Late last week, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved a plan supported by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) to fast-track the return of earnings through the long-term power contract with the Millstone nuclear power plant to customers. The action is part of a package of relief announced last month by Governor Ned Lamont under his Customer Relief Plan. PURA also approved the fast-tracked distribution of $8.7M in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) proceeds that are statutorily directed to be returned to electricity customers, as bill credits from January to April.
With PURA’s approval, proceeds from the long-term clean energy power contracts – signed at the direction of the Lamont Administration and the Connecticut General Assembly to help secure the future of Millstone and other carbon-free generation resources – will be distributed to customers in the form of utility bill credits starting January 1, 2023.
“Investing in clean energy is not only good for the environment, it’s also profitable for ratepayers,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, who currently serves as Chair of the RGGI Board of Directors and also as Co-Chair of the ECOS Climate & Energy Workgroup. “I’m pleased to see Connecticut’s investment in clean energy, through our long-term power contract with Millstone and other clean energy contracts, and our participation in RGGI, is providing consumer benefits as well as climate benefits.”