Raghib Allie-Brennan

“Connecticut residents are exhausted by high electric bills and frustrated every time they hear another proposal from Eversource that shifts blame without addressing the root issues. So when a top Eversource executive suggests removing public-benefit charges from bills, it’s understandable that ratepayers feel cynical, especially when those same executives continue to receive sizable bonuses while families are struggling to keep the lights on.”

 

“The truth is, Connecticut needs a smarter, more transparent system, not a soundbite. Public-benefit charges fund vital low-income assistance, weatherization, and efficiency programs that help people reduce their bills. Simply moving these costs somewhere else, without a real plan, risks destabilizing programs that thousands of Connecticut families rely on.”

 

“This year, the legislature took meaningful action: we passed guardrails requiring legislative approval for any new or increased charges on customers, and we approved a multi-year phase-down of certain public-benefit charges to directly reduce bills. But we need to go further. We should shift essential low-income programs into the state budget, strengthen independent oversight, and make every charge on a bill fully transparent and easy for residents to understand.”

 

“As House Regional Energy Policy Liaison, I’ve been working with other New England states to identify solutions that balance affordability, reliability, and clean-energy goals. Connecticut deserves a modern, accountable system, not proposals that move costs around while utility executives continue to collect bonuses unmatched by the experience of their customers.”

 

“I welcome an honest conversation about reform. But that conversation must center on what ratepayers need: lower bills, clearer information, stronger oversight, and a utility system that puts people, not executive compensation, first.”