Days after Connecticut Light & Power filed for a $221 million rate hike, small businesses and churches are joining the fight to keep prices down.
Rev. Sam Saylor of the Blackwell Memorial AME Zion Church on Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford says the rate increase will take money away from church programs helping needy families.
“Those dollars go to the children who need clothing and shoes to go to school,” Saylor said at a meeting Monday.
Customers have been outspoken about the utility company’s push to increase fixed rates, which all customers must pay regardless of the energy they use.
According to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, fixed rates for residential customers would jump from $16 per month to $25.50 per month if CL&P’s proposal goes through.
Small businesses would pay $55 per month, up from the current fixed rate of $38.50, and churches rates would increase from $47.50 to $70 per month.
CL&P officials say the rate increases are necessary to maintain the company’s system.
Local
“Most of your bill is still driven by what you use, the kilowatt hours,” explained CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross. “This particular line item ensures everyone pays their fair share in order to maintain the system, to make sure it’s reliable.”
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has already held several public hearings on the proposal.
“We want those individuals in charge to watch over those whose greed seems to run out of control, and this seems to be one of those cases,” Saylor said.
PURA is expected to make a decision on CL&P’s request in December.
