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01/22/2020

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Orders Eversource and United Illuminating to Overhaul Education and Outreach Efforts Related to Energy Assistance Programs  

Ten outreach events scheduled; four "100-day sprints" announced

(New Britain, CT – January 22, 2020) – Following its decisive order issued last month on the same topic, today the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) announced next steps in the evolving dialogue with advocates, utilities and stakeholders on the topic of residential energy affordability. Of immediate concern is communicating with customers about the existing programs and resources available to keep the heat on during this winter season. As such, PURA ordered the state’s electric utility companies, Eversource and United Illuminating (UI), to hold a series of community outreach events beginning next week. These outreach events complement today’s announcement of PURA’s broader “100-Day Sprint” initiative – a hands-on, collaborative problem-solving approach to improve energy affordability and equity for residents across the state.

 

“Direct community outreach that is done in a time and place accessible to hardworking Connecticut citizens is key to helping raise awareness of the range of existing programs and resources offered to address energy affordability issues in this state,” said Marissa P. Gillett, chairman of PURA. “But raising awareness of existing programs is just the first step. We have identified a plethora of issues that need urgent attention, which we look forward to addressing alongside stakeholders through our ‘100-Day Sprint’ initiative.”

 

The community events hosted by Eversource and UI are intended to provide actionable information to residents who experience difficulty paying their energy bills in full. The series of ten outreach events will be offered across nine communities beginning in late January 2020 and will take place through early March 2020. Residents who are unable to attend one of these events may contact their electric utility company directly for more information: Eversource can be reached at 800-286-2828; UI can be reached at 800-722-5584. During the events utility representatives will provide details on shut-off protections available for eligible customers during the winter months, as well as other billing and payment programs.

 

PURA’s 100 Day Sprint initiative is designed to catalyze creative solutions that address identified barriers to energy affordability and encourage broad stakeholder input. The series of four sprints – each with a defined goal statement and 100-day deadline – will complement the work already underway as a result of this docket. The four sprint topics include utility-agency coordination on identifying hardship eligibility; benchmarking Connecticut’s energy affordability resources to other jurisdictions; guidance for medical hardship recipients; and targeted educational campaigns about existing resources.

For more information, and to participate in one or more of the 100 Day Sprints on residential energy affordability, contact Laura Lupoli at 860-827-2631 or laura.lupoli@ct.gov.

 

Utility Community Outreach Event Schedule

 

Community

Date

Address

Time

Utility

Ansonia

February 27

Joseph Doyle Senior Center

153 Main Street, Ansonia

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

UI

Bridgeport

February 26

Hall Neighborhood House

52 George E. Pipkin’s Way, Bridgeport

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

UI

Bridgeport

March 3

Mercy Learning Center

637 Park Avenue, Bridgeport

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

UI

Hartford

February 12

Community Renewal Team Offices, Lumsden Center

555 Windsor Street, Hartford

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Eversource

Montville

February 11

Montville Senior Center

12 Maple Avenue, Uncasville

1:00 PM -3:00 PM

Eversource

Stamford

February 20

Community Action Agency of Western CT (Stamford Office)

34 Woodland Avenue, Stamford

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Eversource

Torrington

January 31

New Opportunities of Torrington

59 Field Street, Torrington

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Eversource

Waterbury

February 28

Waterbury Senior Center

1985 East Main Street, Waterbury

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Eversource

West Haven

February 25

West Haven Community House

227 Elm Street, West Haven

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

UI

Willimantic

January 28

WindhamTown Hall

979 Main Street, Willimantic

1:00 PM -3:00 PM

Eversource

 

 


Contact

Joshua Ryor
Advisor to the Chairman
860-827-2855
Joshua.Ryor@ct.gov