OpenCampaign

Energy

Electric rates and energy affordability

Connecticut residents and lawmakers are grappling with high electric rates. Governor Lamont and Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Ryan Fazio have offered competing visions on how to address rising electricity costs, including a Bond Commission vote to borrow $125M to offset the public benefits charge on electric bills. Energy prices are consistently cited as a top cost-of-living concern for CT voters.

How should Connecticut address its high electric rates?

How OpenCampaign quiz-takers stand on this issue

No quiz question covers this exact issue — showing responses to the closest one, Environment.

38% call it a high-priority issue (rating it 7+ out of 10).

  1. Liberal43%
  2. Lean liberal25%
  3. Moderate15%
  4. Lean conservative6%
  5. Conservative11%

Where do you stand?

How should Connecticut address its high electric rates?

How important is this to you?

Sources

CT Mirror / Mark Pazniokas — https://ctmirror.org/politics
Lamont, Fazio offer preview on coming debate over electric rates. The two candidates serve on CT's Bond Commission, which voted Tuesday to borrow $125M to offset the public benefits charge on electric bills.
Wesleyan University researcher Dancey — https://www.wesleyan.edu/about/news/2023/05/researchers-release-new-poll-on-connecticut-politics.html
Cost-of-living issues, including taxes, energy prices, and housing affordability are concerns for many Connecticut voters.
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Expand renewable energy investment and heavily subsidize clean electricity to lower long-term rates for all residents.
  2. Increase state subsidies and income-based assistance for electric bills while transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
  3. Borrow state funds to offset the public benefits charge and pursue a balanced mix of rate relief and clean energy goals.
  4. Prioritize reducing the public benefits charge and other regulatory fees to deliver immediate rate relief to ratepayers.
  5. Deregulate the energy market and eliminate state mandates that drive up costs, letting competition reduce rates.