Connecticut Energy Reform

Prompted by new state energy legislation, Connecticut's two largest utilties, CL&P and UI, recently released a procurement plan. If approved, the plan will triple current efficiency investments -from $113 million to $352 million- by 2014, and reduce demand below current levels by 2018. 

 

Background

Environment Northeast’s energy program started in Connecticut nearly ten years ago, and ENE’s extensive advocacy for energy reforms there is the foundation of its work in the rest of the region. Starting with the initiation of New England’s first statewide and model stakeholder board to advance energy efficiency and most recently with the comprehensive energy bill, ENE has helped Connecticut usher in precedent-setting reforms to how the state uses and purchases energy.  Over the past decade, ENE has intervened in dozens of agency regulatory proceedings to ensure that state rules and regulations support policies covering Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), green power, energy efficiency, and distributed generation. Environment Northeast has often been the only energy efficiency advocate involved. With many of the priorities ENE advocated for now in place, Connecticut is poised to achieve full investment in cost-effective energy efficiency and zero load growth (i.e., no increase in energy consumption) in the electric and natural gas sectors over the next decade. ENE will remain heavily involved as new legislation is implemented and will work to ensure that it delivers maximum environmental and economic benefits.