Update on Electric Vehicles, Access Health CT Fairs in December

November 29, 2023


 
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Dear Neighbor, 

I don’t know about you, but I’m still recovering from turkey and travel last weekend and already, it’s been a very busy week.
 
As the House Chair of Planning and Development, I’m also responsible for co-chairing the Continuing Committee on State Planning and Development and we met today to review the first draft of the State Plan of Conservation and Development. Phew! That’s a mouthful.

The public has already had an initial opportunity to weigh in on this draft and will have more opportunity in March. This plan is crucial to our next five years in Connecticut, and we must look at it with our needs now and our needs in the future.
 
As you probably heard, the Regulation and Review Committee did not take up the EV regulations and we will now work towards these regulations as either part of a special session (only a possibility, not probability as of this writing) or during the regular session which begins on Wednesday, February 7th. 

It’s unfortunate that while states across the country move forward toward clean air goals, we have hit this speed bump, but we will continue our work on this very important topic.
 
The e-news is packed this week with consumer pricing information on electricity, a warning about a new Apple phone feature, information on Access Health, and holiday happenings around the district.
 
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,

Eleni
 
Tabled For Now: Banning the Sale of Gas-Powered
Vehicles by 2035
Yesterday, my colleagues and I stood with Governor Lamont and DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes to discuss the potential regulations on electric vehicles.

We have heard your concerns about the grid, about access to charging stations, among others, and while the Regulations Review Committee did not vote on these possible regulations, the legislature plans to pursue these regulations during the legislative session.
 
Will it look exactly as what was already proposed? Probably not. Will we work on this in a special session ahead of the regular session in February? Maybe.  Will we continue to listen to the science and follow the data around the necessity of making Connecticut’s air cleaner and healthier for all residents? Absolutely.
Capitol news briefing Tuesday on the governor's decision to withdraw proposed regulations on motor vehicle emissions standards.
To further explain why we seek to pursue clean air regulations, like many other states across the country are pursuing, please read the following article from the Connecticut Mirror. Click HERE.
 
I’d also share with you some statistics from the American Lung Association. By working toward a zero-emission transportation system fueled by a clean energy grid, the public health benefits are significant and include:
  • $13.7B in public health benefits
  • 1250 avoided premature deaths
  • 27,400 avoided asthma attacks
  • 143 avoided lost workdays

 
Stay tuned to future e-newsletters for updates as they become available and so that you can share your opinion on whatever legislation we seek to pass.
 
Summit for a Sustainable Built Environment “Justice of Place” Conference
Recently, I was a panelist for the Northeast Summit for a Sustainable Built Environment “Justice of Place” Conference along with House Chair of the Environment Committee Joe Gresko and House Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee Jonathan Steinberg at Yale.
Primarily, the moderator and the attendees wanted to know how we plan to address conservation, green building, green energy and more in the upcoming legislative session. We also heard their frustrations around monies swept out of the Green Bank and not returned as well as questions on how people can more effectively interact with us as legislators. To learn more about the organization, visit https://www.nessbe.net.
 
Access Health Enrollment Fairs in December  
West Hartford and Bristol will be among six areas throughout the state in which Access Health CT will host enrollment fairs throughout December for Connecticut residents to shop, compare, and enroll or renew their health coverage during the current Open Enrollment period.

Enrollment fairs are one-day events offering customers free, one-on-one help from enrollment specialists.

The fair in West Hartford is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2 at

West Hartford Library, located at 20 South Main Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register here.

In Bristol, the AHCT enrollment fair is slated for Friday, Dec. 15 at Bristol Public Library, located at 5 High Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Register here.

Open Enrollment began Nov. 1, 2023, and runs through Jan. 15, 2024. Customers must enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2023, for coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2024. Customers who enroll between Dec. 16, 2023, and Jan. 15, 2024, will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2024.

A complete schedule of the one-day events, along with the ability to scan a QR code to register, can be found below.
 
Reminder: Take Control of Energy Costs 
Eversource customers could be paying 39 percent less on the supply portion of their bill than they did last year after the energy company filed new electric supply prices from power generators on Friday. If approved, the new standard service rate for residential customers would receive their energy supply from Eversource would be 14.7 cents per kWh compared to last winter's supply rate of 24.17 cents per kWh.

The new Standard Service Rate, if approved by PURA, would be in effect from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. 

Eversource is also offering several options for those who need help negotiating their bills!
 
  • A new Low-Income Discount Rate will take effect December 1st, which gives customers with a financial hardship status either a 10% or 50% discount off their electric bill per month. Customers can qualify to receive the discount based on household income or receipt of a public assistance benefit. For example, if a customer has a $100 monthly bill, it would be $10 less if they receive a 10% discount or $50 less if they receive the 50% discount.
  • The New Start Program can help customers pay their past due balance in as little as 12 months. If customers make their monthly payments on time, we will subtract some of what is owed each month. (For example, if a customer’s budget payment amount is set at $150 per month and their past due balance is $1,200, for every month they make the required $150 payment towards their bill, we will reduce the past-due balance by $100.) 
  • Budget Billing helps avoid seasonal spikes on a customer’s energy bill by letting them pay a fixed amount each month based on their average annual usage.
  • Flexible Payment Plans are available to all customers to help pay their past-due balance over a period of time.
  • The Matching Payment Program can lower the amount customers owe on energy bills. For every dollar they pay and every dollar they receive from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, we will subtract a dollar from the amount owed.

Eversource is encouraging all customers to contact the energy company at Eversource.com/Billhelp or 800-286-2828 to find out if one of these programs could be beneficial.

Of note: State regulations are being updated to enable customers with a hardship status on their account to switch to a third-party supplier beginning early next year. The energy company is also working with state regulators and evaluating the system changes needed to enable hardship customers to choose a third-party supplier and also receive the Low-Income Discount Rate. Customers can opt out of financial hardship or medical protection status in order to enroll with a supplier before January 1 by completing a form at Eversource.com/supplier.
 
Warning on New Apple Update
Police departments all over the state are warning people about a new feature called NameDrop on the latest Apple update. NameDrop allows users, including your children, to share contacts between Apple devices by bringing them close to each other.

Both the devices involved must have the Bluetooth and NameDrop features turned on. After that, the NameDrop technology will allow you to share the contact by tapping the two phones.
Even though NameDrop is auto enabled when you update to iOS 17, it’s crucial to note that consent is required throughout the process. A stranger can’t bump into you for a few seconds, and then walk away with your phone number.

Learn more from Forbes: 

Is Apple’s New ‘NameDrop’ Contact Sharing Feature Safe? Experts Say Yes—Despite Warnings From Police
 
Avon, Canton Receive Grants From Supporting Arts Program
A hearty congratulations to the Farmington Valley Arts Center and The New England Ballet Theater of Connecticut, both in Avon, along with the Canton-based Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra for receiving grants from the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) Office of the Arts. 

Over 230 grants were awarded throughout the state totaling $1,050,000.
The Supporting Arts grant program provides general operating support to Connecticut arts organizations and municipal arts departments. This type of grant is flexible and gives the grantee the ability to use the funds where they are most needed. State and federal funds, from the National Endowment for the Arts, support this program.  For more information about the Supporting Arts grant program, Click HERE.
 
Upcoming Events in Our Community
Christmas in Collinsville begins Friday, and the 6th annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Avon Town Green is on Sunday! See the flyer below for more details.
 
 
A Favorite Holiday Tradition
One of my favorite holiday traditions is putting out our “basket” of snacks for delivery drivers. Working long hours,  running from house to house, they often don’t have time to stop for food, and if this makes their day a little bit easier, it’s one more way to say, “Thank you!” Works great for your pizza delivery person also. A little bit of kindness can go a very long way this time of year.
 
Happy Birthday, Pappou!
And finally, a point of personal privilege so to speak.
 
Yesterday, my Pappou (Grandfather for those of you who don’t speak Greek) celebrated the big 99! While we had the chance to celebrate him over the Thanksgiving holiday, we were thrilled to celebrate him from near and far. He’s absolutely tickled to be 99 and I hope you’ll join me in wishing him good health.
Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative
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