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State consumer advocate seeks consultants and training to contest rising utility transmission costs
Summary
The Office of Consumer Counsel asked lawmakers for a modest operating increase to hire technical consultants, refresh computers and expand training so it can better represent ratepayers at ISO New England and FERC proceedings.
The head of Connecticut’s Office of Consumer Counsel told the appropriations subcommittee the office needs additional operating expense funds to strengthen technical review of transmission charges and wholesale-market filings that ultimately affect customer bills.
Why it matters: Transmission and wholesale-market costs have been cited by the consumer advocate as a growing portion of energy bills. The office said it wants to use outside consultants to review formula rates and transmission-company proposals that are largely shaped at the federal level and at ISO New England.
Claire Coleman, head of the Office of Consumer Counsel, told the committee the agency requested a $100,000 increase for technical consultants to help in federal and regional matters and a separate $8,500 for computer refreshes and $20,000 for professional training. She said the office represents ratepayers before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), at ISO New England advisory committees and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The office recently participated in a settlement with a telecommunication provider over service delays and reconnections.
Lawmakers sought more detail about work before FERC and federal filings. Coleman said the office recently coordinated with other New England consumer advocates to hire a formula-rate consultant and that staff need stronger technical support to track rising transmission and grid-modernization costs. The office also described upgraded debit-card distribution for the farmers-market nutrition program in a different hearing and noted its role in telecommunications oversight.
Ending: Lawmakers asked the office to share further details on its FERC docket work and to return with specifics about expected consultant engagements and the anticipated impact on ratepayer representation.
