Connecticut has the second-highest electricity rates in the continental United States. Ryan Fazio has a real plan to cut electricity bills by 20% — by ending hidden taxes, expanding reliable supply, and removing the mandates driving up costs.
I. Eliminate the Public Benefits Charge
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End the $1 billion hidden tax Ryan exposed as a senator. The plan would immediately end or sunset most of the more than 50 government programs hidden in the charge and move a small portion of the remaining necessary programs to the state budget process for full transparency.
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Currently, the Public Benefits Charge oscillates between 0% and 30% of our electricity bill for various reasons but averages 15–20%, which amounts to roughly $1 billion per year.
II. Eliminate Every Other Hidden Tax
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End the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Tax and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Tax in the supply portion of our bills, which cost over $400 million per year.
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Either end the programs in statute entirely or allow all nuclear and hydropower to count toward the RPS, which would drive the cost to ratepayers toward zero, and credit all proceeds from the RGGI back to ratepayers.
III. Expand Natural Gas Capacity
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Expand natural gas pipeline capacity from Pennsylvania, providing affordable, reliable power while reducing reliance on expensive, dirty oil peaker plants.
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Have Connecticut officially intervene through the federal regulatory process at FERC or sue the State of New York if it continues to block pipeline expansion proposals under the Interstate Commerce Clause.
IV. End Costly Government Contracts
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Limit any long-term contract for electricity to no more than a nominal difference from the wholesale market price of electricity, protecting ratepayers from bad deals.
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Currently, the state government forces us to pay energy companies through long-term contracts that can cost as much as five times the wholesale market price of electricity.
V. Stop Demand Subsidies
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Eliminate special tax subsidies for data centers, EV chargers, and heat pump installations that can drive up costs for everyone else.