1. Residential Customer Charges: Analysis and Advocacy
Mark LeBel
June 25th, 2018

2. Introduction to Acadia Center
A non-profit research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future
Active in the Northeast United States, particularly New England and New York
Successfully advocated for statute for a cap on residential customer charges in Connecticut in 2015
“Only the fixed costs and operation and maintenance expenses directly related to metering, billing, service connections and the provision of customer service”
Reduced Eversource from $19.25 to $9.21 and United Illuminating from $17.25 to $10.04
Began litigating issue in New York in 2017 and recent settlement reduced Central Hudson customer charge from $24 to $19.50 over three years

3. Customer Charge Trends in Connecticut
In 2014, Eversource proposed $25 for a residential customer charge and estimated that $35 was appropriate
By mid-2018, customer charges were reduced to $ for United Illuminating and $9.21 for Eversource

4. Bill Impact Analysis in Connecticut
Based on data from 2014 Eversource rate case, 61% of bills would be reduced with lower residential customer charge.
Average usage of hardship customers is lower than overall average of residential rate class.

5. Comparison Across States
New York has higher residential customer charges than any neighboring state and even Wisconsin

6. Online Advocacy and Materials
Created website with partners at Alliance for a Green Economy and Public Utility Law Project
Easy way to share materials and other advocacy tools

7. Mark LeBel – Staff Attorney
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