Committee advances Connecticut Home Energy Label concept amid concern over training costs

Hartford — The Energy and Technology Committee voted to raise for public hearing a proposal to establish a Connecticut Home Energy Label and to create a training program for energy-efficiency professionals, but some members expressed concern about potential costs falling to ratepayers.

The concept, described by committee cochairs as a consumer-disclosure measure to give homeowners and renters clearer information about heating-system costs and electricity use, was advanced by motion and decided by roll-call vote. Representative Jonathan Steinberg, cochair, said the label would aim to give consumers “some understanding as to the cost implications of the heating systems and the other uses of electricity that they may be signing on for.”

Why it matters: Supporters argued the label would increase transparency and help consumers compare long-term energy costs when buying or leasing homes. Representative Bakke, who requested recognition during discussion, said she supported exploring the idea but opposed raising it now without more clarity about funding for the proposed training program.

“I have but it's it's awful but I on on number 1 here my concern is just the creating the training program This is going to fall within a lot of what my concerns are for this year's session too. It's just where that's going to be paid for and where the cost is going to be absorbed,” Representative Bakke said during the meeting, and said she would vote no at this stage because of cost uncertainty but left open the possibility of supporting the proposal later.

Committee cochairs and other members said raising the concept for public hearing would allow the committee to gather that fiscal and programmatic information, including whether training costs would be borne by state funds, federal grants, private providers or ratepayers. The clerk then conducted a roll-call vote on the concept; leadership said votes would remain open to 4 p.m. for members not present.

Ending: The committee advanced the home-energy-label concept to public hearing to gather stakeholder input and fiscal details; committee members asked staff to return cost estimates and funding-source options when the bill is drafted for hearing.