The Connecticut House of Representatives has joined the Senate to unanimously approve consumer protections promising more transparent billing and marketing by electricity suppliers.
Lawmakers, responding to hundreds of complaints from irate consumers about sharply higher prices and deceptive marketing, backed the measure 145-0 on Monday. The Senate approved it unanimously last week.
Rep. Lonnie Reed, House chairwoman of the Energy and Technology Committee, said the legislation tells companies with poor consumer records to clean up their act or leave.
John Erlingheuser, state advocacy director for AARP Connecticut, said the legislation does not include stronger consumer protections. He said it doesn't prevent electric suppliers from automatically putting consumers into a new contract with potentially higher rates when the previous contract expires.
The bill now heads to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy who supports it.
