State Capitol Update for the Week of November 14th

November 17, 2022
Dear Friend,

This is my State Capitol update for the week of November 14th.

If you prefer to watch rather than read, click on the video below to hear about the issues contained in this newsletter.
 
 
It’s been a week of page-turning. We got our first taste of winter weather earlier this week, and as I started to record my weekly video, a huge snow squall blew through, so Mother Nature seems to be turning her own page. 
 
With the election behind us, a new phase has begun on the legislative calendar. Though the upcoming session doesn’t officially begin until January 4, 2023, when we will all be sworn in, the positioning and brainstorming have already begun.  We are all scheduling meetings with our House leadership to discuss committees and leadership roles.  Usually, a legislator or two opts to join the executive branch or become a judge, so there’s some further re-shuffling that goes on when that happens.  That (and the speculation circulating between all of us as to who is doing what) will likely continue until close to the end of the calendar year. 
 
In the meantime, we’re starting to refresh our lists of legislative priorities. My list includes some items begun in prior years (involving education, broadband, and rural healthcare, to name a few), and some that are brand new.  The lists are both of concepts and of people who have experienced the issue first-hand, or are subject matter experts, so the calendar is beginning to fill up with those preliminary meetings.  We’re all realizing, every year all over again, how little time there really is between now and the official beginning of session on January 4. 
 
Today is National Rural Health Day, a topic which is featured on that legislative list I’m refreshing.  Rural communities like ours are distinct in how we deliver healthcare, but not all that different in terms of our needs: some healthcare issues can be addressed by access to telehealth, while others have to be done in-person so it’s critical to examine in detail how delivery of services is going to work in our region and other similar rural parts of the state. 
 
Another page turned today with Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that she would not seek reelection as Speaker of the US House of Representatives.  Speaker Pelosi has led the Democrats for two decades, and was the first woman to do that, and the first to serve as Speaker.  In Connecticut, only two women have served as either Speaker or Majority Leader in the house, the most recent of which was Secretary of State Denise Merrill, who was Majority Leader in the CT House of Representatives before she became Secretary of State. I had the pleasure of honoring Secretary Merrill this week at a dinner hosted by the League of Conservation Voters, so honoring both of these influential leaders became a feature of my week. 
 
I also had the pleasure this week of attending the annual meeting of the Working Lands Alliance (WLA), a broad-based, statewide coalition working together to preserve Connecticut’s farmland. Farming in our region remains a tradition and a cultural touchpoint, but to survive as a farmer today also requires cutting edge technology, entrepreneurial skills, and policy-making and advocacy.  In our part of the world, one of the major hurdles is the high cost of land, so finding creative ways to keep lands “working” in the agricultural sense, and to enable farms to be sustainable, is critical to their survival.  The WLA is a great ally in that work. 

Here is a list of today's topics:
  • COVID-19 Weekly Update. Click here.
  • COVID Vaccination Clinic at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Friday, November 18 . Click here
  • Consumer Alert from the Office of Consumer Counsel . Click here
  • Aid and Resources to Support Those Experiencing Homelessness. Click here
  • Governor Lamont announces new appointments for Chief of Staff and General Counsel Click here
  • Upcoming event: Douglas Brinkley at Kent Memorial Library on Saturday, November 19 Click here
COVID-19 weekly update
For several additional graphs and tables containing more data, including a list of cases in every municipality, visit ct.gov/coronavirus and click the link that is labeled, “Data Tracker.”
COVID Vaccination Clinic at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Friday, November 18 

There will be a 12+ COVID Vaccination Clinic tomorrow, Friday, November 18, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.  No appointment is necessary.
This is hosted by the Connecticut Department of Health in partnership with Griffin Health.  Further information can be found here:  https://portal.ct.gov/vaccine-portal/DPH-van-clinics?language=en_US
Here is some information on the new bivalent boosters that will be available: 
Pfizer Bivalent Covid Vaccine Dosing/Eligibility
  • 12 years of age and older
  • MUST have received Covid vaccine primary series
  • Eligible for bivalent booster: two months after last dose of vaccine
  • Regardless if last dose was primary series, or boosters
  • DOSE: 0.3ml DO NOT DILUTE One dose only
  • Dosing and Schedule: A single booster dose (0.3 mL) of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent may be administered at least 2 months after completion of primary vaccination or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine

Moderna Bivalent Covid Vaccine Dosing/Eligibility

  • 18 years of age and older
  • MUST have received Covid vaccine primary series
  • Eligible for bivalent booster: two months after last dose of vaccine
  • Regardless if last dose was primary series, or boosters
  • DOSE: 0.5ml DO NOT DILUTE One dose only
  • Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine

Here is the CDC guidelines for these boosters <https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0901-covid-19-booster.html
Consumer Alert from the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC): Eversource and United Illuminating File New and Increasing Supply Rates with PURA for January 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023

                                              

Pending approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), based on filings by The Connecticut Light and Power Company, d/b/a Eversource Energy (“Eversource”) and the United Illuminating Company today, the supply portion of electric bills for customers paying the Standard Service supply rate is scheduled to increase on January 1, 2023, as follows:
  • CL&P/Eversource Fixed Standard Service Residential Rate (Per kWh of customer usage):
    • $0.11484 (beginning 1/1/2022);
    • to $0.12050 (beginning 7/1/2022);
    • to $0.24172(beginning 1/1/2023)

 

  • United Illuminating Fixed Standard Service Residential Rate
    • $0.106731 (beginning 1/1/2022);
    • to $0.1062 (beginning 7/1/2022);
    • to $0.2149 (beginning 1/1/2023)

The scheduled increase will affect Connecticut customers of Eversource and United Illuminating who have their electricity supplied directly from Eversource or UI, as opposed to from a third-party supplier.

  • This will impact the average Eversource residential customer using 700 kWh per month by increasing a monthly bill by approximately $84.85.
  • This will impact the average United Illuminating residential customer using 700 kWh per month by increasing a monthly bill by approximately $79.24.

The main reason for the supply rate increase is the global impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has caused higher prices for oil and natural gas globally and here in the U.S. Connecticut, like all New England states, is heavily reliant on natural gas for electricity, and, therefore, when the market price of natural gas increases, supply rates also increase.
The supply rates are directly affected by the natural gas market price, which is the fuel used to generate the majority of Connecticut’s electricity. When the market price of natural gas increases, supply rates also increase.
The oil/natural gas markets are global, and the market price of natural gas is affected by many factors. Russia’s war in Ukraine has created volatile energy markets and is putting upward pressure on oil and natural gas prices. Even though the United States only imports a small amount from Eastern Europe, the disruptions are affecting prices worldwide, including in the United States and particularly in New England, where we still rely heavily on natural gas and on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), which has been in higher demand in Europe resulting in significant increases to the price of LNG, which sets the market price. These factors have impacted Connecticut’s procurements this summer and fall, despite Connecticut’s proactive procurement practices and efforts to insulate against natural gas price volatility.
Information is provided below on how consumers can seek financial assistance with electric and heating bills, third party supplier information, and energy conservation and efficiency programs 
Utility Bill Payment Plans & Assistance
If you need assistance paying your utility bill both Eversource and UI offer bill assistance options to help:
  • Eversource: Call
  • UI: Call

State and Federal Assistance

  1. Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) benefits are also still available. The CEAP is administered through the Department of Social Services (DSS) and local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across the state. In addition to applying online at ct.gov/heatinghelp/apply, residents can also contact their local CAA with additional questions or to apply for assistance in-person or over the phone. (Click here to find CAA contact information.)
  2. Operation Fuel Assistance – Operation Fuel provides emergency energy and utility assistance to households in Connecticut facing financial crisis. Call (860) 243-2345 or visit https://operationfuel.org/gethelp/

 
Conservation & Energy Efficiency
OCC urges customers to use conservation measures to reduce energy use to the extent possible. Energy efficiency measures can be one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy costs for consumers.
Homes that participate in energy efficiency programs see an average of $200-250 dollars in savings on their annual energy bills, and more if they install additional measures such as insulation.
Customers can visit https://energizect.com/resources-for/sf-homeowners to explore potential energy efficiency and renewable energy measures that may help lower your electricity usage.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the OCC or PURA:

  • Office of Consumer Counsel 10 Franklin Square
    New Britain, CT 06051 860-827-2900 or occ.info@ct.gov
  • Public Utilities Regulatory Authority 10 Franklin Square
    New Britain, CT 06051 800-382-4586 or
Aid and Resources to Support Those Experiencing Homelessness
 
A recent report detailed that throughout Connecticut there was an increase of 13% in overall homelessness from 2021 to 2022.

My legislative colleagues and I are actively working on solutions ahead of the upcoming winter season. Most recently, as part of the state budget adjustment passed during the 2022 legislative session, we included $5 million for the Connecticut Department of Housing (CTDOH) for eviction prevention. The funding will be divided as follows: 
  • $2 million for Project Longevity housing vouchers to be issued in Hartford, Waterbury, Bridgeport and New Haven
  • $1.5 million for the Rent Bank
  • $1.5 million for the state’s seven regional Coordinated Access Networks, which is nearly triple the appropriation from the previous two years.

 

CTDOH and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) recently announced the release of nearly $8.5 million in additional aid to connect those experiencing homelessness with support services like housing, food, and mental health services.

This includes: 
  • $5 million from CTDOH to support seasonal shelters and services throughout the homeless service system during the winter
  • $2.5 million from CTDOH to develop new hubs within Coordinated Access Networks that supports the hiring of more staff, ensuring flexible financial assistance is available, and technological upgrades can be supported
  • $500,000 from CTDOH for the United Way of Connecticut to increase staffing at 2-1-1
  • $475,000 from DMHAS for the United Way of Connecticut to support costs related to the complex needs of unsheltered individuals and families during periods of extreme cold weather

 
Anyone who is experiencing homelessness or is at imminent risk of homelessness should call 2-1-1 to get connected to available resources.
Governor Lamont announces new appointments for Chief of Staff and General Counsel

                  
 
Governor Lamont announced this week that when he begins his second term in office early next year, two administrative changes will occur within the senior leadership of the Office of the Governor, including the appointment of Jonathan Dach as chief of staff and Natalie Braswell as general counsel.
 
Paul Mounds, Jr., who has served as the governor’s chief of staff since February 2020, and Nora Dannehy, who has served as his general counsel since March 2021, have each chosen to step down from their respective roles within the office to pursue new professional opportunities.
 
Immediately prior to becoming chief of staff, Mounds served as Governor Lamont’s chief operating officer.
 
Dach currently serves as Governor Lamont’s policy director, a position he has held since the start of the governor’s first term on January 9, 2019. In that capacity, he has worked with commissioners, legislators, and subject-matter experts inside and outside state government to deliver on Governor Lamont’s priorities, including the new paid family and medical program, a sustainable unemployment insurance system, and aspects of the state’s COVID-19 preparedness, response, and recovery. Prior to joining the Lamont campaign and administration, he clerked for Judge Rowan D. Wilson of the New York Court of Appeals and served as senior policy advisor to the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State. A Washington, D.C. native and longtime New Haven resident, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in ethics, politics, and economics from Yale College in 2008 and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 2013.
 
Braswell currently serves as state comptroller in a position that she began on December 31, 2021, following the resignation of former Comptroller Kevin Lembo, who stepped down from the role due to a serious medical condition. From March 2021 until being appointed by Governor Lamont as comptroller, Braswell was the chief of planning, legal, and regulatory affairs at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). From 2011 until beginning her service at DEEP, she was as general counsel and assistant comptroller in the Office of the State Comptroller under the leadership of Comptroller Lembo. She is a “Triple Husky,” having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Connecticut in 2000; a Master of Public Administration from the University of Connecticut in 2002; and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2007.
Upcoming event: Douglas Brinkley at Kent Memorial Library on Saturday, November 19
 
The Kent Memorial Library will be hosting a book talk and with renowned presidential biographer and historian Douglas Brinkley about his latest book, Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening on Saturday, November 19, at 3:00 pm.
 
The event will take place at Mattison Auditorium, Kent School, Kent, CT, and is free & Open to the Public. For more information, see https://www.kentmemoriallibrary.org/book-talk-and-signing-with-douglas-brinkley/
Goshen's Fireman Ball This Saturday