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Committee advances municipal aggregation bill amid warnings it could destabilize standard service
Summary
House Bill 5245 on municipal electric aggregation was removed from the consent calendar after regulators and consumer advocates warned it could destabilize the standard service pool and permit municipal aggregators to charge above the standard service rate; committee voted to advance the bill to the floor for further work.
The Energy and Technology Committee removed House Bill 5245 (municipal electric aggregation programs; LCO 3355) from the consent calendar after Representative Dika and others highlighted testimony from AARP, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Office of Consumer Counsel opposing the bill as drafted.
Representative Dika summarized objections: that municipal aggregation could raise electricity rates by destabilizing the standard service pool; that DEP had concerns the bill permits municipal aggregators to charge more than standard service; and that the Office of Consumer Counsel said the draft lacked consumer protections it had previously recommended. Representative Buckby and other supporters emphasized consumer choice and opt-out protections, arguing aggregation can save money for some customers if opt-out/opt-in mechanisms are respected.
After debate the committee removed the bill from the consent calendar and held a roll-call vote to send the measure JF to the floor. Members said further work is needed to resolve consumer-protection language and opt-in vs. opt-out guardrails before floor consideration.
