House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and House Ranking Member of the Energy and Technology Committee Rep. Tracy Marra (R-Darien) lambasted a proposed final decision from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) that would establish an electric vehicle (EV) program.
PURA is proposing a five-year program for medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicles, which it calls the EV MHD Program. The proposed program includes fleet advisory services, MHD EV rates and charging infrastructure incentives for a limited number of school bus fleet demonstration projects.
“Connecticut ratepayers are once again being saddled with the cost of the California-style policy agenda embraced by Governor Lamont and legislative Democrats—this time, a plan to fund electric charging stations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles through monthly electric bills,” the representatives said in a statement released on July 10.
MHD vehicles are commercial vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds. This includes vans, buses and trucks.
In 2020, Connecticut signed a Multi-State MHD Zero Emissions Vehicles Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 16 other states and the District of Columbia. As a part of the MOU, the signatories agreed that at least 30% of new MHD vehicles sold would be electric by 2030, and at least 50% of new MHD vehicles sold would be electric by 2050.
The proposed decision is supposed to facilitate both the MOU and other state climate initiatives to lower greenhouse gasses.
“Despite growing frustration over rising energy costs, the state’s regulatory authority—led by a chairman recently reappointed by the Governor—is quietly advancing this initiative, following policy mandates enacted by Governor Lamont and legislative Democrats,” Candelora and Marra wrote. “The cost will appear in the ‘public benefits’ section of monthly electric bills starting next year—yet another hidden charge passed on to families and businesses.”
Most of the funding for the program would come from the Non-Bypassable Federally Mandated Congestion Charge, which is a part of the Public Benefits charge. The Connecticut Green Bank will use federal funds to cover the costs of fleet advisory support for school districts and bus operators in distressed municipalities in this proposed plan.
“Under S.B. 4 in 2025, the state committed to providing ratepayers relief from existing EV charging infrastructure by reducing program eligibility and through bonding,” Candelora and Marra wrote. “This new program abandons that approach and once again shifts the multi-million-dollar financial burden onto household budgets and will likely eat up any savings we may have achieved for ratepayers…Connecticut still lacks a clear, coherent energy strategy. Decisions like this only deepen public distrust—and it’s hardworking residents who will be left to foot the bill.”
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All EV vehicle owners should be paying a road usage fee. Not only do EVs cause more erosion of the roads, they get to use the roads for free.
Nice article. The generation cost for heat pumps and electric vehicles is 4 times that of the present base load which will double prices for all if averaged in. (ISO-NE)
The HP/EV TRAP: get everyone to switch to HP/EV using promotional rates before they realize the real costs.