Greenwich electric customers could see their monthly bills rise by $20 to $33 under a proposed Eversource rate increase now before state regulators.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) held the first of four public comment sessions on the proposal Nov. 9 in New Britain, where about a dozen people spoke against the rate hike, according to WTNH. Three more sessions are scheduled across the state, including one virtual option.

The proposed increase falls into two parts, according to WTNH. An 11% increase for infrastructure alone would add about $20 a month to the average household bill. A separate increase for storm damage would bring the total to roughly 18%.

Eversource spokesperson Jamie Ratliff said the company expects storm costs to be handled separately. "We expect that the storm costs will be removed from our current rate review, so realistically for the rate review it's more like an 11 percent increase on a customer's bill, assuming it goes through as filed," Ratliff said, according to WTNH.

The company said it filed the rate review request in July, and WFSB reported that Eversource is seeking a $727 million-a-year increase in what customers pay for local delivery. NBC Connecticut reported a $757 million figure that includes storm costs, with the infrastructure-only portion at $451 million. If approved, new rates would take effect July 1, 2027, according to WFSB.

Why Eversource says it needs the money

Eversource said the increase would cover the cost of maintaining the infrastructure that delivers electricity to customers. The company said it has been about a decade since its last rate case, according to WTNH. WFSB reported the last request for PURA to review rates came in 2017.

"The crews, the equipment, the poles, the wires, the upgrades that we are making stronger wires, thicker poles, all of that is wrapped up into this," Ratliff said, according to WTNH.

Eversource also said the requested increase would fund operations, not executive compensation, NBC Connecticut reported.

Customers push back

Residents at the Nov. 9 session urged PURA to reject the request.

"Hardship with the high gas prices, housing costs, oil heating prices have gone up even more than the natural gas heating prices and Connecticut has a high percentage of oil heat," Larry Levesque of West Hartford said, according to WTNH.

Geof Fang of Southington told the session: "You're asking me to pay more for something that's just a given," according to NBC Connecticut.

Watchdog agency calls it historic

The state's Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), a watchdog agency representing utility customers, said the proposed increase would be the largest in Connecticut history, NBC Connecticut reported. The OCC said it plans to push for significant reductions as regulators review the proposal.

The rate case comes as Eversource separately filed a lawsuit in October challenging PURA's decision to cut more than $500 million from the company's storm-cost reimbursement, the CT Mirror reported. PURA had approved more than 90% of Eversource's request to be reimbursed for nearly $1 billion in expenses from dozens of storms between 2018 and 2023, but denied about $400 million in interest the company sought.

How Greenwich residents can weigh in

Three public comment sessions remain:

  • Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m. at The Red Barn at Mitchell College, 629-A Montauk Ave., New London
  • Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m. at WCSU Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St., Danbury
  • Dec. 9, noon, virtual session

Comments can also be submitted online through the PURA web filing system, according to WFSB. PURA is expected to issue a decision before the end of June 2027.