OUR POLICY PRIORITIES
Our goal is to make sure everyone in Connecticut has secure access to heat, power, and water.
Generation Power CT began actively engaging with PURA in 2019 (previously as Operation Fuel). This was in response to a troubling trend. In 2014, Connecticut’s utility companies shut off electricity for about 40,000 households. By 2018, that number doubled to roughly 80,000 households. We joined stakeholders to examine this challenge more closely.
In early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges for limited-income residents, we expanded our policy work. We teamed up with other advocates to help protect vulnerable communities from the worst effects of the crisis.
Since then, we’ve continued to push for changes that make energy more affordable and accessible, including:
- Protect medically vulnerable families from utility shutoff
- Support ratepayers seeking affordable payment plans
- Connect clients to weatherization and home remediation services
- Expand access to solar energy
PROTECTING UTILITY SERVICE FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE FAMILIES
PURA is examining how to protect medically vulnerable households, while responsibly managing costs. This is our chance to represent unique perspectives for PURA to consider – especially the voices of clients, providers, and other partners. We want to hear from you!
Share your story and tell us:
- Have you or a loved one experienced a medical challenge that put you behind on your energy bills?
- Do you know anyone who requires electricity for medical reasons?
- How has medical debt impacted you?
Our policy team would love to hear from you. Please reach out to our Policy & Public Affairs Advisor, Mike Turaj, at mike@gpct.org, to share your experience.
DOCKETS GPCT CONTRIBUTED TO:
Docket No. 25-06-28 PURA Report to the General Assembly Regarding the Evaluation of Medical Protection
On June 30, 2025, PURA established this docket to evaluate Connecticut’s winter shutoff protections for financial hardship challenged households. Additionally, stakeholders will examine disconnection protections and collections practices for medically fragile utility customers. PURA will be seeking recommendations and comments on protections.
Docket No. 24-09-07 Equity, Accessibility, and Stakeholder Engagement (EASE)
In January 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) initiated a proceeding to encourage CT residents and diverse ratepayers to join their proceedings. The goal is to improve opportunities for limited-income residential customers, those who experience high energy burden, and those impacted by PURA’s decisions to share their experiences with policymakers. The investigation asked:
- How can PURA make stakeholder participation and engagement in dockets easier, more meaningful, and more efficient?
- What constraints or obstacles currently limit effective participation and engagement?
- What information can PURA provide to help consumers understand regulated services?
- What accessibility tools, such as translation, should be prioritized by PURA and the public service companies?
Docket No. 25-05-01 Annual Review of Affordability Programs and Offerings (Energy Affordability Annual Review)
Each year PURA conducts an annual review of arrearage forgiveness programs, company communications, collections practices, uncollectible costs, shutoff procedures, and other issues related to energy affordability in Connecticut.
GPCT provided written comments and joined technical meetings to present our clients’ experience and raise issues for the Authority’s consideration. Our team participates in quarterly calls with utility company partners and other advocates to help ratepayers get the information they need.
Docket No. 24-05-01 Annual Review of Affordability Programs and Offerings (Energy Affordability Annual Review)
On November 6, 2024, PURA issued a final decision which describes how you can potentially qualify for affordablility programs and essential protections. Some of these include how oil-heating customers can now qualify for the new Matching Payment Plan and customers earning less than 75% State Median Income can be protected against wage garnishment. To learn more, watch our video:
I’m a senior citizen living on SSI. With the cost of everything escalating, I’m extremely happy to have found [GPCT]. They made it easy for me to send pictures of the documents I needed to qualify. D.W. – A client from Danbury