Sen. Richard Blumenthal is calling for a federal review of electric rate hikes by CL&P and other providers nationwide.
In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Blumenthal said the state increased CL&P's fixed rate for residential customers by 20 percent. Those are dollars charged to consumers "before a single light switch is turned on," he said.
And at a press conference, Blumenthal called the increase both "misguided" and "massive."
"This fixed charge is unconscionable and unacceptable in a 20 percent increase," Blumenthal said. "But as much as CL&P's fixed rate increase is humongous and horrendous, it's part of a nationwide trend."
Blumenthal said that's why he's asking for the federal government to intervene and review the increase. In a statement, CL&P said there are significant expenses that go along with running a big electric system, and the company said it needs to recover those costs to keep up the state's electric infrastructure. But Blumenthal said he doesn't understand why CL&P's rates are so high, and he doesn't think the utility's argument makes any sense.
"I don't buy it," he said. "I don't accept that rationale. Money is money. They're making 9 percent or more return on equity. They have the flow of revenue to upgrade their distribution."
That's why Blumenthal said he hopes the federal government will weigh in.
