Connecticut residents outraged over ‘insane’ electricity bills

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Some customers have seen their electricity bills go up by hundreds, if not thousands of dollars this summer, and a new petition is calling for the governor to take action immediately.

“It’s absolutely insane, it’s more than most people’s mortgages,” Scott Pearson, who started the petition on change.org, said.

Pearson says numerous people have been sending them their electricity bills. One statement he showed News 8 had charges totaling just under $3,200, with $800 in public benefit charges. Another bill listed on the petition shows a bill of over $950 with $200 in public benefit charges.

“The disconnect between the governor and his citizens is just astronomical,” Pearson said. “Everyone is very, very upset about it.”

“A couple weeks ago when it was really hot, I went to service a senior citizen, and I walked in the apartment,” Pearson said. “It must’ve been 100 degrees and I said ‘why don’t you put on the air conditioner?’ and she looked at me and said ‘I just got my Eversource bill, I can’t afford it.'”

Pearson has started an online petition calling for the governor to revoke “public benefits” charges and for the Public Regulatory Utilities Authority (PURA) to reverse Wednesday’s rate hike. His petition has gained nearly 40,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart is voicing her concerns on social media.

“I’m pissed about my Eversource bill this month,” she said in a video post on X. “The legislature calls them ‘public benefit’ fees. But let’s be real, it’s just a hidden tax that hides elected officials from real accountability.”

A spokesperson for the governor’s office told News 8 “Gov. Lamont agrees that Connecticut residents are paying too much for electricity and has said he would be open to considering practical solutions to help lower costs in a special session. This is not a partisan issue as we all agree that we need a solution to lower energy costs.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for PURA said

“The Authority is actually currently in receipt of two motions to reopen/reconsider the RAM decision – one from the Energy and Technology Committee Leadershi p and one from the Office of Consumer Counsel . Our processes allow parties seven days to comment before the matter is taken up. Since these are open matters before us, as a quasi-judicial agency we cannot provide comments at this time.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.