Fairfield is urging state lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow it and other communities to participate in Community Power, a program enabling them to purchase electricity from utility companies at a discounted rate.
John Kuhn, a member of the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting is marshaling support for Community Power in order to get the state legislature to allow the measure when it reconvenes in January. The RTM unanimously passed a resolution on Sept. 23 to support the effort.
“The idea is that by (having the municipality act as the purchaser) it will generate cheaper costs for the ratepayers,” said Kuhn, who has been an advocate of the concept since United Illuminated and Eversource began raising rates. “I thought there must be something we can do to retaliate.”
Easton lawmakers are on board with the concept of introducing legislation to support Community Power to reduce electric bill prices for consumers.
“I look forward to having further discussions on Community Power because something needs to be done about skyrocketing utility costs,” said Senator Tony Hwang, who represents Bethel, Easton, Fairfield, and Newtown. “We need to think outside of the box.”
In a deregulated utility market, such as Connecticut, Community Power is a way to allow towns or counties to act as bulk purchasers to procure electrical power for municipal, residential, and commercial customers, Kuhn said. A property owner’s utility bill is broken into four components: generation, distribution, transmission, and public benefits.
“The only area that this factors into is the generation side of it,” said Kuhn.
About 10 states have adopted Community Power, also known as Community Choice Aggregation programs. Massachusetts was the first of 15 states to do this in 1994. Residents in 10 communities in New York’s Hudson Valley saved $7.37 million between July 2021 and July 2022 through its Community Power program, according to its website.
Customers can opt out of the program. Some communities have tailored their choices to buy clean power to meet state and local environmental goals.
Four years ago, a similar effort in Fairfield was made. It failed. Among the people behind that move, Kuhn said, are those who are encouraging him and others who are discouraging him. “Some say, ‘Don’t even bother’ while others say, ‘Sure, give it a try.'”
One of those who backs his efforts is State Rep. Anne Hughes of Easton, who represents Weston, Easton and parts of Redding. Hughes introduced legislation to boost Community Power consortiums several years ago.
“It didn’t go anywhere,” she said, adding that the energy lobby is really strong.
The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, the non-partisan, statewide, non-profit that acts as a legislative watchdog on environmental issues, supports Community Power.
Lori Brown, CTLCV’s executive director, said Community Power programs require no state or municipal funds, and they directly benefit consumers. In 2020, she testified before the state Energy and Technology Committee in favor of a bill to study Community Power. The bill never made it out of committee.
“This can increase our use of renewable energy while reducing costs, which can be especially important for low and moderate income ratepayers, said Brown. “Rather, procurement is funded through the (Community Power’s) revenue stream, just as it is now done when a utility procures electricity on behalf of ratepayers.”
Brown added that more proactive Community Power programs have developed their own clean energy and energy efficiency projects, thus reducing and reshaping a community’s energy demand profile.
“Energy policy is very complicated and difficult to improve while the utilities hold incredible power at the state legislature,” said Brown. “Connecticut needs more enlightened state legislators who understand we can have clean, reliable energy at a lower cost.”
The resolution the Representative Town Meeting passed in September doesn’t obligate the town to participate in Community Power unless it so chooses by the adoption of an ordinance and if lawmakers authorize it, according to Kuhn.
“The resolution is symbolic,” said Kuhn, “but it’s a first go at what I would say is a next attempt at getting this passed at the state level. Others towns have expressed interest in doing the same.”
