Combined Public Benefits

The Electric Bill's Combined Public Benefits Charge: A Summary

Long an area of bi-partisan support for programs that promote a cleaner, more efficency, less costly grid, the controversy over the Public Benefits Charge erupted in the summer of 2024 when it was mistakenly cast as the main driver of higher electric bills, when in fact, the increase that could be attributed to the CPB charge was comparatively small.

The real reason was a combination of high heat and record setting humidity that drove up our AC usage. A deal to send extra payments to Millstone didn't help. Nor did a backlog of payments that piled up from CoVid.

Anger over higher bills exploded. Anti Public Benefits campaigns were launched on social media, where misinformation gained traction. Puzzlingly, left off the hook were the extra payments to Millstone, or increased AC use from conditions exacerbated by climate change.

On Feb 27, SB 647, AN ACT CONCERNING PROTECTIONS FOR CONSUMER ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY, was filed. The bill would shift funding for the Public Benefits from a surcharge on utility bills to a tax subjected to the budget constraints of the CT General Assembly.

Given that the CGA budget has a cap, and that SB 647 supporters have previously called for the end of the Public Benefits, the following programs are at serious risk:

System Benefit Programs

Operation Fuel

Shutoff Protection

The Matching Payment Program (MPP)

The Low-Income Conservation Program (aka HES-IE)

Low Income Discount Rate

Renewable Energy Investment

The CT Green Bank

Conservation & Load Management

Energy Efficiency

Demand Response

CTEN held a webinar, "The Benefits of Our Public Benefits", on Monday (2/10). Here is a link to the condensed version, and the PACE website has slides, related articles and resources: The Benefits of Our Public Benefits - PACE. WSHU had this coverage.

On March 6, CTEN held a Press Conference, detailing a short list of the harm 647 would likely cause. CTEN Thanks Rep Mary Mushinsky for securing a space for us.