliability. The Judiciary Committee rejected the bill by 21-11, with 9 absent. CBIA opposed the bill.

Supported CBIA’s position
(CBIA opposed SB-353)

Rep. Lawrence F. Cafero, Jr. (R-Norwalk)
Sen. David J. Cappiello (R-Danbury)
Rep. Paul R. Doyle (D-Wethersfield)
Rep. Robert Farr (R-West Hartford)
Rep. Gerald Fox, III (D-Stamford)
Rep. John C. Geragosian (D-New Britain)
Rep. Janice R. Giegler (R-Danbury)
Rep. Robert D. Godfrey (D-Danbury)
Sen. Edwin A. Gomes (D-Bridgeport)
Rep. Minnie Gonzalez (D-Hartford)
Rep. Gail K. Hamm (D-East Hampton)
Rep. William A. Hamzy (R-Terryville)
Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-Monroe)
Sen. John A. Kissel (R-Enfield)
Rep. Themis Klarides (R-Derby)
Rep. P. Faith McMahon (D-Bloomfield)
Rep. Arthur J. O'Neill (R-Southbury)
Rep. Claudia M. Powers (R-Riverside)
Rep. Joseph C. Serra (D-Middletown)
Rep. Christopher Stone (D-East Hartford)
Rep. Lenny T. Winkler (R-Groton)

Opposed CBIA’s position
(CBIA opposed SB-353)

Sen. Eric D. Coleman (D-Bloomfield)
Rep. William R. Dyson (D-New Haven)
Rep. Kenneth P. Green (D-Hartford)
Sen. Mary Ann Handley (D-Manchester)
Rep. Michael P. Lawlor (D-East Haven)
Sen. Andrew J. McDonald (D-Stamford)
Sen. Edward Meyer (D-Guilford)
Rep. Roger B. Michele (D-Bristol)
Rep. Melissa M. Olson (D-Norwich)
Sen. Andrew W. Roraback (R-Goshen)
Rep. James Field Spallone (D-Essex)

Absent
Rep. Ryan P. Barry (D-Manchester)
Rep. Jeffrey J. Berger (D-Waterbury)
Rep. Juan R. Candelaria (D-New Haven)
Rep. Patricia A. Dillon (D-New Haven)
Rep. Mary G. Fritz (D-Wallingford)
Rep. David K. Labriola (R-Naugatuck)
Rep. T.R. Rowe (R-Trumbull)
Rep. Cameron C. Staples (D-New Haven)
Rep. Toni E. Walker (D-New Haven)