Category: State News

CALLS ON EVERSOURCE AND UNITED ILLUMINATING TO CONTRIBUTE GREATER SHARE OF PROFITS TO RATEPAYER RELIEF DURING EXTRAORDINARY SPIKE IN WINTER ENERGY COSTS

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement today calling on Eversource and United Illuminating to contribute a greater share of their profits to ratepayer relief to lessen the crushing burden of the extraordinary spike in winter energy costs.

Attorney General Tong had been participating in rate relief negotiations with the two utilities and state leaders over the past week. He has asked Eversource and United Illuminating to contribute roughly 10 percent of their substantial earnings—or approximately $40 million for Eversource and $8 million for United Illuminating. Attorney General Tong has proposed to use those funds for direct rate relief for low and middle income families least able to bear this burden. Absent a significant commitment from the two utilities, the Office of the Attorney General has not joined today’s filing with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and will continue to press for more meaningful aid.

“Today’s filing will provide modest relief to Connecticut families crushed by the unaffordable spike in winter energy costs. It is an important first step and the discussions we have had over the past week have been sincere. That being said, I have asked Eversource and United Illuminating to do more. Specifically, I have asked them to contribute a percentage of shareholder earnings commensurate with the percentage increase their customers will pay this winter to keep their lights and heat on. To date, they have refused. Absent that, we are left with solutions that provide only modest relief, and are paid for by and large by the very same taxpayers and ratepayers already crushed by this crisis. That is both frustrating and unacceptable. This filing must be the start of our search for relief, not the end. Taxpayers and ratepayers are contributing to these solutions, and so too should the shareholders and executives who have done so well over the past several years. We pay far too much for our energy in Connecticut and this problem is not going away. We need to take a hard look at who is profiting and who is harmed as we search for long term reform,” said Attorney General Tong. “I thank Governor Lamont, Commissioner Dykes, and Consumer Counsel Coleman for their diligent efforts throughout the holiday weekend to identify solutions and look forward to continued discussions toward greater relief.”

Eversource and United Illuminating make no profit on supply rates, which are set through a competitive auction. The Office of the Attorney General cannot challenge these rates or intervene in the same way that the Office does with distribution rates. That being said, Eversource and United Illuminating earn a healthy profit on their distribution investments, regardless of economic conditions and challenges facing Connecticut families. They earn another lucrative rate of return on their transmission infrastructure investments. While they are not directly responsible for the latest spike in winter supply rates, they are undeniably in a strong position to assist. CL&P (Eversource in Connecticut) reported a net income of $540 million for Sept. 2021 through Sept. 2022. United Illuminating reported $59 million in net income during that same period.

In addition to the winter supply rate, United Illuminating has filed a request with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to increase distribution rates by approximately 8 percent over the next three years. Eversource is expected to file its distribution rate request next year. The Office of the Attorney General will aggressively seek relief for ratepayers in both of those proceedings.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (Nov. 23, 2022) — Access Health CT (AHCT) Small Business announced it will waive the minimum number of employees typically required to enroll in a small group health insurance plan now through Dec. 15.

Small businesses can enroll in a group health insurance plan at any time of year. However, they usually need a certain percentage of employees to participate in the plan. During this period, any small business with 50 or fewer employees in Connecticut can enroll in a group health insurance plan regardless of how many employees participate.

This opportunity, called the Employee Participation Waiver Period for small businesses, is only offered to new groups not currently enrolled through Access Health CT Small Business.

“This period happens only once a year,” said John Carbone, Access Health CT Director of Small Business and Product Development. “Requirements can be an obstacle, and the employee participation waiver is designed to enable small business owners to access group health insurance plans they otherwise may not have been able to provide to their employees.”

The Employee Participation Waiver Period may be particularly helpful to small business owners this year. While health insurance may have been seen as a perk or benefit, now most employees view it as a compensation requirement almost as important as pay. Offering health insurance is critical to recruiting and retaining the top talent that all businesses need.

To learn more about how to make health insurance possible for your small business, visit AccessHealthCTSmallBiz.com to request a free quote or find a broker near you.

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12:00 a.m. Wednesday, 11/23/22 to 7:00 a.m. Sunday, 11/27/22

Calls for service: 5,649

Motorist Assists: 258

Speeding Citations: 247

Total traffic violations: 787

DUI arrests: 36

Motor vehicle accidents: 338

Serious: 2 (New Britain, Glastonbury)

Fatal: 3 (Wallingford, West Haven, Milford)

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Special Session Scheduled for Monday, November 28, 2022

(HARTFORD, CT) – In his first executive action since being re-elected to a second term earlier this month, Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is calling the Connecticut General Assembly into special session for the purpose of extending the duration of cuts on gasoline taxes, as well as the suspension of fares on all public transit buses. Additionally, he is asking the legislature to approve more funding for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and Premium Pay Program, and also modify the effective date of sections in the container redemption program, commonly known as the bottle bill.

“I’m asking the legislature to extend for several additional months the suspension of Connecticut’s gas tax that has been in effect since April, as well as the waiving of fares on all public transit buses,” Governor Lamont said. “Additionally, I am proposing to allocate more funding to our energy assistance program to ensure that we can meet the needs of our residents, and make available more funding for the Premium Pay program for essential workers. These actions can help provide more immediate relief for Connecticut residents as consumers across the country are facing rising prices due to a number of international dynamics and market instability that go far beyond our state.”

Connecticut’s 25 cent-per-gallon excise tax on gasoline and the collection of fares on all public transit buses have been suspended since April 1, 2022, due to legislation Governor Lamont signed into law earlier this year. However, both of those measures are set to expire on November 30, 2022. Governor Lamont is asking the legislature to approve legislation that extends the full gas tax suspension through December 31, 2022, and then phases it back in over a period of five months at five cents per month beginning January 1, 2023. He is also asking them to provide funding to extend statewide fare-free bus service through March 30, 2023, which is the maximum date that complies with 12-month length-of-time federal restrictions for temporary public transit pilot programs.

Connecticut is one of only three states in the country that have a gasoline tax suspension currently in effect, with the other two being Georgia (scheduled to expire December 11, 2022) and New York (scheduled to expire December 31, 2022). Florida and Maryland also suspended their gasoline taxes for brief periods earlier this year, however those states have since let them go back into effect.

To ensure that the Department of Social Services has the funding necessary this winter for households eligible for CEAP, Governor Lamont is proposing to allocate ARPA State Fiscal Recovery Funds to supplement the program in response to this year’s unusual price pressures.

Governor Lamont is also asking the legislature to increase funding for the Premium Pay Program, which is providing payments to essential workers for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic, from $30 million to $90 million.

Finally, the governor is asking the legislature to push out the effective date of changes to the state’s bottle bill to allow retailers, especially small retailers, to sell off their existing inventory without being in violation of the changes that are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023.

The governor’s special session call requires the legislature to convene at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 28, 2022.

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(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong announced he has opened an investigation under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act into Altice Optimum following nearly 500 consumer complaints regarding slow internet speeds, hidden fees, and unacceptable technical support.

Many complaints to the Office of the Attorney General involved consumers who paid for either 300 Mbps or 400 Mbps cable internet plans. When consumers ran home speed tests, they discovered they were not receiving the speeds they paid for. The Office of the Attorney General also received complaints regarding service fees, technical support, and customer service. The Office of the Attorney General is also investigating a $3.50 “Network Enhancement Fee” for internet customers.

“Customers have a right to expect the service and internet speed they pay for. Our office has reviewed hundreds of complaints from Optimum cable internet customers regarding slow speeds, hidden fees, and poor customer support. Our investigation seeks comprehensive records dating back to January 2017 to determine exactly what Altice Optimum knew and what they were doing to deliver the internet speeds and service they promised. If our investigation finds that Optimum violated Connecticut law, we will not hesitate to hold them accountable,” said Attorney General Tong.

“Reliable internet access is a critical utility in 2022,” said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. “People rely on it for everything from school and work to paying their bills, to entertainment and news access. Consumers also deserve to get what they pay for. I am glad the Attorney General is taking on this investigation to determine if there has been any wrongdoing or harm done to consumers who pay for Optimum’s services.”

“Customers deserve the services they pay for, and these allegations indicate Altice Optimum has failed to deliver on its word for half a decade,” said Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), Co-Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee. “As the internet has become a vital part of everyday life, households relying on these services for employment, education, and entertainment can experience significant harm if they lack reliable internet service. If Altice Optimum contributed to that harm, they should face the consequences. I look forward to the findings of the Attorney General’s investigation.”

“Connecticut consumers should not be subject to potential hidden fees, mis leading marketing, and poor customer service. Altice Optimum should be held accountable if they did in fact violate Connecticut law. I commend AG Tong for taking on this investigation on behalf of Connecticut consumers. AG Tong’s record of holding utilities accountable is second to none,” said Rep. David Arconti (D-Danbury), Co-Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee.

“The importance and value of having reliable internet service has never been clearer to our families than it is today,” said Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore Paul Formica (R-East Lyme), ranking member of the Energy & Technology Committee. “We all share the goal of wanting to ensure access to quality and reliable service. In our efforts to address that goal, consumer complaints must be thoroughly examined, and all stakeholders must work together to promote accountability and transparency and implement appropriate corrective action to best support consumers.”

A civil investigative demand sent today to Altice Optimum seeks detailed records of consumer complaints dating back to January 2017. The civil investigative demand further seeks records of how Altice Optimum marketed its internet speeds, any analysis or records regarding the speed and quality of internet they ultimately delivered, records showing Altice Optimum’s knowledge of various factors impacting the speed and quality of their internet service, records showing how Altice Optimum invested revenue from their “Network Enhancement Fee,” among other demands.

This investigation follows a settlement reached in August with Frontier Communications following review of over 1,400 consumer complaints regarding equipment returns, poor internet quality, unsatisfactory customer service, and excessive charges. The Frontier settlement, worth over $60 million, will dramatically expand access to high-speed internet for Frontier customers in economically distressed communities, end a hidden monthly $6.99 internet surcharge, and force significant improvements in Frontier’s marketing and customer service.

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(Middletown CT – November 21, 2022) – As family and friends gather this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, CT State Troopers remind residents that there will be many more vehicles on state roads in the next seven days. State Police is ramping up plans to keep highways safe for everyone during this holiday rush.

Beginning on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at 12:00 a.m. and running through Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, at 11:59 p.m., Connecticut State Police will supplement its normal routine patrol personnel with additional Troopers throughout the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Troopers will patrol roads and highways across Connecticut focusing on aggressive drivers, unsafe drivers and drunk

drivers. These violations are causes of countless motor vehicle crashes in Connecticut and Troopers are committed to preventive enforcement in order to avoid wrecks.

As relatives and friends fly in and out of Bradley International Airport, know that Troopers there will help to ensure safety as passengers dash in and out of the terminal. It is always recommended that you check with the airlines to see if flights are on time to avoid waiting around the terminal. The active pick up and drop off of passengers is permitted at curbside in front of the terminals. Please remember

that no waiting is allowed and leaving a vehicle unattended is prohibited and may result in a fine. Drivers may park in the free Cell Phone Parking Lot while waiting for passengers to arrive; the lot is located on Light Lane, minutes from the terminal: https://bradleyairport.com/directions-parking/cellphone-lot/

On the highways, State Troopers ask Connecticut residents to be a part of the public safety solution by obeying traffic laws: don’t follow too closely to cars around yours, buckle up, drive the speed limit, and stay off your cell phone while driving. If you plan to consume alcohol, please do not drive; designate a driver for everyone’s safety.

“We ask that all drivers remember and follow traffic laws. Please be our extra set of eyes on the highways and call 911 if you spot an emergency,” noted Colonel Stavros Mellekas, commanding officer of the State Police. “During this very busy long holiday weekend, please take the time to arrive at your destination safely. Check traffic and weather reports before you leave home and be patient as

the roads will be filled with other drivers.”

Patrol Troopers will use traditional and non-traditional patrol cars to observe traffic and issue tickets to reckless and distracted drivers. A reminder to all drivers: anyone who is consuming alcohol should never get behind the wheel.

If you see a suspected drunk driver or a suspected reckless driver, please call 911, as this is a true emergency.

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(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration has received notification from credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) that it is increasing Connecticut’s general obligation bond credit rating from A+ (positive) to AA- (stable). This credit rating increase follows increases in 2021 by several other agencies, including Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, and Kroll.

Prior to Governor Lamont taking office, Connecticut had not experienced an increase in its credit rating since February 2001.

Governor Lamont said, “Connecticut taxpayers should celebrate today’s news. This credit rating increase will mean lower costs for critical projects that move our state forward. It is a signal to the businesses and residents that our state is on the right financial path, that we have shown a commitment to putting our fiscal house in order, and we are continuing to make significant progress to address our pension and other postemployment benefit liabilities. S&P recognizes the progress that has been made and that Connecticut is getting its mojo back.”

Secretary Beckham said, “As we develop next year’s budget, this credit rating increase sends strong signals for how we should proceed in the future. The budget we release in February will include an extension of the bond covenants that S&P stated as a key reason for our upgrade. If we are going to continue the positive progress made under this administration, those bond covenants and associated benefits must be a part of the final budget bill.”

In its notice to investors that was released today, S&P said, “The upgrade on the state’s GO debt reflects our view of Connecticut’s sustained positive financial results and building of high reserve levels during a recent period of economic and revenue growth, while also demonstrating its commitment to structural budget balance and curbing future growth of the state’s very high debt, pension, and other postemployment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, which we expect will continue in future biennial budgets. Connecticut’s overall credit improvement is also underscored by the executive branch’s announcement and intent to extend statutory financial controls in the next biennial budget proposal, which supports our view that the state remains more firmly committed to these provisions for the foreseeable future.”

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“We are concerned that the actions taken by Mr. Musk and others in Twitter management could already represent a violation of the FTC’s consent decree.”

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Following recent alarming developments at Twitter after Elon Musk’s takeover of the company, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct vigorous oversight and enforcement of Twitter’s consent decree and to investigate potential violations of consumer protection laws.

“We write regarding Twitter’s serious, willful disregard for the safety and security of its users, and encourage the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate any breach of Twitter’s consent decree or other violations of our consumer protection laws,” wrote the senators in a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan.

Citing Musk’s actions that have “undermined the integrity and safety of the platform,” and announcements of “new features despite clear warnings those changes would be abused for fraud, scams, and dangerous impersonation,” including the problematic rollout of Twitter Blue, the senators urged the FTC to hold Twitter accountable. “Twitter knew in advance that there was high likelihood the Twitter Blue product could be used for fraud, and still it took no action to prevent consumers from being harmed until this rampant impersonation became a public relations crisis.”

According to recent reports, under Musk’s new leadership, the company has dismissed key staff, limited internal privacy reviews, and required engineers to take on legal liability for new changes, in an effort to prioritize profits and cut costs. Senior Twitter executives responsible for the platform’s privacy, cybersecurity, and integrity have also resigned last week, raising further alarm.

“We urge the Commission to vigorously oversee its consent decree with Twitter and to bring enforcement actions against any breaches or business practices that are unfair or deceptive, including bringing civil penalties and imposing liability on individual Twitter executives where appropriate,” emphasized the senators. “As you recently noted in Senate testimony, ‘no CEO or company is above the law, and companies must follow our consent decrees.’”

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding new Eversource and United Illuminating standard service supply rates effective January 1. Eversource supply rates will double from 12.05 cents per kWh to 24.2 cents per kWh, resulting in an $84 per month increase for the average user. United Illuminating supply rates will go from 10.6 cents per kWh to 22.5 cents per kWh, resulting in an $83.09 increase for the average user.

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“This is a massive increase that will be unaffordable for many Connecticut families and businesses. We pay far too much for our energy in Connecticut as it is, and these winter rates are nothing short of punishing. My office has intervened on behalf of consumers at each and every rate case before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission because we know how much the cost of energy impacts family budgets. We have next to no ability to challenge these supply rates, which is frustrating. Our supply rates always fluctuate between winter and summer, but this is not normal. We are seeing a huge global spike in gas costs due to the war in Ukraine and Russian manipulation of gas supplies. Both as a country and a state, we need to take a hard look at our energy sources and reduce our reliance on sources like natural gas that produce these wild, unaffordable surges in rates.”

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Legislation would end a federal tax subsidy allowing companies to deduct advertising expenses for unhealthy foods & use revenue to provide healthy snacks at low-income schools

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced bicameral legislation to prevent the aggressive marketing of junk food and sugary beverages directed at children. In the last thirty years, obesity rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents. The Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act of 2022 would end the federal tax subsidy that allows companies to deduct expenses for marketing and advertising goods of poor nutritional value. The legislation would also use the revenue generated from eliminating the subsidy to provide healthy snacks for children at low-income schools through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

“This legislation will prevent the multi-billion dollar junk food industry from profiting off children and contributing to our nation’s obesity epidemic,” said Blumenthal. “For too long, companies have harmed the diets, development, and health of our kids by bombarding them with advertisements for unhealthy products. Our measure will stop subsidizing a practice that harms American children and fuels health disparities. I’m proud to join Representative DeLauro and Senator Booker in this important effort to hold junk food marketers accountable while simultaneously investing in healthy school meals.”     

“American children are not meeting basic nutritional goals because of companies that aggressively market unhealthy food and sugary beverages to children,” said DeLauro. “This aggressive marketing includes the food, beverage, and restaurant companies that spend nearly $14 billion per year on marketing in the United States, with more than 80% of the advertising promoting unhealthy food choices. On top of that, they get a tax write off for these advertising practices that hurt our children’s health and earn them billions in revenue. We face dual obesity and diabetes epidemics. It is time we do our part to stop it. In tandem with the national strategy of the White House Conference on Hunger Nutrition, and Health, the Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act assists with achieving the goal to address the marketing of unhealthy foods by closing the tax loophole that companies use to advertise these products to children. Congress must act, and by doing so, we will help children make the right nutritional choices and stop letting companies off the hook for advertising that negatively impacts children’s nutritional health.”

“Big food companies advertise their junk food products to our children, taking advantage of how children are forming lifelong food preferences and exacerbating our nation’s childhood obesity crisis. Companies also disproportionately target these advertisements to children of color, which drives health disparities,” said Booker. “Taxpayers should not be subsidizing the marketing of junk food products to children. This bill would close the tax loophole that allows companies to deduct the cost of promoting foods of poor nutritional value to our children.”

According to the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, food, beverage, and restaurant companies spend nearly $14 billion a year on food marketing through television, movies, video games, toys and other means, and more than 80 percent were for products that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. A report from the National Academy of Medicine showed that exposure to this advertising, which is often seen by children, impacted their food choices, purchase requests, diets, and health. Communities of color have been especially impacted, with Black and Hispanic youth having higher rates of obesity.

The Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act of 2022 would amend the federal tax code by removing a deduction for advertising and marketing directed at children to promote the consumption of food of poor nutritional quality. The revenue generated from ending the subsidy would be used to supplement funding for the USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides fresh fruit and vegetable-based snacks to students in low-income schools. According to a study funded by the NIH, eliminating this tax subsidy would reduce childhood obesity rates by 5-7 percent and save about $350 million in health care costs over ten years.

The Stop Subsidizing Childhood Obesity Act is endorsed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

“It’s bad enough that the push for growth and profits incentivizes food companies to market ultra-processed junk foods to children, but it is outright perverse for our tax code to further incentivize such marketing by making these expenses tax deductible,” said CSPI President Dr. Peter G. Lurie. “Companies spend on the order of $2 billion a year marketing food to children. This isn’t charity we’re talking about—it’s marketing that affects kids’ health, and not activity worthy of a tax write-off. This legislation sponsored by Senator Blumenthal and Appropriations Chairwoman DeLauro can help spur food marketing in a healthy direction and raise revenue simultaneously—something we hope both parties should be able to support.”

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