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Stunner: PURA to Investigate Increase It Approved.

by Kevin Rennie

State legislators are enraged that consumers have discovered the consequences of a deal the legislature enacted. Panic over the public’s reaction to July Eversource bills grew so intense Wednesday that PURA, the state public utility regulator, announced it would investigate rate increases it approved. This circle of evasions from its own actions will be remarkable to behold.

PURA will not be investigating the effect of executive compensation on consumer rates, though the rate increase has awoken public interest in the cost, set forth here and here.

PURA made its historic announcement Wednesday afternoon:

**MEDIA ADVISORY** PURA to Investigate Eversource Delivery Fee Increases

(New Britain, CT – July 29, 2020) – Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) announced today that it is in receipt of a letter from the leadership of the General Assembly’s Energy and Technology Committee and the Legislative leadership as a whole in which the signatories request that PURA suspend the rate increases associated with the Eversource delivery charge that went into effect on July 1, 2020.

PURA has accepted the letter as a formal motion for reconsideration in the associated docketed proceeding, Docket Number 20-01-01, and expects to expeditiously rule on the motion after considering comments received by other stakeholders and members of the public.

PURA continues to be mindful of the public health emergency and urges Connecticut customers to contact their utility company if they need assistance with their electric bills by inquiring whether they are eligible for a financial hardship protection program or to enroll in a COVID-19 Payment Program offered by their utility company. More information on COVID-19 efforts can be found on PURA’sCOVID Actions webpage.

Customers may also contact PURA’s consumer services representatives with any inquiries or complaints related to this matter, which will be accounted for as part of the open investigation. PURA’s Education and Outreach Unit receives such correspondence by phone, toll-free in Connecticut at 1-800-382-4586 or by email atpura.information@ct.gov.