Lawmakers grapple with energy bill, other issues in remaining hours

With a Wednesday adjournment looming, state lawmakers were busy Tuesday trying to broker a deal on a wide-ranging energy bill designed to stabilize rising rates for consumers and encourage new sources of electricity.

 

The complicated piece of legislation was one of a handful of bills legislators were hoping to finish in the waning hours of this year's legislative session. 

Lawmakers were also grappling with bills that would reform the state's eminent domain laws, make changes to last year's far-reaching campaign finance reform law and temporarily end gasoline pricing zones in Connecticut to lower prices at the pump.

It remained uncertain whether there was enough time to pass those bills before legislators close out the session at midnight Wednesday, especially since some of the proposals would likely trigger four- to six-hour debates.

With the legislature already having passed a revised budget and major bills dealing with transportation improvements and job creation, some lawmakers were satisfied with what they accomplished during this year's shortened session.

"For the shortest of shortest sessions, this was remarkable," said Senate President Pro Tem Donald E. Williams Jr., D-Brooklyn.

Rep. Steve Fontana, D-North Haven, co-chairman of the Energy Committee, said he was hopeful the House of Representatives would take up the nearly 100-page energy bill either Tuesday or Wednesday. He said Connecticut consumers are clamoring for a plan to stabilize energy prices and boost supply.

"The need is too great. The demand is too great from the public that we do something," Fontana said.

The bill tentatively includes for additional electricity generation in Connecticut. Lawmakers believe the state needs at least 500 to 750 megawatts of additional power during peaking periods to avoid disruptions.

The bill would also promote the use of renewable energy, change electricity rate structures and provide consumers more tools to control their energy use, he said. Copies of the final bill have not yet been made available to the public.

Fontana acknowledged the legislation has attracted the attention of many lobbyists working for various energy interests. For at least the past week, lobbyists have waited patiently into the evening as lawmakers hashed out the bill behind closed doors.

"I think that with every passing year, more and more people have an interest in some aspect of the energy issue," he said.

In January, consumers and lawmakers were stunned by Connecticut Light & Power's 22.4 percent rate increase, which was approved by state regulators. It came about seven years after the legislature passed a law that deregulated the state's electric utility industry in hopes of lowering rates for residents and businesses, ending electric monopolies and bringing more power plants into the state.

At that time, lawmakers had hoped that power producers would jump at the chance to sell electricity in Connecticut once Northeast Utilities - which owns CL&P - and United Illuminating were forced to stop generating power and focus only on distribution and transmission. But a variety of issues have stymied that competition.

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

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