Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
Attorney General Calls On DPUC To Reject CL&P Request To Eliminate Upcoming 5 Percent Rate Decrease
March 15, 2010
Presenting the opening argument at the rate proceeding, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today urged the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) to reject Connecticut Light & Power’s (CL&P) request for a rate increase eliminating an expected 5 percent rate reduction early next year.
CL&P rates will fall about 5 percent early next year when bonds related to deregulation are largely paid off. The utility, however, is proposing a $210 million rate hike -- approximately 5 percent -- at the same time, wiping out the decrease.
“CL&P is pulling the rug from under severely strapped consumers and businesses who desperately need relief from Connecticut’s record electricity rates -- highest in the continental United States,” Blumenthal said. “I urge DPUC to reject this coldhearted and uncalled for rate increase, denying consumers rate reductions they expect and deserve. The central reason for these higher rates is in effect to raise profit levels to 10.5 percent, instead of presently lower acceptable levels.
“Connecticut new jobs are vitally linked to lower rates. I have spoken personally to manufacturers and other businesses -- literally minutes before the DPUC proceeding to a manufacturer in Burlington -- whose rates are skyrocketing, crippling their financial success and job creation.
“With Connecticut’s economy struggling, recovery and job creation demand lower power prices. Our state’s astronomical electricity costs are a significant drag on job creation and must come down. Our economic competiveness requires lower electricity prices, which DPUC can achieve by denying this ill-considered and unnecessary rate increase.”
Speaking today at the DPUC hearing in New Britain, Blumenthal praised CL&P workers, saying, “Along with other citizens, I am grateful to hardworking CL&P employees out there right now in the cold and the rain repairing lines and restoring power to 56,000 customers who lost it as a result of the weekend’s huge storm.”