Millstone isn’t a public benefit; let’s defend what is.
This summer’s spikes in electricity bills are a wake-up call. Unusually high bills came on the heels of weeks of high heat, increased energy usage, and historic floods that are bringing the costs of climate change into sharp focus.
Stakeholders including business leaders, health professionals, and equity and environmental advocates are setting the record straight about why bills are so high this summer: a combination of unusually high usage and the bills coming due for repayment for a 2017 bailout Millstone nuclear power plant and COVID non-payments.
What’s not to blame? The public benefits charge that’s been working for years to invest in renewable energy and provide residents, businesses, and nonprofits with funding to reduce their bills through energy efficiency upgrades. As climate change continues to bring more brutal summers, continued investment in reducing energy demand and cooling our homes more efficiently will be more critical than ever.
Below, a wide range of stakeholders add their voices to the public conversation.
“Our elected officials should focus on fixing real issues and energy problems for residents, not making scapegoats out of high-performing, cost-saving programs,” said Mark Scully, president of People’s Action for Clean Energy. “The two programs that set families and businesses up for long term energy stability and savings are not driving the sticker shock on energy bills. The state’s Renewable Energy Investment Charge is capped by law at one-tenth of one cent per kilowatt hour and the state’s award-winning energy efficiency and conservation program, also capped, is just six-tenths of a cent per kWh. These renewable investments leveraged $6 of private capital for every $1 of public money and lowered energy burdens for 62,000 families and 6,700 businesses while reducing pollution and improving public health for everyone. In 2023 alone, the state’s efficiency programs provided energy savings to power 24,000 homes for a year. And better yet, each dollar invested in that efficiency generated 4x as much in energy savings for people’s wallets.”
“While the real public benefits programs leverage funds well beyond the fractions of pennies invested by consumers to reduce both electric rates and bills, the leveraging effect of the Millstone handout is zero,” said Environment Connecticut State Director, Chris Phelps. “In fact, Connecticut ratepayers are holding the bag for Millstone’s sweetheart deal because no other state in New England was moved by Dominion’s empty chicken-little threat to close the plant. Worse yet, these payments are double-dipping. Connecticut’s families and businesses paid billions of dollars for the nuclear plants once already, and now here we are, paying the price once again.”
“It is shameful that our elected officials are pointing to low-income assistance programs, renewable energy investments, and efficiency measures as the source of the increase,” said Dr. Mark Mitchell, co-chair, Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council. “That simply is not true. In fact, the bulk of the new public benefits charge is related to the $600 million price tag hanging on the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant. Keep in mind, Dominion’s profits in the last year totaled over $10 billion.”
“It’s critical legislators focus on Connecticut policies that prioritize clean energy and efficiency programs to reduce strain on the electric grid. This approach not only avoids reliance on volatile fossil fuels, which have serious negative health impacts, but also helps manage energy costs. By continuing to transition away from fossil fuels, investing in local power production, and maintaining stable energy prices, we can create a healthier and more sustainable energy future for all,” said Dr. Sanjiv Godse of Connecticut Health Professionals for Climate Action.
According to the Office of Consumer Counsel, on average, energy consumption increases by approximately 35 percent in the summer months due to increased use of air conditioning and cooling systems. The first two months of this summer were the hottest on record for the state, with an average temperature more than four degrees above historical average. Massachusetts customers are also experiencing rising energy costs, and Everource says increased usage there is to blame.
“Businesses are feeling the financial strain, and many have energy bill increases that will impact their cost of doing business. Simultaneously, companies in Connecticut are concerned about their carbon footprint and have customers and investors asking them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Energy bill increases hurt everyone, including businesses, but it is very important not to blame clean energy and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when that’s not what is driving the current cost uproar. In fact, the public benefit part of energy bills has been very helpful in supporting energy efficiency which brings down costs for business. The dynamic tension between cost and climate requires creative solutions, and our lawmakers must prioritize cost and climate change in equal measure,” says Heather Burns, CEO of the Connecticut Sustainable Business Council, a nonprofit business association representing companies that support clean energy and sustainable business practices.
As Steven Hall, owner of Chandler LLC, points out, the tiny amounts contributed to the Public Benefit fund are critical for residential customers, commercial businesses, and nonprofits to reduce their energy costs across our state. Doing so reduces demand, lowering the strain on the grid and providing benefits to all ratepayers. He has been doing this work for his clients across the state for many years. “For one current example, we are accessing these funds for a church and its congregation for energy improvements that simply would not be feasible without the incentives provided by the Public Benefit funds; an energy audit projects substantial savings they would not otherwise be able to afford,” he said. “Another project scheduled to start soon will be for another nonprofit, a charter school in Bridgeport. Working with another firm for projects on the commercial side, we have a business model for commercial clients with no upfront costs. We assess and assemble all cost-saving opportunities that include the incentives from the Public Benefit fund. We only take a fee upon the actual realization of savings. The result will significantly reduce the costs of doing business–their operating expenses–while adding to their Net Operating Income, increasing the building value while also opening opportunities for jobs and higher salaries.”
“The public should be given the facts instead of misleading soundbites. Here are the facts. Seventy-seven percent of the increase in the public benefits line item is a result of the 2017 Millstone Nuclear Power Station bailout, and the remaining 23 percent is from COVID non-payments,” said Charles Rothenberger, climate and energy attorney for Save the Sound. “Prior to those charges, the public benefits portion of the bill represented a small but crucial investment to bring energy prices down in the coming years through improving electric grid reliability, lowering energy costs with conservation and efficiency programs, and building a more reliable and stable pricing future with renewable energy. Legislators have an obligation to help consumers understand the true reason their bills are unusually high and protect the critical programs that can actually reduce costs over time.”
“What we are starting to witness are the very real, very serious impacts of climate change,” said Dr. Kirsten Ek of Connecticut Chapter, American College of Physicians. “These heat waves, floods, spikes in waterborne and mosquito-borne illnesses that we experienced this summer are only going to get worse. We see in our environment and in our electric bills the urgent need for long-term planning to address the significant health risks posed by ongoing climate change. Legislators must recognize the pain we are feeling now is just the tip of the melting iceberg. Time is short and the list of policies needed to help protect Connecticut residents is long. There is no time to waste.”
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