Special Session

Special Session
October 1, 2020
The House of Representatives concluded a one-day Special Session early this morning that included some important accomplishments that I am sharing with you below.

I am pleased to report that we took action on the most transformative Energy reform legislation on utility rates in a decade.

We are holding the big utility companies accountable to ratepayers and addressing some of the pressing issues that we have heard from many of you.
 
H.B. 7006 - AAC Emergency Response by Electric Distribution Companies, also known as "Take Back our Grid" legislation, creates a solid framework to not only hold utility companies accountable, but pushes them to improve their services and how they respond to future storms.
We are not done addressing the issues of significant rate increases in July and poor performance during Tropical Storm Isaias.  As you may know, PURA has on-going investigations into both the Eversource rate increase and the storm response. I am certain that these investigations will lead to legislative proposals for when the legislature convenes in January.
 
 
We also addressed and approved a few other key measures:
  • Overhauled the “Transfer Act” to make it easier to re-develop brownfields and former industrial sites.
  • Streamlined the process for counting ballots this November to help cities and towns with this important task
  • Invested in school construction projects – a critical step to keep our statewide education system moving
  • Passed expanded environmental justice requirements.

Special Session