Immediate Release
July 23, 2018

Contacts:
Melissa Schlag, CT Fund for the Environment (Plaintiff), 860-398-0569
Leticia Colon de Mejias (Plaintiff), 860-690-5522

Legislative Theft of Efficiency Funds Moves Forward as Legal Briefs Filed

Electric ratepayers, efficiency employers, environmental organizations, file for restoration of efficiency, clean energy funds

Hartford, Conn. – The next step in a lawsuit to restore Connecticut’s ratepayer energy funds took place on Friday, July 20, as attorneys for both sides filed briefs in federal court. Energy efficiency businesses, clean energy businesses, environmental nonprofits, and utility ratepayer organizations filed a federal lawsuit on May 15 to repeal the legislative sweep of Connecticut’s energy efficiency and clean energy plan funds, and to prevent future diversions of ratepayer funds.

Attorneys from the firms of Holland & Knight in New York City and Hartford-based Feiner Wolfson, representing the Plaintiffs, filed papers Friday enabling U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to render a speedy decision on the merits. State attorneys for the Defendants have filed their own summary judgment motion papers as well.

In attempting to justify the illegal sweeps, the Defendant’s brief points to a $30 million sweep that took place in 2003 and a $12 million sweep that happened in 2005, arguing that because they raided the fund before, they have the right to do it again.

“A few prior acts of petty theft do not justify grand larceny,” said Attorney Stephen J. Humes, partner at Holland & Knight. “Given the magnitude and brazen nature of the sweeps, recognized and acknowledged by legislators, it should come as no surprise that this time Defendants got caught with their hand in the till. As the state capitol floor debates made clear, the legislature knew it was stretching the bounds of its authority.”

Last year, Connecticut’s legislature directed the Defendants—the governor, the treasurer, and the comptroller of the State of Connecticut—to divert $175 million from the Conservation & Load Management Charge, Renewable Energy Investment Charge, and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds to the State’s General Tax Fund to fill a budget gap over two years. Much of that funding is collected from a small charge on Eversource and UI electric bills, paid by ratepayers and then returned back to the ratepayers as discounts on energy efficiency products, services, low interest financing, and solar panels. The legislature voted in May to restore $10 million of the Conservation & Load Management fund in fiscal year 2019, leaving a gap of $165 million from the state’s demand reduction plan crippling efficiency programs, jobs, services, and financing for ratepayers who need help with efficiency or installing renewable resources. ($137 million in unlawfully seized ratepayer funds and $28 million in RGGI funds)

 Plaintiffs are Leticia Colon de Mejias of Windsor; The Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Inc.; New Haven-based Fight the Hike; Energy Efficiencies Solutions, LLC; Best Home Performance of CT, LLC; Connecticut Citizen Action Group; New England Smart Energy Group, LLC; CT Weatherproof Insulation, LLC; Steven C. Osuch of East Windsor; Jonathan Casiano of Windsor; and Bright Solutions, LLC.

The lawsuit argues that using ratepayer funding for other than its intended purpose violates the Contracts Clause of the United States Constitution and functions as an illegal tax on tax-exempt organizations. The Plaintiffs’ motion filed Friday requests that the court declare the funding sweeps null and void, and issue an injunction requiring the swept funds be replaced immediately and forbidding the State from sweeping the funds in the future.

The first transfer of $73.5 million of ratepayer dollars and $14 million of RGGI funds into the state’s General Fund took place on June 25, 2018. An additional transfer of $63.5 million of ratepayer dollars and $14 million of RGGI funds are scheduled to be made in June 2019.

“The State of Connecticut took $137 million in funds paid by residents on their electric bills for specific energy efficiency and clean energy services, and used that money to plug an unrelated budget hole instead. That was illegal and unconstitutional. We’re demanding the funds be returned and used for their intended purpose: projects that reduce home heating and electric bills, generate economic activity and jobs, and slash air pollution,” said Roger Reynolds, chief legal director at Connecticut Fund for the Environment, a plaintiff in the case. “We are gratified the court accepted our request and put this on a remarkably expedited schedule, as time is of the essence if we are to prevent severe damage.”

Plaintiffs argue that the raided funds have created more than 34,000 local energy efficiency jobs, increased state GSP, and added millions to the green energy economy. They further state the energy efficiency program consistently reduces energy demand year after year, lowering air pollution, water pollution, and strengthening the energy grid to protect vulnerable populations.

“As a residential and business ratepayer, and as an environmental activist, employer, and concerned mother, I stand strongly against the politics behind this illegal state action to tax our electric and gas bills, tax nonprofits, and misdirect ratepayer money into general state coffers,” said Leticia Colon de Mejias, chair of Efficiency For All (EFA). “This theft has undermined our state energy demand reduction plan and has already resulted in thousands of Connecticut layoffs and several business closures—leaders must be held accountable. I have personally been forced to lay off several employees due to this irresponsible action by our state leaders. If the legislators were my children I would be telling them, ‘Just because you snuck two cookies and we didn’t notice, does not mean that we won’t punish you when we find the cookie jar two-thirds empty.’”

“Top state lawmakers have said that forcing Eversource and UI customers to pay more than their fair share to balance lawmakers’ state budget is perfectly defensible, and that people who pay Eversource or UI electric bills should get used to paying what one legislative leader says is a new electric bill tax,” said Mike Trahan, executive director of Solar Connecticut, the state’s solar energy business group. “It’s remarkable that we’ve had to drag state legislators into federal court where a judge will decide if lawmakers scammed consumers out of $165 million.”

“We are now seeing the real life fall-out of this misguided, irresponsible decision by the state to divert funds that wasn’t theirs to take; we are not only losing valuable, skilled technicians but we are losing entire companies,” said Stephanie Weiner, CEO and founder of New England Smart Energy Group, LLC. “If these funds are not restored in the very near future, we will see a once thriving and growing Connecticut industry, that actually helped all the residents of Connecticut save money on their energy bills, disappear forever.”

“It breaks my heart, when we receive a call from a client whose house is drafty and leaky and who needs new windows and/or insulation. And the efficiency charge money they have been contributing on a monthly basis towards the plan is no longer there for them,” saidVivian Perez, co-owner of HE-Energy Solutions, LLC.

“As a result of the sweeps, Plaintiffs no longer get what they paid for,” said Attorney Humes “While the Plaintiffs will continue to pay surcharges into the funds, they will no longer receive the benefits of their payments, nor will they be able to access energy efficiency services or clean energy investments like before. The State has violated the public trust. In light of the ongoing harm caused by the transfer of these funds, we’re pleased the federal court has set an aggressive schedule to resolve the matter in a timely way.” ###

Background:

Motion for Summary Judgment

May 15 Complaint

Press release on filing of lawsuit

Summary of case and background

More information can be found at www.efficiencyforall.org and www.ctenvironment.org.

Quotes from Senate leaders defending the sweeps:

“I believe it’s defensible, what we’ve done,” the Senate’s top Democratic leader, Martin M. Looney of New Haven, said of the legislature’s move to sweep up those energy conservation monies. – Hartford Courant, May 16, 2018.

In a letter from Senate Republican President Leonard A. Fasano to the Connecticut Green Bank’s President and CEO, Bryan Garcia, Senator Fasano wrote, “Although some may argue that the money you receive is ‘ratepayer dollars,’ I would argue those funds are taxpayer dollars.” – March 16, 2018.

To speak with contractors who are experiencing direct harm or staff who were let go please contact Leticia Colon de Mejias at 860-690-5522.

---

• https://www.ctpost.com/business/article/Briefs-filed-in-lawsuit-challenging-legislative-13098634.php, CT Post
• Briefs filed in lawsuit challenging legislative raid on Connecticut energy efficiency funds, New Haven Register
• http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-news-energy-fund-sweep-lawsuit-20180723-story.html, Hartford Courant
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/connecticut-is-drowning-in-debt-should-its-neighbors-have-to-pay/2018/07/23/eff14b6a-83be-11e8-8589-5bb6b89e3772_story.html?utm_term=.9b4b795788ab, Washington Post
• http://www.wnpr.org/post/court-challenge-continues-last-minute-efficiency-fund-cuts, WNPR

Immediate Release

May 15, 2018

Contact:  Leticia Colon de Mejias, Efficiency for All ©, lcolonees@gmail.com,  www.efficiencyforall.org

Efficiency For All  (EFA) and Connecticut Fund for the Environment seek full restoration of clean energy and energy efficiency funds

Hartford, Conn. – Efficiency For All, (EFA) and several efficiency and clean energy businesses, ratepayer organizations, and Connecticut Fund for the Environment have filed a federal lawsuit to block the legislative raid of Connecticut’s clean energy and energy efficiency program funds and to prevent future raids of the funds.

Holland & Knight and Feiner Wolfson filed the complaint for the plaintiffs on Tuesday, May 15, in the U.S. District Court. Plaintiffs are Leticia Colon de Mejias; The Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Inc.; Fight the Hike; Energy Efficiencies Solutions, LLC; Best Home Performance of CT, LLC; Connecticut Citizen Action Group; New England Smart Energy Group, LLC; CT Weatherproof Insulation, LLC; Steven C. Osuch; Jonathan Casiano; and Bright Solutions, LLC.

Defendants are the Governor, the Treasurer, and the Comptroller of the State of Connecticut.

“It is never too late to do the right thing; therefore we are calling on the state of Connecticut to return the diverted ratepayer funds for the specific purposes of serving the ratepayer and meeting the state’s written climate, energy, and economic goals. The Time Is Now!” said Leticia Colon de Mejias, CEO of Energy Efficiencies Solutions, Inc.

Last year, Connecticut’s legislature directed the Defendants to divert $175 million from the Conservation & Load Management, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and Clean Energy funds to the General Fund to fill a budget gap over two years. Much of the funding is raised from a small charge on state electric bills, paid by ratepayers to their utility in return for specific services to be provided. The legislature voted last week to restore $10 million of the Conservation & Load Management fund in fiscal year 2019, leaving a gap of $165 million in unlawfully seized ratepayer funds.

The Plaintiffs argue that using the funding for other than its intended purpose is a breach of the contracts clause of the United States Constitution, and also functions as an illegal tax on tax-exempt organizations—such as nonprofits that are ratepayers. We are requesting that the court declare the funding sweep unconstitutional and thus null and void, and issue an injunction forbidding the State from sweeping the funds.

“Conventional wisdom is that the General Assembly can change priorities and reallocate tax revenue with the stroke of the legislative pen,” said Attorney Stephen J. Humes, a partner at Holland & Knight and one of the lawyers leading the litigation. “But this time is different and lawmakers went too far. We all should be worried when the State uses its extraordinary powers and literally takes and diverts funds held in private bank accounts of utilities to subsidize the General Fund coffers.”

“If this raid is not stopped, it will add to the hundreds of millions that state lawmakers have quietly taken from people who pay a UI or Eversource electric bill over the past 10-plus years,” said Mike Trahan, executive director of Solar Connecticut. “That money was supposed to be returned back to ratepayers in the form of low cost clean energy and energy efficiency products and services. Instead, state lawmakers took those hundreds of millions of dollars and used it to balance state budgets when they couldn’t balance the budget with their own funds.”

Stephanie Weiner, CEO and founder of New England Smart Energy Group, LLC, said, “We are now seeing the real life fall-out of this misguided, irresponsible decision by the state to divert funds that wasn’t theirs to take; we are not only losing valuable, skilled technicians but we are losing entire companies. If these funds are not restored in the very near future we will see a once thriving & growing Connecticut industry, that actually helped all the residents of Connecticut save money on their energy bills, disappear forever.”

###

Additional businesses and organizations added:

---

“The state must ensure equal access to cost effective energy efficiency demand reduction programs, energy savings, and renewable energy. The ratepayer funds were diverted into the general tax fund resulting in an illegal tax on non-profits, schools, churches, and under-represented low-income and moderate-income working families which are being turned away from services they have paid for on their energy bills. This raid has resulted in economic harm and will further impact the areas of human health, building safety, climate change mitigation, air and water pollution, job losses, and $30 million dollars in ISO-NE fees to ratepayers in Connecticut. Our state has the responsibility to look out for the best interest of our health, our economy and our workforce. These funds were collected through a legislative order for the specific purposes of stabilizing our energy grid, lowering the cost of energy for all people, and mitigating climate change and pollution which is generated through electricity generation and the heating and cooling of Connecticut homes and businesses. The state has a legislative responsibility to uphold the CES and the Conservation and Load Management plan which these funds were legislated to directly support. We cannot meet our energy, economic, and climate goals without the resources to fund them. Legislators have acknowledged that the diversion was short-sighted and created economic harm, yet at this moment of a $2 billion dollar surplus, they made little to no effort to amend the states plan to support its written and legislative energy reduction goals in 2018 and 2019.”

— Kyle Ellsworth, Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs, Efficiency For All

“Connecticut’s budget woes partially reflect a broader economic crisis that continues to hit working families the hardest, as the state suffers from a deficit in good jobs. At the same time, we face a looming climate crisis that has already brought more severe storms and major flooding to coastal communities. Fortunately, these two crises have the same solution: we need to put people to work protecting the climate. Our energy efficiency programs do exactly that: they help struggling communities by creating new local jobs, they grow our state’s economy and tax base, and they move us toward a clean energy future that protects the climate for our grandchildren. Creating a new energy tax by diverting ratepayer funds was a short-sighted decision with immediate and long-term negative impacts on consumers and workers. The General Assembly needs to restore all funding for these critical programs.”

— John Humphries, organizer for the CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs; and a member of the Governor’s Council on Climate Change

“A constant refrain from policy makers and officials of all stripes is: We want jobs, economic growth, a better business climate, a reduction in our high energy costs, a reduction in harmful emissions, help for the underserved, etc. Then we go ahead and take money from funds which are delivering big time on what we just said we want. I don’t get it.”

— Andy Bauer, Portland Clean Energy Task Force

“There is no wiser way to spend money than on efficiency, as we transition to a clean energy economy. It’s the cheapest way to bring about change. In addition to direct savings, using less heat and electricity in CT homes and businesses will mean that ratepayers have to pay for fewer new transmission lines, gas pipelines, and substations in the future. Spending a little now will lead to spending a lot less for many years to come.”

— Peter Millman, Eastern CT Green Action

“As a future Engineer and the new voting generation of this state, I believe that we all deserve the chance to help our planet. With lower consumption appliances and light-bulbs and actions to promote energy savings, the Energy Efficiency funds not only reduce the cost of energy for the homeowner but they help in making the planet cleaner.”

— Lariab Afzal, engineering student, University of Connecticut

“Every ratepayer contributes to the Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Funds monthly and all of us are supposed to benefit through lower energy bills, cleaner air, a more reliable energy system, and reductions in climate changing pollution. When the governor accepted the bipartisan budget that improperly raided these funds, everyone involved violated their responsibility to the people of Connecticut, the promises made by our government, and their moral duty to address climate change. Until these funds are restored, how can Connecticut residents trust these elected officials?”

— Ben Martin, 350CT

“It’s time to return the funds that were raided from the Energy Efficiency Fund. From the onset of this directive our customers have suffered the fallout, in particular those that heat with oil and propane. In addition the companies providing the service have seen a drastic reduction in the ability to maintain its workforce. We need those funds returned so that we can provide the services that were meant to help Connecticut achieve its goal on the energy conservation front. We need to be able to provide all ratepayers equal access and the only way to achieve that is by having the funds that were raided returned and the diversion of those funds repealed.”

— Jeff Gerber, Homestead Fuel

---

Related Articles:

• http://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=15298
• http://wnpr.org/post/federal-lawsuit-seeks-block-hidden-tax-energy-customers
• http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/story/20180515_coalition_sues_state_over_sweep_of_energy_efficiency_funds/

Connecticut must Support Prioritization of Equal Access to Energy Efficiency  Services in Connecticut we demand that the Ratepayer C&LM and RGGI funds be returned to equally serve ALL Connecticut Electric (Ratepayers) and meet our states energy (CES) plan and economic goals.

Dear Honorable Leaders of Connecticut,

We demand the state of Connecticut’s leaders keep their promise to ALL Connecticut electric ratepayers by taking the following two actions this legislative session.

1. Implement state policy to ensure EQUAL ACCESS to all Cost Effective Energy Efficiency (EE) services and upgrades for ALL ELECTRIC RATEPAYERS regardless of heating fuel source type (FUEL BLIND DIRECT EE SERVICES). We must NOT excluded the Oil and Propane households from accessing proven energy saving services and efficiency incentives.

2. Support “A Repeal of the diversions of the electric ratepayer funds”. The C&LM ratepayer funds must be returned this session to support cost effective direct energy efficiency services in Connecticut or we can not meet our state’s Clean Energy Strategy (CES) or Our Climate Goals. Efficiency is our states DEMAND reduction plan. It keeps “carbon heavy fuels” from being wasted. These programs are award winning highly effective DEMAND REDUCTION programs that directly serve the ratepayers.

Summary:
*Last October the electric ratepayer Energy Efficiency funds (C&LM and RGGI) were unlawfully diverted by our state leaders as part of the bipartisan state budget. This resulted in a lack of Equal Access to Direct Energy Efficiency services for Connecticut electric ratepayers created an inequitable tax on all electric ratepayers, including a tax on nonprofits.

**​Currently Connecticut has lost the ability to provide energy efficiency to oil and propane properties. These households represent 51% of all households in CT. Our state’s highly awarded Direct Service Energy Efficiency (EE) programs can no longer equally serve Oil and Propane households.

Direct Service Energy Efficiency (EE) programs: These award winning EE programs are coordinated by the State of CT Energy Efficiency Board (EEB), and have helped countless working families, low income families, and businesses to lower their energy bills statewide. The Direct Service EE programs lower energy demand by providing on the spot energy savings and long term energy savings, which result in lowered air and water pollution, lower asthma rates, climate change mitigation, and related health problems.

ABOUT EE: Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Services help households directly lower energy bills. This results in on the spot energy savings for the homeowner, renter, landlord, or business, and saves money across our state.

EE programs support 34,000 Connecticut jobs and generate $1.4 Billion a year in Gross State Product. These programs directly lower our state’s energy costs by hundreds of millions of dollars annually. EE programs generate $140 million dollars in state tax revenue in a single year. Direct Service residential Energy Efficiency programs have avoided $814 million dollars in state healthcare costs. Direct service EE has a 1 to 7 return on investment for the state of Connecticut ratepayers.

Energy Efficiency is the number one way to meet our state energy goals, slow climate change, and lower air pollution in our state. Air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuel to generate electricity harms human health and causes damage to children’s developing lungs resulting in higher rates of asthma, heart disease and stroke.

Energy Efficiency is an economic driver and results in savings to the state of Connecticut. EE is the cheapest way to meet our energy goals and should be fully funded by the ratepayer money which was diverted to state’s general fund. Ratepayer money which is legislated to help the ratepayer lower energy bills through direct service EE and residential solar programs must be supported and not diverted in June 2018.

**The C&LM and RGGI are obtained through collections and ARE NOT a physical fund. The lack of an actual “fund” and the misunderstanding of how collections are “forecasted” and “collections reconciled”, has worsened the impacts on 2018 Direct Service EE programs, inclusive of low income programs and services to working families.

Our state must ensure that enough ratepayer C&LM and RGGI funds are available in years 2018 and 2019 to meet our state’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) goals or we will incur statewide economic penalties.

Dear DEEP, PURA, Office of Consumer Council (OCC) and State Leaders,

Efficiency For All (EFA) has been working diligently to educate our state’s leaders and our communities about the diversion of funding which has already reduced access to energy efficiency programs and is resulting in job losses in our state. This two year diversion of ratepayer funding to the States’ general fund diverted three separate funding sources. These three funding sources supported different parts of the State’s clean energy plan.

1. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – A multi-state, market-based, mandatory emission allowance auction program for fossil-fuel power plants.  Proceeds in Connecticut are distributed as such: 70% to the C&LM budget, 23% to the CT Green Bank, and 7% to CT DEEP. Within the C&LM budget, RGGI proceeds are primarily used to service oil/propane heated buildings. This diversion of RGGI funds has resulted in almost no access to direct install energy saving services for 75% to 80% of oil and propane heated homes. These oil and propane households will not be able to receive the HES service even though they still pay into the C&LM funds on their electric bills. The 2017 budget diverted $10,000,000 per year for FY18 and FY19 (74% of 2017 auction proceeds).

2. Conservation and Load Management Plan (C&LM) – The statutory framework for CT’s energy efficiency programs, funded primarily by a charge on ratepayer electric and natural gas bills into the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF).  The C&LM Plan provides the guidelines to administer direct residential and commercial energy efficiency services along with outreach and education in an effort to meet CT’s demand reduction and efficiency goals. The 2017 budget diverted $63,500,000 per year for FY18 and FY19 (33% of 2017 budget).

3. The CT Green Bank uses public ratepayer funds to attract private investment for clean energy projects throughout the state.  The CT Green Bank is funded in part by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), which is a one-mil charge on ratepayer utility bills.  The 2017 budget diverted $14,000,000 per year for FY18 and FY19 (53% of FY17 CCEF proceeds).

Unfortunately many leaders and communities are still confused about which funds do what, where the funds are generated, and what programs the funds actually support.  Please note that you can locate reports and current information at www.efficiencyforall.org.

Our shared goal is to ensure that all the funds are returned to serve ratepayers and to meet our state’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) goals. It is critical when allocating funding that there be a clear focus on the importance of service to ratepayers, the reduction of energy waste, jobs in Connecticut, benefits to the local economy, and the reduction of peak demand, which lowers the cost of energy in Connecticut for all.

Energy Efficiency (EE) is still the most effective way to reduce energy waste, and offers the highest ROI for ratepayers.  EE provides the most local jobs, and is the biggest support to local our economy.

Because energy efficiency is the best way to meet our state’s goals, we are advocating for the following actions at the state level. CT DEEP’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) released in February pointed to Energy Efficiency as the most prominent part of the state’s CES. However, we can not meet those goals if EE is not supported with ratepayer funding (which has been diverted), or if EE is not planned for and not implemented.

We are looking for your active support of the following actions in 2018

1. Protect energy efficiency fund ratepayer dollars from budget diversions in Connecticut through the implementation of specific statues which do not allow for diversions of ratepayer money to the general fund.

An Act Repealing Diversions of Ratepayer Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Funds

To undo state budget diversion of electric ratepayer funds from cost-effective energy efficiency and clean energy programs and support equal access (fuel blind) to state energy efficiency funds which: reduce the state’s dependence on nonrenewable energy resources, reduce the cost of energy generation, and mitigate the impacts of air and water pollution protecting human health.

2. Implement legislation for a “Fuel Blind (Fuel Neutral) program of direct energy efficiency services for all ratepayers in Connecticut”. We are requesting legislation to ensure that all ratepayers have equal access to ratepayer funded programs regardless of socio-economic status or fuel type. All electric ratepayers are paying into the C&LM funds; Therefore all ratepayers should have the opportunity to access the direct service programs which support health, safety, and energy savings.  

3. FIX RATEPAYER IMPACT STATEMENT– Studies which only count cost and do not quantify non-cost benefits are biased. Connecticut must Implement Non Energy Impact (NEI) testing for EE programs in Connecticut. This simple step to properly track and quantify EE benefits such as, but not limited to: the state GSP, lowered cost of energy infrastructure, reduced healthcare costs, improved health, the protection of at risk communities, and net tax revenues will correct the way in which we quantify the data and properly track EE outcomes and results.  

Clarifications on the IMPORTANCE of direct service to the ratepayer and direct EE measures

Energy Efficiency is not a subsidy and does not cost the state of Connecticut any money: CT Energy Efficiency programs are not a subsidy. They are paid for by the ratepayers and directly serve the ratepayers, resulting in proven, on the spot, long-term energy savings to the ratepayers and the energy grid. This results in reduced peak demand, lowered pollution, lowered carbon emissions, as well as lowered energy costs to CT businesses, schools, and state properties alike. Efficiency for All is attempting to openly clarify that EE contractors employ staff and subcontractors for the specific purposes of direct service to ratepayers. These direct service contractors do not receive any subsidies and are only compensated for direct installation of pre-approved, high ROI, energy saving measures.

Energy Efficiency helps at-risk populations and working families, businesses, schools, churches, and the State of Connecticut. EE has the unique ability to free up financial resources, allowing the funds to be used for whatever is needed most such as, food, medicine, education, housing, business growth, or the state’s budget. Energy efficiency even helps renewable energy go further, and helps us all to avoid the rising burden of the costs of energy.

The Connecticut Energy Efficiency industry includes 34,000 jobs . Solar only accounts for 6,000 – 8,000 jobs in CT. The EE jobs are high paying jobs for local Connecticut residents. The EE programs utilize C&LM collected ratepayer funds to directly serve ratepayers. EE workers can earn between $16 and $30 an hour. These jobs offer benefits and hire CT residents. Our workers pay taxes, vote, own property, and shop in CT.  

Restoring only the Green Bank funds and increasing the amount of ratepayer funds to the Green Bank allocation will not save 34k jobs or help oil and propane customers who can no longer receive direct services which they have paid for and are still contributing to at this time. The clean energy programs do not lower peak demand or lower energy costs directly in the way that energy efficiency, can and does, lower these impacts on ratepayers and businesses in Connecticut.  The Green Bank is an important asset, but the ratepayer, the economy, and our jobs should come first.

Q: How can our leaders help create a stable energy and economic future?

A: EFA and our stakeholders formally request that DEEP, PURA, and our state’s legislators take immediate action to request the ratepayer funds not be diverted.

We further request that DEEP and PURA ensure that any restored funds are utilized for “Direct Services to Ratepayers” and are not utilized for overhead, administrative fees, upstream rebates, or unnecessary “innovation” in funding unproven ideas. EE has a well documented track record and nationally supported positive outcomes to meet our states goals.   

We further request the creation of a “fuel blind (fuel neutral) program which is equally accessible to all electric ratepayers” and request that our leaders do not simply divert the ratepayer funding to the Green Bank, or a new Green Bank nonprofit entity.

EFA asserts that Governor’s Bill 9 and Bill 10, submitted by the Governor for legislative action, Do NOT address the diversion of C&LM funding in the amount of $63,500,000 dollars per year. These funds were collected via utility bills under the “COMBINED PUBLIC BENEFITS CHARGE”. The programs provide direct energy efficiency services and upgrades in homes, businesses, and buildings across Connecticut. The diversion of funding away from the C&LM and these programs is not addressed in Bill’s 9 or 10.

Governor’s Bills 9 and 10 will NOT protect the direct energy efficiency services to ratepayers, or the 34,000 jobs which these programs support directly and indirectly. The EE workforce is experiencing the first wave of layoffs  are turning away oil and propane customers from accessing services which would lower their energy bills, and our state’s peak energy demand. More layoffs will begin soon if funds are not restored.

Energy efficiency has the advantage of reducing all types of power plant-related emissions simultaneously by avoiding the need to generate electricity in the first place. Whenever households and businesses reduce electricity consumption, they reduce the need to generate additional electric energy. The avoided generation from expensive fossil fuel-fired power plants is desirable to reduce energy costs, and air pollutant emissions. This results in improved human health, while slowing climate change.

The return on investment (ROI) of EE direct services is higher than all other forms of clean energy (2018 CES). EE supports local jobs, as well as providing additional quantified and well documented economic benefits, and improved health outcomes in at risk communities.

Fact sheets are available on this website and EFA is available to meet with leaders, legislators, community groups, or stakeholders to provide detailed data on the direct impacts to EE jobs, programs, and ratepayers.

Please join support us and protect the ratepayer funds, equity based energy efficiency, local jobs, and our environment through the direct energy efficiency services to Connecticut ratepayers.

We look forward to your response and the opportunity to answer questions.

Respectfully,

Efficiency For All member, stakeholders, and contractors

Leticia Colon de Mejias, EFA co-chair , Tel: 860-580-9076, Lcolonees@gmail.com

Kyle Ellsworth, Director of Community Relations & Government Affairs, EFA Tel: 860-337-2239, Kyle.ellsworth@efficiencyforall.org

Energy Efficiency Economy 2018

Diversion Impacts 2018

Why raiding Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency Fund is a bad idea

Save Energy, Protect Health: How Energy Efficiency  Can Prevent 30,000 Asthma Attacks Each Year

February 21, 2018

Media Contact(s): Dawn Selak, 202-507-4043, Communications Manager

---

Washington, DC—Saving energy can reduce the number of asthma attacks and other harmful health effects of air pollution from power plants, according to Saving Energy, Saving Lives: The Health Impacts of Avoiding Power Plant Pollution with Energy Efficiency, a pioneering new report released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and Physicians for Social Responsibility that looks at the impact of energy efficiency on US states and cities. In fact, reducing annual electricity use by 15% nationwide would save more than six lives every day, prevent nearly 30,000 asthma episodes each year, and save Americans up to $20 billion through avoided health harms annually.

Read full article: http://aceee.org/press/2018/02/save-energy-protect-health-how