Geraldo Reyes Jr

Your energy bill has gone out of control this year, and this unprecedented spike has caused hardship for hundreds of individuals and families in Waterbury. The House and Senate passed a new bill, Senate Bill 7 (SB7), which is designed to secure energy affordability, predictability, and transparency.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will now shift to setting electric rates based on performance and not strictly costs. In addition, SB7 requires Connecticut's two electric distribution companies, Eversource and United Illuminating, to place the burden of the expenses on shareholders of the companies instead of customers.

Understanding the benefits of Senate Bill 7

The bill also allows the state to explore other power alternatives including nuclear. Experts believe that industry is evolving its safety and efficiency standards. As a result, they are open-minded to looking at the potential of new nuclear power in our state.

Ultimately, PURA wants to ensure that it’s as easy as possible for every electric customer to access all the programs put in place to lower the burden of your energy bill. The goal is to make those existing programs more accessible to avoid scenarios where individuals and families are deciding whether to pay for food, rent, or transportation.

I thank Rep. Jonathan Steinberg and the rest of the Energy & Technology Committee for their hard work drafting, amending, and passing this important bill. Governor Ned Lamont is expected to sign it into law.