HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – The 2025 legislative session has started and energy costs are a top priority.
Today, the legislature’s energy committee held it’s first meeting. The goal is to bring down costs and increase supply.
In his State of the State Address on Wednesday, Governor Lamont said those high electric prices affect families and businesses.
“When we leave the house, we turn everything off especially unplugging,” said Lusianna Morales of West Hartford.
Connecticut has an aging infrastructure and power grid.
However, modernizing that grid will be expensive and could take a long time.
“The transmission system had a major expansion in the 1940’s and 1950’s due to economic growth and so those facilities are aging and need to be replaced,” said Vice President of Transmission Systems for Eversource Jacob Lucas.
Lawmakers on the energy committee heard from utility companies today as well as industry experts to hear about the latest technologies and what other states are doing.
“We like to call Connecticut a ‘quality of life’ state, but there are certain commitments we need to make to assure that going forward,” said Rep. Jonathan Steingberg, (D), Co-Chair, Energy Committee.
Eversource says it wants to make infrastructure improvements.
However, earlier this week, the utility company said it didn’t have enough money to make those investments.
Eversource has been telling lawmakers and town leaders that without more money, they will have to cut back on investments and may ask for a rate increase.
Eversource has come under fire. They’re accused of intimidating and trying to silence lawmakers.
“If they think we have gone too far that’s fine, they have a legitimate recourse in the courts. But waging the battle in the press, intimidating legislators, intimidating other people is not the way to go,” said Senator Norm Needleman, who is also the co-chairman of the energy committee.
Our Connecticut president will always stand up for the hardworking employees of Eversource and for customers who rely on their service to communities across the state everyday.
This comes at a heated time, with ratepayers upset while Eversource’s top executives receive huge bonuses.
“How much return and how much recovery the utility should get on the backs of ratepayers. That’s a very complicated question. And for many years in Connecticut I think it’s been too high,” said Senator Ryan Fazio, who is also on the energy committee.
Eversource has not asked for a rate increase since 2018.
The 2025 legislative session has started and energy costs are a top priority.
Copyright 2025 WFSB. All rights reserved.