Lawmakers asked to consider special session on energy prices

A day after the legislative session adjourned, state lawmakers on Thursday faced the prospect of a special session to deal with rising energy prices.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, said she will seriously consider calling a special session herself if Democratic legislative leaders do not call one.

Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal publicly urged lawmakers to call themselves back into a special session. He said the last three months have been a "do-nothing" session when it came to energy issues.

"Consumers should be appalled and angry that the legislators have failed to debate or vote, let alone approve, a significant energy proposal," he said. "Inertia and inaction are not an option."

The top Democratic leaders said they instead hope to hold an energy summit, possibly on May 17, to find ways to help consumers. But they were not clear on whether they will call the legislature back to the Capitol.

"This takes a lot of experts in the room to figure it out," said House Speaker James Amann, D-Milford, not ruling out a special legislative session "We're not just going to put our name on something if it's not going to work."

The co-chairmen of the legislature's Energy and Technology Committee had planned to bring up a massive, 100-page bill on Wednesday, hours before adjournment.

Versions of the bill called for additional electricity generation in Connecticut during peak periods to avoid disruptions. Lawmakers believe the state needs at least 500 to 750 megawatts of additional power and were considering allowing the state's two major electricity distributors _ Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating _ to produce that power.

Both companies sold off their energy generation facilities when the state deregulated the electricity market.

Rep. Steven Fontana, D-North Haven, said the committee's bill also promoted renewable energy, changed electricity rate structures and provided consumers with more tools to control their energy use.

But Roger Smith, campaign director for Clean Water Action, said the bill changed throughout the night Wednesday, especially as more and more lobbyists for the energy interests persuaded lawmakers to make certain changes.

"The session has been between the generators and utility companies saying, 'Let me build it,' instead of us saying what can we do to meet our energy problems," Smith said.

Smith is advocating for pro-environment ideas such as energy efficiency standards for school construction projects, product efficiency standards for items such as laptops and natural gas efficiency programs.

Smith said his group, as well as other members of a coalition supporting rate relief and reform in Connecticut, plan to work with Blumenthal in the coming weeks to come up with ideas on how the legislature can stabilize energy rates and supply, as well as promote conservation.

"There's a crisis coming and doing nothing is probably the least responsible thing they could do," he said.

Both Rell and Blumenthal said they are disappointed the House didn't take up a bill that would end the practice of gasoline zone pricing for two years. The concept passed in the Senate, but some House members feared it might increase prices at the pumps.

Rell had also proposed in her budget a 25 percent across-the-board cut in the tax on utility bills for consumers and businesses, but that was not included in the final budget agreement her administration reached with the majority Democrats.

Rell also proposed creating a new Department of Energy to help shape energy policy and planning, but that also died on the vine.

Judd Everhart, Rell's spokesman, said the governor is willing to consider the idea of suspending the state gas tax during the summer driving season. Rep. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, had proposed an amendment to halt the state's 25-cent-per-gallon tax between May 29 and Sept. 3 during the legislative session, but the proposal failed.

For far more extensive news on the energy/power visit:  http://www.energycentral.com .

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