Happy Labor Day from all of us here at the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association! We’ve had a busy year advocating for our members and the hardworking people of Connecticut—especially during this past legislative session of the Connecticut General Assembly.
CEMA Legislative Wins: What We Fought and Stopped
Victory for Your Home and Privacy Rights: Concerning Measures in Connecticut Senate Bill 1560 Stopped
Your Power. Their Control. That was the hidden risk in Senate Bill 1560. Section 550 would have given utility companies, with state approval, the ability to remotely control your home thermostat during times of high electricity demand. That meant turning down your heat in winter or raising your air conditioning in summer, all without your permission.Even more concerning, they could have pulled electricity from your electric vehicle to supply the grid. Consumers and homeowners would have been duped into installing smart meters and thermostat technologies in exchange for government subsidies for things like electric heat pumps.Once you signed on the dotted line, you would have given the government and utility companies the right to control these smart technologies in your home. That was how they would have gained access.Thanks to our campaign to alert the public about this invasion of privacy, this measure was stripped from the bill.
Your home. Your power. Still yours.
Nosey Neighbor: A Threat to Common Sense
Imagine your neighbor suing you over your backyard grill or how you heat your home. That’s exactly what could have happened under Senate Joint Resolution No. 36. The proposed constitutional amendment would have given individuals the right to sue if they believed their environmental rights were being violated — no matter how minor the claim.
It could have opened the floodgates to endless lawsuits, allowing anyone to target neighbors, businesses, or even the state over subjective environmental grievances.
Fortunately, common sense prevailed, and this resolution failed.
Big Brother in the Basement: Your Energy Data Isn’t for Sale
House Bill 6780 would have allowed Connecticut to snoop on your private energy use, including how you heat your home and what kind of car you drive. The state could have forced fuel providers to hand over customer information that would be made public on a website.
This could have led to new taxes and a flood of marketers at your door pushing solar panels and green energy plans.
Thankfully, CEMA stopped this invasion. What you do at home is your business.
We Saved Consumers $13 Billion in New Gasoline Taxes — Retroactive for 30 Years!
House Bill 6280, called the Climate Change Superfund, would have forced Connecticut residents to pay an extra $13 billion in gasoline taxes — increasing prices at the pump even more.
The bill aimed to tax gasoline providers for fuel sold from 1995 to 2025. This fuel is already legal, regulated, and heavily taxed by the government. This new, fourth tax would have made gas much more expensive, making life tougher for everyone.
Thanks to our lobbying, social media campaigns, and grassroots efforts, we melted this tax idea faster than butter on a summer grill. You’re welcome.
Things we’re still watching!
Social Costs: A New Public Benefit Charge in Disguise?
Unfortunately, H.B. 5004 passed — but not without changes. Lawmakers softened the language, allowing the state to consider using “social costs” when bidding state energy projects. Still, the door is now open to something much bigger.
H.B. 5004, An Act Concerning the Protection of the Environment and the Development of Renewable Energy Sources and Associated Job Sources, could be the first step toward applying social cost pricing to all fossil fuels in Connecticut. That means higher prices for gasoline, diesel, propane, home heating oil, and natural gas — all while pushing more expensive green energy alternatives. WE will be watching this one. Stay tuned.
$11 Million in State Subsidies for Heat Pumps — But at What Cost?
The state approved $11 million in subsidies for electric heat pumps — down from the $25 million originally proposed. CEMA, Connecticut’s largest installer of electric heat pumps, raised concerns about using taxpayer money to promote conversions without fully informing families of the potential costs. News reports revealed that some households saw their electric bills more than double after switching.
CEMA also questioned whether the regional electric grid can handle the growing demand and urged Governor Lamont to pause state-funded incentives until the true financial impact on consumers is better understood.
Later this fall, CEMA will launch a consumer-focused campaign to educate homeowners on electric heat pumps — including what they really cost and what to expect.
STAY TUNED!