Connecticut Joins Regional Call for Electric Grid Changes

10.15.2020
Issues & Policies

Gov. Ned Lamont joined governors from four New England States this week calling for changes to the regional electric grid that will emphasize the state’s efforts to meet climate change and clean energy goals. 

Other governors joining the statement included Maine’s Janet Mills, Massachusetts’ Charlie Baker, Rhode Island’s Gina Raimondo, and Vermont’s Phil Scott.  

“When Connecticut deregulated our electricity sector, we were promised competition, lower risk for ratepayers, more affordable electricity and a system that respects and accommodates our clean energy mandates,” Lamont said in a statement.

“What we got is a system that has actively hindered our efforts to decarbonize the grid, and imposed burdensome costs on Connecticut ratepayers to fix market design failures.

“Working together with our neighboring states, I’m committed to achieving a regional electricity grid that provides the affordable, clean and reliable electricity that Connecticut families and businesses deserve.”

Priorities

Mills said ISO-New England, New England’s regional electricity grid, needed to “broaden its focus to include consumer and environmental concerns as well as reliability and cost.” The inference being that they have focused too much on reliability and cost as opposed to environmental concerns. 

While CBIA recognizes that Connecticut has adopted aggressive climate change goals, ensuring system reliability and competitively priced electricity must be at least an equal priority.

The recent controversy over electrical rate increases and the speed of power restoration in the wake of a devastating tropical storm have demonstrated that cost and reliability weigh heavily on the minds of Connecticut’s residents.   

Lamont said a vision statement will be released in the coming days by the New England State Committee on Electricity that will outline reform priorities and recommendations, which we understand will be followed by a stakeholder review and input process.

ISO New England is charged with ensuring reliability.  To the extent meeting state climate goals may create challenges with respect to ensuring that reliability at an affordable cost, further dialogue is appropriate and CBIA looks forward to participating in the stakeholder review process.  


For more information, contact CBIA’s Eric Gjede (860.244.1931) | @egjede

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