Two lawmakers want the General Assembly to examine Eversource Energy's response to last month's damaging windstorm that left more than 100,000 residents in the dark for multiple days, especially in eastern Connecticut.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk and Sen. Cathy Osten of Sprague, both Democrats, are questioning whether the utility followed minimum performance standards for emergency preparation and response. Noncompliance could result in financial penalties.
Both lawmakers have asked the legislature's Energy and Technology Committee to hold an informational public forum on the utility's response.
The conversation comes at a time when Eversource is requesting a rate increase.
Last year Eversource reported $942 million in earnings, but because of rising costs the company is asking state regulators to approve a three-year, $336 million rate increase. That would raise the average customer's bill by 6.8 percent.
The company says they need this money to further strengthen the system. But consumers who were left without power don't want to see their bills increase.
Eversource says it understands the senator's concerns regarding the Oct. 29 storm, but notes it caused "significant damage to the electrical system, affecting most of the 149 communities we serve." In many cases, Eversource says parts of the system had to be rebuilt.
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Legislators will hear straight from Eversource about their preparedness and response time at a meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. The public is invited to speak at another hearing next Tuesday.
