Category: State News

Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull announced that they have agreed to a settlement that would provide for full restitution for at least 559 residential electric consumers who enrolled in overpriced contracts with Spark Energy as a result of an illegal robocall campaign.

“Spark Energy used illegal robocalls to trick consumers into overpaying for electricity. All overpayments they reaped from that reprehensible campaign must now be rightfully returned to consumers. This restitution, on top of the significant fine already levied by PURA, should send a strong message to any third-party suppliers that Connecticut stands ready to aggressively enforce its consumer protection laws in defense of ratepayers,” said Attorney General Tong.

“Overpayment schemes are even more damaging when consumers overpay for basic goods and services – like electricity. Deceptive practices like these are against the law in the State of Connecticut, and I am grateful to have worked with PURA and the Office of the Attorney General on this matter,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Seagull.

“PURA applauds Attorney General Tong and Commissioner Seagull on this important settlement.  Connecticut customers deserve nothing less than honest and fair sales and service from third party electric suppliers.  PURA remains committed to holding these companies to the highest standards and reminds ratepayers to practice vigilance when participating in the third-party electric supplier market,” said PURA Chairman Marissa Gillett.

Between January 1, 2016 and June 20, 2017, a state investigation found Spark subcontractors placed over 150,000 robocalls to Connecticut consumers, misstating the electric utility’s standard service rates and hiding their connection to the third-party electric supplier in violation of state law. As a result of those calls, at least 559 consumers enrolled in Spark Energy contracts. Those consumers paid approximately $15,000 more than they would have paid had they remained on their respective electric utility’s standard service rates.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority previously fined Spark $500,000 over the illegal robocalls. PURA also referred the matter to the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Consumer Protection for further investigation into potential violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.

As a result of that investigation, Spark Energy has agreed to full restitution for all impacted consumers. Those consumers will receive an automatic credit on their Eversource or United Illuminating bill for the full amounts paid above the utility standard service rate, as well as any relevant cancellation fees.

The settlement was filed Friday in Hartford Superior Court, and will not become final unless and until it is approved by the court.

Assistant Attorneys General Lauren Bidra, John Wright and Consumer Protection Department Head Michael Wertheimer are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.

 

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HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont  released the following statement regarding workers’ compensation:

 

“Connecticut owes a debt to the health care professionals, grocery store clerks, and other essential workers who stood at their posts during the darkest days of this pandemic. We can pay a part of that debt by providing workers who contracted COVID-19 on the job during those days with a timely, straightforward opportunity to claim any benefits they are due through the workers’ compensation system. I am committed to providing that opportunity through a forthcoming executive order. I appreciate those employers who have done the right thing by their employees, Connecticut’s Workers’ Compensation Commission for operating continually throughout this pandemic, and most of all, the workers for their efforts and sacrifice.”

 

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HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont  issued a proclamation calling the Connecticut General Assembly to meet in special session beginning Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. to:

 

1.     Enact legislation to (a) temporarily expand absentee balloting for the August 2020 primary and November 2020 general election in response to the COVID-19 pandemic so that voters may lawfully cast absentee ballots because of the sickness of COVID-19; (b) temporarily alter statutes governing the administration of elections to ensure local officials may administer such absentee balloting in a secure and orderly manner; and (c) permit voters to register and vote on election day at more than one place per town and to do so as long as they are in line to register to vote before 8:00 p.m.;

2.     Enact legislation to promote greater transparency and accountability for law enforcement;

3.     Enact legislation to (a) temporarily relax restrictions on who can provide certain telehealth services and the modes through which such services are delivered; (b) assist health care practitioners in issuing and pharmacies in transferring prescriptions; (c) temporarily make such services more available to certain publicly and privately insured patients; and

4.     Enact legislation to promote more affordable access to prescription drugs, equipment, and supplies used to treat diabetes by (a) limiting the coinsurance, copayments, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses certain insurance policies may impose on insureds for such drugs, equipment, and supplies; (b) authorizing licensed pharmacists to prescribe and dispense emergency quantities of such drugs, equipment, and supplies; (c) establishing a working group to design certain parameters of a program referring eligible individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes to a federally-qualified health center, and authorizing the commissioner of social services to apply for a Medicaid waiver, pursuant to Section 1115 of the Social Security Act; and (d) more closely confirming various provisions of the general statutes concerning high deductible health plans to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code concerning health savings accounts and medical savings accounts.

 

“COVID-19 has interrupted nearly all state business, and as we continue to navigate this pandemic there are several urgent items that we need to consider in order to move our state forward,” Governor Lamont said. “Taking up these topics makes an awful lot of sense in this current environment, and through my discussions with legislative leaders I am glad that we’ve reached a consensus on the importance of tackling these issues and getting them done now.”

 

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A task force created last winter and charged with fighting the theft of motor vehicles in Connecticut has recovered more than 150 stolen cars and arrested more than 20 juveniles.

 

Members of the Multi-City Auto Theft and Urban Violence Task Force have been working tirelessly to fight the rising trend of vehicles taken from the state’s suburban and rural communities. The task force is composed of detectives from the following agencies: Connecticut State Police, Bridgeport Police, Hartford Police, and Waterbury Police. The task force is also charged with combatting the surge of violence related to the stolen vehicles in Connecticut’s largest cities.

 

From the establishment of the task force on February 1, 2020, through July 12, 2020, the task force has recovered 154 stolen cars, eight stolen firearms, and a badge from a local police department. Detectives have arrested 22 juveniles, totaling 59 felony arrests for larcenies, illegal possession of weapons, etc. One person was arrested for operating a drug factory; crack and fentanyl were seized.

 

The task force also solved two shootings in Hartford. The task force found that automobiles are stolen in an organized, directed manner. The suspects, many of them juveniles, travel to the suburbs from all major Connecticut cities. They go with anywhere from 2-6 people, possibly more, in a car. The cars they are traveling in are frequently stolen themselves, or may be newly stolen but not yet reported.

 

The suspects travel to suburban neighborhoods, typically in the dark early morning hours, and deploy on foot. They check for unlocked cars in driveways and on streets to search for firearms, valuables (laptops, phones, purse, and wallet), money, and car keys. Connecticut @CT_State_Police 1111 Country Club Road www.facebook.com/connecticutstatepolice Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: (860) 685-8230 Fax: (860) 685-8301 Email: csp.pio@ct.gov Website: www.cspnews.org An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer suspects have affected neighborhoods all across the state and into New York State and Massachusetts as well. Typically, if they encounter a locked vehicle or one without keys inside, they quickly move on to the next automobile.

 

Members of the task force report that once a car is stolen, the suspects drive them back to the cities and park them, retaining the keys for future use. Firearms taken from cars are either kept for later use or sold. Many of the stolen vehicles are employed as “rentals” in the cities, whereby the suspect either keeps the keys or hides them near the parked car. The cars are then marketed via social media and smartphone apps to other persons for criminal purposes. An agreement is struck online or in-person, and the location of the car/keys is provided. These cars are used for preplanned shootings/assaults, drug trafficking, human trafficking, stealing other vehicles, etc. At this time, the evidence does not support that these crimes are committed for a “joyride” or as a result “bored juveniles.”

 

Law enforcement reinforces this message to all Connecticut residents: lock all vehicles at all times and remove all valuables (laptops, phones, firearms, cash, etc.) every night. These individuals are committing more crimes – and increasingly more serious crimes – with these stolen cars and the items taken from them, including firearms. Make this your mid-year resolution: remove all valuables, grab the keys and lock the doors so that you are not the next victim in our state.

 

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HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today is reminding Connecticut residents that the deadline to file 2019 income taxes – a requirement for most people to become eligible to receive federal economic impact payments resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – is July 15, 2020. Households with a total income at or below $56,000 can continue to receive free tax preparation support through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The service is administered by the Connecticut Association for Human Services, with financial support from the philanthropic organization 4-CT and the United Way of Connecticut.

 

Residents can access VITA services online at www.211ct.org/taxhelp or by calling 2-1-1.

 

“The federal government has made filing your taxes a key component of gaining access to refunds and credits that can be a critical support to families during this pandemic,” Governor Lamont said. “We’re doing everything we can to remind Connecticut families about the resources available to them through great programs like VITA, and we encourage those who need support to take advantage of this opportunity.”

 

“The VITA program provides hardworking individuals and families with free, reliable assistance in filing their state and federal tax returns,” Richard Porth, CEO of United Way of Connecticut, said. “In 2019, thousands of VITA volunteers prepared millions of tax returns nationwide resulting in more than $1.8 billion returning to local communities. These dollars are spent to cover child expenses, pay bills, as well as to save for the future. Connecticut United Ways, in partnership with our VITA coalition and other nonprofit partners, are committed to connecting eligible households with this vital service.”

 

“While the COVID-19 outbreak has brought unique challenges, Connecticut taxpayers have been conscientious – more than 86 percent have already filed their state income tax returns compared to this point last year,” Acting Revenue Services Commissioner John Biello said. “The Department of Revenue Services encourages taxpayers to reach out to the agency directly with their state tax questions. We also appreciate the work of partners like VITA, 2-1-1, and AARP, who bring access to tax preparation services to communities throughout the state, and look forward to continued collaboration.”

 

In addition to receiving a federal coronavirus economic impact payment, filing taxes is also an important step toward receiving valuable refunds and tax credits, such as the earned income tax credit and child tax credit.

 

According to data released in late June from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, approximately 12 million eligible people across the United States have not yet received economic impact payments, leaving unclaimed roughly $12 billion in funding authorized by Congress to mitigate hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 have already automatically received an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples, and up to $500 for each qualifying child.

 

Anyone who earns more than $56,000 can receive tax filing support through United Way’s partnership with H&R Block by visiting www.MyFreeTaxes.com

 

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Partnership Helps Support the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign

The Connecticut Apartment Association, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut, has partnered with the American Red Cross for the third year in a row. As part of the partnership, this year, the Connecticut Apartment Association has contributed in support of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign and is entering their third year as a Ready 365 Bronze level supporter.

“We are grateful to the Connecticut Apartment Association for their continued support of the Red Cross and for their commitment to support the Home Fire Campaign,” said Brandon Ponder, Chief Development Officer, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “The Connecticut Apartment Association’s partnership helps the Red Cross prepare communities for the largest disaster threat, home fires.”

Every day seven people are killed and another 36 people suffer injuries because of home fires. And annually, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 62,000 disasters – the vast majority of which are home fires. Here in Connecticut, the Red Cross responds to about two home fires each day across the state. Having working smoke alarms cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half. To save lives, the Red Cross started their Home Fire Campaign in 2014 and to date the campaign has saved more than 760 lives nationwide. The Connecticut Apartment Association’s contribution to the Home Fire Campaign helps the Red Cross install free smoke alarms and provide important preparedness information to families. Emergencies don’t stop and the COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped Connecticut families from experiencing home fires or the Red Cross response to these disasters.

“Helping to alleviate suffering due to home fires and displacement really resonates with our organization.  Sometimes it is our own apartment communities and residents that are affected by fire, and the American Red Cross is always there to assist,” said Kelly Dematteo, President-Elect of CTAA.  “We value our relationship as a Ready 365 partner, and are looking to grow our involvement as well.  We are partnering with ARC to host a blood drive July 21 in Rocky Hill. This will be the first of what we hope to be many more events with the Red Cross.”

The financial contributions of corporate citizens, like The Connecticut Apartment Association, enable the Red Cross to make a tremendous difference every day for those who rely on our services in disasters, like home fires and other emergencies.

 

 

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Veterans and their spouses can take advantage of free virtual training and certification in technology skills from NPower. After four months of intensive training, mentoring and a paid internship, participants will have access to job placement and more. Apply online now for classes starting on September 8.

https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/76292/free-training-veterans-spouses-npower/

Hartford CT– Attorney General William Tong released a statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Barr v. AAPC, which upheld the federal robocall ban. Earlier this year, Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 33 states in filing an amicus brief in support of the ban.

Attorney General Tong’s statement is below:

“Every day, our office is working to end the nuisance and threat that robocalls and scams present to Connecticut residents. I am pleased the Supreme Court left the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ban on robocalls intact, and my office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the people of Connecticut,” said Attorney General Tong.

The Attorney General participates in a nationwide effort to track and trace illegal robocalling.  This is especially concerning when robocallers attempt to cheat vulnerable citizens in Covid-19 related scams.  If you have been targeted in a robocall scam, please forward that information to attorney.general@ct.gov with your phone number, the phone number used for the robocall and the date and time of the robocall.

 

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WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Thursday introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 that would increase the Buy American requirements on major defense programs to 100% domestic content. Currently, equipment that has only 50% of its content from U.S. suppliers is considered compliant with the Buy American Act. Requiring 100% of the products purchased by the Defense Department to be made in America will support U.S. manufacturers and create jobs. It will also protect our national security by defending the supply chain for our major defense programs against foreign disruptions.

 

Murphy’s amendment is endorsed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).

 

“When the government spends taxpayer dollars, our money should go to help American manufacturers. It’s just common sense. There is no shortage of talented manufacturers in Connecticut, who are making some of the best defense products in the world. My amendment will make sure that we’re pumping money into local economies and creating good paying jobs across the country at a time when we need them most,” said Murphy.

 

Murphy has been a champion of Buy American laws since his time in Congress. After hearing concerns in 2018 from a Connecticut-based drone manufacturer, Murphy called

on then U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis to ban Chinese-made commercial drones at the DoD and instead support U.S. drone manufacturers. DoD followed Murphy’s call and halted the purchase of all small commercial drones, including those made by Da Jiang Innovations. Additionally, Murphy secured

more transparency and critical protections for American companies against foreign-made drones in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 2019, which partially funds the Department of Interior. This was critical for national security and a “Buy American” victory for Connecticut-based companies that have to compete with artificially priced Chinese-made drones. Murphy’s provision banning the use of Chinese-made drones was included in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Murphy and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also introduced the American Security Drone Act of 2019 prohibiting the U.S. government from purchasing drones manufactured in countries identified as national security threats like Iran and China. 

 

After a series of meetings and discussions with the White House and a U.S. General Services Administration feasibility report mandated by a Murphy appropriations provision, Murphy successfully convinced the Trump administration to create BuyAmerican.gov based on Murphy and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)’s BuyAmerican.gov Act.  Murphy first suggested the BuyAmerican.gov website in a letter  he sent to President Trump outlining five executive actions that the president should take to close loopholes in Buy American laws. 

 

Earlier this year, Murphy was presented with the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC) 2020 Sentinel Award for his legislative leadership on behalf of the domestic defense industrial base that supports U.S. service members and homeland security personnel. The Sentinel Award specifically recognizes members of Congress for their efforts to provide high quality, American-made personal protective gear, uniforms, footwear, and equipment to the Federal government at the best value to the taxpayer.

 

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Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong this week led a coalition of attorneys general, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Office of Consumer Counsel, and the Maine Ratepayer Advocate urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject unnecessary and unjust incentive payments to transmission developers.

FERC issued a draft rulemaking in March proposing a series of generous new transmission incentives, including extra payments for basic measures that transmission developers are already doing, such as joining mandatory regional transmission organizations. With a federally regulated transmission system already weighted toward traditional, carbon-intensive and outdated energy transmission methods, the coalition argues that any new incentives must be targeted to encourage the development of modern, zero-carbon renewable resources.

The coalition agreed with FERC Commissioner Richard Glick, who stated in his dissent: “Incentives must actually incentivize something. A payment that does not incentivize anything is a handout, not an incentive.  Handing out customers’ money to transmission owners without a strong belief that that money will induce beneficial conduct is unjust and unreasonable and inconsistent with the Congress.”

“Connecticut consumers already pay far too much for their energy. The last thing we need is to send more ratepayer dollars to transmission developers for lucrative work they were already planning to do. If we are going to consider any form of incentive, it should be to encourage the necessary transition away from fossil fuels, and towards carbon-zero renewables,” said Attorney General Tong.

 

“The Department strongly urges the Commission not to provide unjust and unnecessary incentives to transmission companies for projects they would build anyway,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “The Department strongly supports this effort to ensure that FERC requires grid planners and operators to evaluate transmission projects based on metrics that protect ratepayers and accommodate state public policies.”

“Under FERC’s proposed rulemaking, Connecticut ratepayer dollars would be given away to transmission developers with no customer benefit in return,” said Acting Consumer Counsel Richard E. Sobolewski. “Ratepayer funds should be prudently spent on improving the safety and reliability of the transmission system—not further enriching developers that stood to profit regardless. Connecticut ratepayers already face high electric rates—they rightfully expect to receive tangible outcomes from rates paid rather than watching those rates climb higher for no demonstrable purpose.”

Transmission costs have increased substantially over the last decade.  Nationwide, investments in electric transmission facilities grew from approximately $2 billion per year during the late 1990s to approximately $20 billion per year during the five years ending in 2019.

In New England, these transmission costs account for almost 20 percent of ratepayer bills. Approximately $1.3 billion in transmission upgrades are planned for New England over the next several years. The base rate of return on equity for transmission developers on those projects is currently over 10 percent—a lucrative business hardly in need of additional incentives.

The letter was led by Attorney General Tong and signed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Office of Consumer Counsel, the Maine Ratepayer Advocate, and the attorneys general of Massachusetts, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Rhode Island.

Separately, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority also filed timely comments opposing the proposed transmission ROE incentives regime as a needlessly expensive solution in search of a problem.

Assistant attorneys general Robert Snook and Matt Levine, Head of the Environment Department, assisted the Attorney General in this matter.

 

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