Notes from the Noank Jail

CT State Budget Monkeyshines

by Ed Johnson

We seem to have a new state budget “game” which falls into the existing category of “how to further bleed Connecticut taxpayers out of more money.” This time, Northeast Utilities is the messenger and they say “Please don’t shoot the messenger.”

On December 31st, 2010, I received my NU/ CL & P Electric Bill in the amount of $249.18 for 1415 kilowatt hours from November 24 through December 29 and the charges were appropriate for that cold period. However, there was also a notice enclosed which read: “ATTENTION – PUBLIC ACT 10-179 requires CL &P to collect additional charges to fund a state budget deficit for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.” Then the notice went on to say that this would start with January billing and initially be referred to as an “Economic Transition Charge.”

I contacted a CL &P customer service representative named “Curtis”. He stated that CL&P had tried to fight passing on such a charge to the consumers but that those attempts were not successful. He also assured me that none of the extra charges would be retained by CL&P and that all said monies would be referred to the State. Based on my current bill, I would be paying an additional $5.36 for the month.

Initial research seems to indicate that the State does have the power to enact such charges through the DPUC. (“Section 126(b) of Public Act 10-179, An Act Making Adjustments to State Expenditures for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2011, requires the Department of Public Utility Control to establish a charge on CL&P and UI electric bills to recover certain revenue bond costs.The monies collected from this charge will be transferred to Connecticut’s General Fund.”) In addition, it appears that this monthly charge will be changed on July 1st, 2011 and referred to as an “ERRB” (“Economic Revenue Recovery Bond”) which is expected to remain in effect for as long as eight years. However, we do not know how much actual rate will be increased until July.

This new “game” raises the following questions for our local legislators:

a) What irresponsible politicians and lawmakers allowed this legal “theft” to become reality?

b) How soon can we vote these people out of office, regardless of their party affiliation?

c) What prevents the State of CT from pursuing similar future actions against Taxpayers ?

d) Why has there has not been more media coverage of this issue?

In summary, when is the continued bleeding of the taxpayers going to end? Better yet, when are we, as the victims, going to take direct action that is sufficient to MAKE it end?