Legislature Working Hard on Energy Strategy

By Rep. Elizabeth Boukus

Even though January will be almost over by the time you read this, I do want to wish you all a very Happy, Healthy and Enjoyable New Year! The Connecticut General Assembly began its new session on January 3rd 2007 and I was pleased to have had Councilman Kirby Deegan and Plainville resident Jason Rupaka join me for the day’s events.

Since January 3rd members of the General Assembly have received their committee assignments.  I am pleased that Speaker James Amann has asked me to serve on his leadership team as Deputy Majority Whip.  I will also serve on the Banking, Commerce, Public Safety and Security and Internship Committees.

Among the many issues, healthcare, education, transportation, and property tax reform is the increased cost of energy.   The Energy Committee held hearings in December and is working hard to craft a comprehensive plan to stabilize prices in Connecticut. They are working to have a bill ready for a vote before the full house of Representatives in February.

The Energy Committee has heard from all sides of this issue – receiving testimony from regulatory, conservation and environmental experts as well as business and ratepayers.  In the middle of writing this article I answered a call from a Plainville resident on just this issue. This is neither a Democratic issue nor a Republican issue; this is a national issue for all ratepayers and their families. I would urge you to contact our Congressional Delegation in Washington and add your voice for a strong national energy policy.

There are several major driving forces that have resulted in higher costs. Among these are the global market, the need to establish a stronger federal energy policy, deregulation in Connecticut and the growth in consumption (primarily through the increased use of air conditioning) according to the Independent system Operator- New England. In New England residential consumption per household grew by approximately 10% since 1998.

According to the Office of Fiscal Analysis two components of electric rates are likely to decrease in the next few years due to the following; first federally mandated charges associated with the congestion on the transmission system accounting for 15% of the average residential customer’s monthly bill.  The Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) believes these charges will fall significantly as the Norwalk-Stamford and Norwalk-Middletown transmission lines are completed in 2008 and 2009. Secondly, the competitive transition assessment, which accounts for approximately 5% of the average residential bill, will decline as the utilities’ stranded costs are paid off.  These are costs, primarily for power plants, that had previously been approved by DPUC but whose continued recovery was jeopardized with the advent of competition.

The proposed bill is a working document and is not on the Energy Committee website at the time of this writing.  You may leave your name and telephone number with my Legislative Aide Mary Anderson 240-8500 and we will call you back when a bill is available.

I would like to remind residents of the 22nd District that if anyone is preparing to testify on any proposed legislation or anyone is visiting the Legislative Office Building or the State Capitol and would like to meet with me that they can notify Mary at 240-8500 for my availability.

I will be holding office hours in the smaller conference room of the Plainville Public Library on Tuesday, February 13th from 5 - 7 pm if you would like to stop in and meet with me on a one to one basis.

Elizabeth "Betty" Boukus is serving her seventh term in the General Assembly.  She represents the 22nd District, which includes Plainville and portions of Bristol and New Britain.