Eversource warns of ‘price shock’ partially attributed to unpaid COVID-19 bills - WTNH.com

Eversource warns of 'price shock' partially attributed to unpaid COVID-19 bills

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — An estimated jump of $38 a month in Eversource electric bills this summer is due to balances that were never paid during the pandemic, according to the utility company on Thursday.

The new rate will begin May 1. Eversource wrote in an announcement that most of the extra costs are in the “public benefits” part of the bills

“Overdue customer balances are paid for by all customers,” the company wrote.

Eversource proposed its summer rates on Thursday with the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, asking for phasing in rate increases during a time with lower supply costs, changing the methodology behind rates to factor in forecasting and to work on “creative solutions” to handle unpaid bills.

“In the last two years, we have advocated for various changes to provide value and rate stability for our customers,” Steve Sullivan, the president of Eversource’s electric operations in Connecticut, said in the written statement.. “Our customers want predictability, and not a constantly and significantly changing electric bill each year. We’re coming forward with a menu of solutions to achieve the goals of providing our customers with stability for several years, modifying policies to help prevent this kind of rate shock from happening in the future, and ensuring we have the resources needed to manage the electrical system and provide high-quality customer service.”

Sullivan wrote that the company is “taking the necessary steps to put solutions on the table and to work collaboratively with state leaders to minimize volatility in customer bills from this increase and reduce bill volatility going forward.”

“We’ve spent much of the last year proactively engaging elected officials, the communities we serve, and our many stakeholders to help them understand the importance of a constructive platform between the state and its utilities,” he wrote. “This is an opportunity to show how we can work together in the interests of the state.”