HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Despite underlying partisan tension over the cost of electricity in Connecticut, the year’s first meeting of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee went on without any flare ups.
After the meeting, the committee’s leaders traded barbs that previewed coming fights fueled by widespread ratepayer anger.
On the surface, the meeting was cordial – with members taking turns introducing themselves.
“I’m just really excited to work across the aisle to make sure that we do something to address the state of affordability of energy in this state,” State Rep. Joe Canino, a first-term Republican from Torrington, said in his introductory remarks.
Another freshman lawmaker, Democratic State Rep. Nick Gauthier of Waterford, nodded to his party’s emphasis on combating climate change.
“I’m very supportive of carbon-free, sustainable energy going forward,” Gauthier said, noting that his hometown is the site of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station.
The Millstone plant produces a significant portion of Connecticut’s electricity supply and was at the center of the controversy over last summer’s higher-than-expected electric bills. The costs of a 2017 law requiring Connecticut’s utilities to purchase power from the plant contributed to a spike in the public benefits charge on ratepayer bills.
Outside the hearing room, the committee’s leaders spoke more sharply about electricity costs.
State Sen. Ryan Fazio, the Republican “point man” on energy issues, renewed his push for a 6-point plan that he claims will deliver relief for ratepayers.
“Our plan would reduce energy bills by about $400 per year for the average household in the state by removing the public benefits tax or at least most of it from our electricity bills,” Fazio said.
The top Democratic senator on the committee scoffed at Fazio’s proposal.
“It’s political speak and not really real ideas,” State Sen. Norm Needleman said.
Needleman echoed some of what Gov. Ned Lamont said in his State of the State address on Wednesday. Both men have suggested that the Republican plan amounts to simply moving costs around.
“Look, you can feel free to debate whether you want to shift electricity costs from the ratepayers to the taxpayers,” Lamont said. “Cosmetic changes aren’t gonna make a dime of difference.”
Needleman seemed to suggest that Fazio, a 34-year-old private equity investment manager from Greenwich, is motivated by political ambition.
“Sen. Fazio’s a very smart guy and I like working with him,” Needleman said. “But I gotta just push through the politics because I’m not the guy who has this long range political future here. He has a different agenda than I do.”
Fazio fired back, arguing that his plan wouldn’t simply shift the costs of the programs funded by the public benefits charge.
“It wouldn’t actually shift costs just from ratepayers to taxpayers,” Fazio said. “It would actually reduce overall costs because the legislature would be forced to prioritize – pick what works and what doesn’t work. And the least important government programs, let’s let them go by the wayside.”
Again, Needleman disagreed.
“That’s ridiculous because the biggest part of that was Millstone this time,” Needleman said, referring to the costs of the Millstone deal that hit ratepayer bills last summer. “Public benefits, all of those things wrapped together have typically been ten to twelve percent of the electric bill. I think over the next one or two cycles you’re gonna see them come back down to that and this is going to become much less of an issue.”
News 8 asked Needleman if Democrats had a response of their own to the Republicans’ six-point plan.
“Well, I think we’re listening and we’re trying to learn as we go along,” Needleman responded. “I think that I’ve heard Sen. Fazio’s plan and the Republican plan numerous times – I don’t even think that the Republicans are sort of organized amongst themselves.”
Both Republican caucuses in the legislature have endorsed the six-point plan.
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