Month: May 2023

Customers on Standard Service Rate to see up to $56 decreaseon total monthly bills

BERLIN, Conn. (May 17, 2023) – As the price of energy continues to trend downward, Eversource today filed a new Standard Service rate with Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) which would go into effect from July 1 to December 31, 2023. This comes after energy prices hit historic highs in New England last year due to natural gas supply constraints related to the continued war in Ukraine and global demand. If approved by PURA, the new rate for residential customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource would change from the current 24.17 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 13.82 cents per kWh, compared to 12.19 cents per kWh last summer. In Connecticut, the energy supply price changes twice a year – January 1 and July 1. Eversource does not earn a profit on the cost of electricity. The company only charges customers what it pays generators for producing the power and there is no markup. A customer’s total bill will depend on how much energy is used, their rate category, and weather conditions.

“The volatility in the energy markets has hit our customers hard in the last year, so we’re pleased to let our customers know about the new rate that will provide some relief in energy prices this summer,” said Eversource President of Electric Operations in Connecticut Steve Sullivan. “It’s important to remember though, on average, Connecticut customers use 35% more electricity during the summer months with air conditioners, fans and other appliances working overtime to keep things cool inside. That’s why we continue to urge everyone to take advantage now of the many energy efficiency and payment programs that we offer – before the hot weather arrives.”

A line item on the delivery side of the bill will also be adjusted beginning July 1. If approved by PURA, the total delivery charge would change from $0.11751 cents per kilowatt-hour to $0.14107 cents per kilowatt-hour and would mean an increase of approximately $16 to customers using the average 700 kwh per month. This increase is primarily due to the expiration of a roughly $12 a month credit on customers’ bills that went into effect in January to ease the burden of high energy costs. All told, Eversource customers signed up for Standard Service and using an average of 700 kWh per month will see an overall decrease of $56, or 22% on their total bill. While the lower supply rate is welcome news, the energy company is also informing customers they should expect continued market volatility and higher supply costs this coming winter.

“The energy market and international factors continue to affect the cost of natural gas and those impacts are still being felt by our Connecticut customers,” added Sullivan. “This is a good time to think about your energy usage and plan for the likely increases we’ll still experience. We’ll continue to let customers know about trends in prices so they have the best information available and can make the best decisions for their energy usage and costs.”

Things customers can do to manage energy usage this summer:

Keep air conditioners set as warm as comfort allows. For every degree higher on the thermostat, the air conditioner will use 1-3% less electricity.

Don’t block air flow. Keep air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains, and rugs.

Operate major appliances during the cooler parts of the day. Energy is conserved by using appliances like clothes washers and dryers early in the morning or late in the evening when there is also less demand on the electric system.

Keep blinds closed when it’s hot out to prevent unwanted heat from entering a home through windows. Using curtains, shades, and blinds can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.

Switch to ENERGY STAR®-certified LED lights. The energy-efficient bulbs run cooler and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lights.

Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise and at a higher speed in the summer to circulate the air more effectively, creating a cooling, wind chill effect. Remember to turn the fan off when leaving the room.

Sign up for a Home Energy SolutionsSM home energy performance assessment. During the visit, a certified technician checks a customer’s home to identify places that can be tightened up to save money and energy. The technician will do on-the-spot improvements like sealing up drafty doors and windows and closing air gaps around pipes and more to help keep the heat out.

To learn about the many energy saving programs available, visit Eversource.com.

Help is available for customers who need it

Eversource encourages customers to enroll in one of its payment plans or assistance programs if they need help with their energy bill.

Budget Billing Plan helps avoid seasonal spikes on your energy bill by letting customers pay a fixed amount each month based on their average annual usage.

The Matching Payment Program reduces past due balances with affordable monthly payments – as low as $50 for electric or gas heating customers who receive public assistance benefits.

The New Start Program forgives overdue balances for electric customers as on-time monthly budget payments are made. (For example. if your budget payment amount is set at $150 per month and your past due balance is $1,200, for every month you make your required $150 payment towards your bill, we will reduce your past-due balance by $100.)

Payment Plans are available to all customers to help pay their past-due balance over a period of time.

Regardless of financial need, customers are eligible for various payment programs and are urged to call Eversource at 800-286-2828 or visit Eversource.com/BillHelp to find the right plan for them and enroll online.

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State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) joined in the bipartisan and unanimous support of a 2023 Senate Democrats’ public policy priority to increase protections for domestic violence victims by expanding GPS monitoring of violent offenders, increasing funding for victim services, and preventing people convicted of certain domestic violence crimes from ever collecting any alimony from their former spouse.

Senate Bill 5, “AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,” passed the state Senate today on a 36-0 unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Previously, the bill had received a 37-0 unanimous vote in the Judiciary Committee and a 55-0 unanimous vote in the Appropriations Committee.

“I am proud to support legislation that will bring a sense of security and safety to survivors that may unfortunately live in fear,” said Sen. Gaston. “Strengthening protections for survivors won’t take away the pain they endured, but will help to ease their mind with the knowledge they won’t be met with their abuser again.”

In 2010, the General Assembly passed Public Act 10-144, which established a GPS (Global Positioning System) monitoring pilot program to protect victims in extremely dangerous situations; the pilot program has operated in the Bridgeport, Danielson, and Hartford judicial districts. Senate Bill 5 now expands the GPS monitoring program to cover the entire state.

The GPS expansion is expected to cost $8 million over 2024 and 2025; Democrats have already included the funding in their proposed legislative budget.

Under the program, after a person violates a restraining order or a protective order, a judge will evaluate whether that offender is a high risk, and if so, the domestic violence survivor will have the option of having the offender monitored by GPS. Although Connecticut currently has GPS monitoring for certain domestic violence offenders, as well as for some on parole or on the sex offender registry, this program is different. It provides live monitoring and alert notification for domestic violence survivors.

At the survivor’s discretion, the survivor carries his or her own GPS device, and the offender’s location is constantly monitored to ensure a safe distance is kept from not only the survivor’s home and work, but wherever they go. If ever the offender encroaches near the survivor or a forbidden buffer zone, the monitoring service will notify the survivor and law enforcement.

Senate Bill 5 also provides more than $43 million for victim’s services in Connecticut. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fund relies on fines and fees arising from federal prosecutions, and it is very volatile, peaking at $6.5 billion in 2017 but not rising above $822 million ever since. The VOCA Fund provides a number of services for crime victims, such as domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, human trafficking, child abuse, and families impacted by homicide. In federal fiscal year 2021, VOCA helped 104,366 victims of crimes in Connecticut, and most of the services were provided by community-based nonprofits. To avoid a drop in funding, Senate Bill 5 provides $13.175 million for Fiscal Year 2023 (beginning July 1) and $20 million for Fiscal Year 2024.

Finally, Senate Bill 5 prohibits any alimony by a domestic violence survivor to their spouse or former spouse who is convicted of an attempted murder, class A or B felony sexual assault, or a class A or B felony family violence crime. Current state law leaves it to the discretion of the court (a judge) to determine any alimony award; Senate Bill 5 removes this option from a judge to prevent those convicted of certain crimes from continuing to abuse their victim through the legal system.

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, and Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today announced the launch of several new multi-agency state initiatives designed to address educator shortages in Connecticut. The initiatives will support the creation of a new teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, provide more investment to create paraeducator fairs, and expand existing high school “grow-your-own” programs, which recruit and train teachers from within communities where they live and work.

Recent survey data shows a high number of certified educator and paraeducator vacancies in the state, particularly in shortage areas such as special education, math, and science. As of March 2023, school districts reported about 1,300 teaching vacancies and another 1,300 paraeducator vacancies. More than 60% of the vacancies are located in the state’s Alliance Districts. Nearly half of all teaching vacancies are in special education, math, or science, while nearly three-quarters of all paraeducators vacancies are in special education.

“Connecticut has the best educators in the nation and they are the backbone of our education system,” Governor Lamont said. “While we have made some gains recently in teacher hiring, there remains a shortage in many school districts, and it is critically important that we maintain the talent pipeline necessary to address these challenges. The most important education reform is a great teacher in the classroom, and our administration remains committed to fully funding our education system.”

“This investment will expand programs that we know are working to bring educators into classrooms, such as Educators Rising and NexGen Educators,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “These initiatives, coupled with new investments to initiate registered apprenticeship programs, will enable us to continue a forward momentum while developing a diverse workforce. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Labor, higher education, and other key partners to ensure program expansion and innovation to meet the staffing needs of Connecticut’s school districts.”

“Registered apprenticeships are a great fit to address worker shortages in industries that depend on a highly skilled workforce,” Commissioner Bartolomeo said. “With classroom training, on the job learning, and experienced mentors, this program can help municipalities throughout the state inspire and support the next generation of educators. Encouraging people to pursue jobs in education will increase the talent and diversity in the hiring pool and get help into classrooms to prevent teacher burn out. I want to thank Governor Lamont for his commitment to education and workforce development and Commissioner Russell-Tucker and the Connecticut State Department of Education team. This is a strong partnership that will bring up new classroom leaders.”

This $3 million initiative – led by the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Connecticut Department of Labor – will double the number of high schools offering programs for aspiring educators and help expand educator diversity. The agencies will also launch a statewide campaign to attract more paraeducators to the classroom, including expanding paraeducator test sites, test preparation programs, job fairs, and recruitment events held in collaboration with the American Job Centers.

The collaboration will:

Create two pilot programs statewide to launch the teacher apprenticeship program, which is designed to reduce financial barriers to becoming an educator. The state will support the pilot districts to create a template to expand the program across Connecticut. The teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program will build off the state’s current teacher residency programs and NextGen Educator program.

Provide seed funding to an additional 18 school districts across the state that are interested in starting an Educators Rising “grow-your-own” high school program, which exposes students to careers in education and feeds into teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education. Currently, 15 school districts offer the Educators Rising program.

Fund a joint Connecticut Department of Labor and Connecticut State Department of Education recruitment campaign to attract more educators and paraeducators to the profession to fill approximately 1,300 job openings statewide. Job fairs will include information about current openings, job requirements, paraeducator test requirements, test preparation assistance, and resume writing and coaching. In addition, resources will be dedicated to expanding paraeducator test sites, subsidizing test preparation programs, and the cost of taking the exams.

This additional investment builds on earlier investments by the Lamont administration, the Connecticut State Department of Education, local school districts, and institutions of higher education to develop, recruit, and retain a diverse educator workforce in Connecticut. Recent data shows those efforts have resulted in increased staffing levels and educator diversity.

Overall, staffing levels increased 4% between the 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 school years. This represents an increase of more than 4,000 full-time equivalent staff in schools and districts across the state. The percentage of educators of color working in schools has increased to 11.2% in 2022-23, up from 8.3% in 2015-2016, adding 1,649 new diverse educators.

Above average increases in staffing levels were observed in the following areas:

General education – paraprofessional instructional assistants (12% increase)

Counselors, social workers, and school psychologists – district central office (13% increase)

Instructional specialists who support teachers – certified (16% increase)

Additional information on this teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program is available online at portal.ct.gov/dol/student-teacher-apprenticeships.

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