(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he will soon sign into law legislation that takes a step forward in reducing electric bills, delivering Connecticut consumers nearly $400 million in annual savings, as well as laying the groundwork for longer term reductions in public benefits charges and cuts in supply, delivery, and transmission fees.
The legislation is Senate Bill 4, An Act Concerning Energy Affordability, Access and Accountability. It is the result of a collaboration between the Lamont administration and Democratic and Republican lawmakers. It was approved in the Senate yesterday by a vote of 34 to 1, and in the House of Representatives this evening by a vote of 144 to 3.
“Like many people, I think electric bills are too damn high, and this bipartisan bill is a first step in addressing a complex issue that is the result of policy decisions made years ago by legislators in both parties that have continued to impact our utility rates,” Governor Lamont said. “I want to be clear – this legislation is one step in the effort to make energy rates more affordable and we should not stop here. This legislation is the result of cooperative input, and I am encouraged that we can continue taking additional steps that will lower electric bills further. I thank Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly for approving this legislation and I will sign it into law when it is transmitted to my desk. Let’s keep doing more to reduce electric rates.”
The savings achieved in the legislation are in addition to the recent 25% reduction in the public benefits charge that the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved in the May 2025 rate adjustment mechanism and to the upcoming 13% reduction in supply rates on July 1, 2025.
As required under legislative rules, now that the bill has been approved by both chambers of the General Assembly it will be transmitted to the nonpartisan Legislative Commissioners’ Office for engrossing and supervision of printing in its final form. Once engrossed, it is required to go through an approval process by the Office of the House Clerk, the Office of the Senate Clerk, and the Office of the Secretary of the State before it can finally be transmitted to the governor for his signature. This engrossing and approval process usually takes several days to complete.
Upon receiving the bill, the Office of the Governor will make an announcement when a date has been selected for it to be signed by the governor.