‘People are angry’: United Illuminating requests rate increase

ORANGE, Conn. (WTNH) — United Illuminating (UI) requested another rate hike on Monday. If approved, customers could see about a 9% increase in electric bills.

UI says the increase would allow them to fund more than $100 million in infrastructure projects.

State Attorney General William Tong reacted to the news, calling it a “tone-deaf slap in the face to Connecticut families.”

Republican lawmakers Sen. Ryan Fazio, Sen. Tony Hwang and Sen. Stephen Harding said in a joint statement: “The family budget hits to ratepayers will keep on coming if Connecticut’s state elected officials continue to do nothing about this emergency.”

This isn’t the first time customers are dealing with rate hikes.

Earlier this month, protestors gathered outside the state capitol with a clear message to remove the public benefits charge on electricity bills, which, for some people, made up 18% to 29% of their total.

“We’re mad. Our electric bills are outrageous. The cost of living in this state has risen to a point where people are angry. I think this was the final nail in the coffin,” said a protest organizer, Cindy Jordan.

The strikes last month led to UI to respond, saying that these rate hikes were necessary and that deferring them could lead to higher bills next year.

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