June 14, 2010 – Dan Malloy, the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate for Governor, today responded to the Department of Public Utility Control’s draft decision to reduce Connecticut Light & Power’s requested rate increase by nearly half, to less than 14 percent.  In recent months Malloy has spoken out against the proposed rate increases, and has called for a comprehensive statewide effort to promote energy efficiency, lower consumption, invest in renewable energy, and drive down electricity prices.  A final decision from DPUC is expected at the end of the month.

Said Malloy:

“This is a decent start, but I will continue to urge DPUC to deny CL&P’s requested increase outright.  At a time when Connecticut consumers are paying the highest electric rates in the continental United States we simply should not allow CL&P to overburden them further.

“The fact is, DPUC shouldn’t even be in a position where it has to make this choice.  Connecticut’s energy crisis is due to years and years of inaction from state leadership that has allowed our energy usage and costs to spiral out of control. That lack of planning is costing us jobs by driving out businesses that refuse to pay exorbitant energy costs, and it is suffocating consumers already struggling to make ends meet.  As Governor, I’ll make energy efficiency and consumption hallmarks of my effort to make Connecticut a more competitive, more business-friendly, and more affordable place to live.”

Malloy recently put forth his ideas for addressing the state’s energy needs, which can be viewed at www.danmalloy.com/policy/energy.