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December 30, 2014

Blumenthal, regulators spar over CL&P rate case

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) raised the ire of Connecticut regulators Tuesday when he asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review the approval of a 20 percent increase in Connecticut Light & Power’s fixed monthly connection fee.

Blumenthal released a letter to FERC Chairman Cheryl A. LaFleur at a press conference asking her to review the hike — to $19.25 from $16 — as well as a similar trend at utilities across the country, particularly in Hawaii. The raising of the basic connection fee is a revenue strategy used by utilities where customers have lessened their energy use by installing renewables and making efficiency improvements but still rely on the grid to provide some power.

The senator has been critical of the increase since it was approved, saying it’s a developing trend that should be nipped in the bud.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority took umbrage with his comments. CL&P originally asked for an increase in the fee to $25.50, but PURA cut that request to the $19.25.

“The PURA commissioners take exception to Senator Blumenthal’s characterization of our CL&P rate case decision as ‘unconscionable and horrendous’ and our work as ‘misguided,’ PURA said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “We especially reject his assertion that we are ‘unwilling and unable to impose fairness.’ Such hyperbole is unnecessary. To the contrary, we worked hard to apply the facts to the law through a fair, open, and patient process with care to hear all sides and render what we in good conscience consider an appropriate verdict.”

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