Greenwich electric customers could see bills jump 11 to 18% under a rate hike Eversource filed with Connecticut regulators — and the utility just lost its bid to keep 300,000 pages of the filing secret.

The hiding-the-receipts part.

Regulators rejected Eversource's request to shield most of its filing from public view, ruling that "sheer volume is not a sufficient basis" for secrecy, according to a letter published in the Greenwich Sentinel by Jill Oberlander, a Democratic candidate for State Senate. WFSB reported that redacting the sensitive parts would cost about $800,000 — a cost that could get passed right back to customers.

Why your bill could jump so much.

This would be Connecticut Light and Power's first base rate increase in nine years, according to Greenwich Time. Eversource says it needs about $451 million more a year — but when storm costs from 2018-2023 get added in, the total jumps to roughly $503 million, pushing the bill impact from 11% to 18%, or about $20 more a month for a typical household. If approved, new rates start July 2027; a final decision isn't expected until spring.

Two very different takes on why.

Eversource spokeswoman Jamie Ratliff pointed to the July 4 storm that knocked out power to tens of thousands as proof the grid needs more investment. Attorney General William Tong sees it differently, calling the filing "an insult to Connecticut families facing surging energy costs" and vowing to scrutinize every expense — starting with those storm costs, which he says inflate the real ask beyond the base 11%, according to CT Insider.

Why Oberlander wants this argued out loud, in public.

Oberlander is pushing PURA to hold a public hearing before deciding and to force Eversource to release the full filing with minimal redactions. "If the company's case is really as strong as they say it is, their executives can explain it to us in person," she wrote — pointing out that Eversource kept roughly 152,000 pages secret in a prior storm-cost case and filed dozens of delay motions on basic questions, according to Attorney General Tong's own findings.

How to weigh in.

Residents can email comments to [email protected] with "Docket No. 26-05-10" in the subject line — every comment becomes part of the official record regulators have to consider.