Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 283 - Telephone, Gas, Power and Water Companies
Section 16-244c. - Standard service. Alternative standard service. Supplier of last resort. Back-up generation service. Participating electric suppliers.

(a)(1) On and after January 1, 2007, each electric distribution company shall provide electric generation services through standard service to any customer who (A) does not arrange for or is not receiving electric generation services from an electric supplier, and (B) does not use a demand meter or has a maximum demand of less than five hundred kilowatts.

(2) Not later than October 1, 2006, and periodically as required by subdivision (3) of this subsection, but not more often than every calendar quarter, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall establish the standard service price for such customers pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection. Each electric distribution company shall recover the actual net costs of procuring and providing electric generation services pursuant to this subsection, provided such company mitigates the costs it incurs for the procurement of electric generation services for customers who are no longer receiving service pursuant to this subsection.
(3) An electric distribution company providing electric generation services pursuant to this subsection shall cooperate with the procurement manager of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and comply with the procurement plan for electric generation services contracts. Such plan shall require that the portfolio of service contracts be procured in such manner and duration as the authority determines to be most likely to produce just, reasonable and reasonably stable retail rates while reflecting underlying wholesale market prices over time. The portfolio of contracts shall be assembled in such manner as to invite competition; guard against favoritism, improvidence, extravagance, fraud and corruption; and secure a reliable electricity supply while avoiding unusual, anomalous or excessive pricing. An affiliate of an electric distribution company may bid for an electric generation services contract, provided such electric distribution company and affiliate are in compliance with the code of conduct established in section 16-244h.
(4) The procurement manager of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may retain the services of entities as it sees fit to assist with the procurement of electric generation services for standard service. Costs associated with the retention of such third-party entity shall be included in the cost of standard service.
(5) For standard service contracts procured prior to the authority's approval of the Procurement Plan, each bidder for a standard service contract shall submit its bid to the electric distribution company and the third-party entity who shall jointly review the bids and submit an overview of all bids together with a joint recommendation to the authority as to the preferred bidders. The authority may, within ten business days of submission of the overview, reject the recommendation regarding preferred bidders. In the event that the authority rejects the preferred bids, the electric distribution company and the third-party entity shall rebid the service pursuant to this subdivision. The authority shall review each bid in an uncontested proceeding that shall include a public hearing and in which any interested person, including, but not limited to, the Consumer Counsel, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or the Attorney General, may participate.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section regarding the procurement of electric generation services under standard service, section 16-244h or 16-245o, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection may, from time to time, direct an electric distribution company to offer, through an electric supplier or electric suppliers, one or more alternative standard service options. Such alternative options shall include, but not be limited to, an option that consists of the provision of electric generation services that exceed the renewable portfolio standards established in section 16-245a and may include an option that utilizes strategies or technologies that reduce the overall consumption of electricity of the customer.
(2) (A) The authority shall develop such alternative option or options in a contested case conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. The authority shall determine the terms and conditions of such alternative option or options, including, but not limited to, (i) the minimum contract terms, including pricing, length and termination of the contract, and (ii) the minimum percentage of electricity derived from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources, if applicable. The electric distribution company shall, under the supervision of the authority, subsequently conduct a bidding process in order to solicit electric suppliers to provide such alternative option or options.
(B) The authority may reject some or all of the bids received pursuant to the bidding process.
(3) The authority may require an electric supplier to provide forms of assurance to satisfy the authority that the contracts resulting from the bidding process will be fulfilled.
(4) An electric supplier who fails to fulfill its contractual obligations resulting from this subdivision shall be subject to civil penalties, in accordance with the provisions of section 16-41, or the suspension or revocation of such supplier's license or a prohibition on the acceptance of new customers, following a hearing that is conducted as a contested case, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(c) (1) On and after January 1, 2007, an electric distribution company shall serve customers that are not eligible to receive standard service pursuant to subsection (a) of this section as the supplier of last resort. This subsection shall not apply to customers purchasing power under contracts entered into pursuant to section 16-19hh.
(2) An electric distribution company shall procure electricity at least every calendar quarter to provide electric generation services to customers pursuant to this subsection. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall determine a price for such customers that reflects the full cost of providing the electricity on a monthly basis. Each electric distribution company shall recover the actual net costs of procuring and providing electric generation services pursuant to this subsection, provided such company mitigates the costs it incurs for the procurement of electric generation services for customers that are no longer receiving service pursuant to this subsection.
(d) On and after January 1, 2000, and until such time the regional independent system operator implements procedures for the provision of back-up power to the satisfaction of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, each electric distribution company shall provide electric generation services to any customer who has entered into a service contract with an electric supplier that fails to provide electric generation services for reasons other than the customer's failure to pay for such services. Between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2006, an electric distribution company may procure electric generation services through a competitive bidding process or through any of its generation entities or affiliates. On and after January 1, 2007, such company shall procure electric generation services through a competitive bidding process pursuant to a plan submitted by the electric distribution company and approved by the authority. Such company may procure electric generation services through any of its generation entities or affiliates, provided such entity or affiliate is the lowest qualified bidder and provided further any such entity or affiliate is licensed pursuant to section 16-245.
(e) An electric distribution company is not required to be licensed pursuant to section 16-245 to provide standard service pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, supplier of last resort service pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or back-up electric generation service pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
(f) The electric distribution company shall be entitled to recover reasonable costs incurred as a result of providing standard service pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or back-up electric generation service pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
(g) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall establish, by regulations adopted pursuant to chapter 54, procedures for when and how a customer is notified that his electric supplier has defaulted and of the need for the customer to choose a new electric supplier within a reasonable period of time or to return to standard service.
(h) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section regarding an alternative standard service option, an electric distribution company providing standard service, supplier of last resort service or back-up electric generation service in accordance with this section shall contract with its wholesale suppliers to comply with the renewable portfolio standards. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall annually conduct an uncontested proceeding in order to determine whether the electric distribution company's wholesale suppliers met the renewable portfolio standards during the preceding year. On or before December 31, 2013, the authority shall issue a decision on any such proceeding for calendar years up to and including 2012, for which a decision has not already been issued. Not later than December 31, 2014, and annually thereafter, the authority shall, following such proceeding, issue a decision as to whether the electric distribution company's wholesale suppliers met the renewable portfolio standards during the preceding year. An electric distribution company shall include a provision in its contract with each wholesale supplier that requires the wholesale supplier to pay the electric distribution company an amount of: (A) For calendar years up to and including calendar year 2017, five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period, (B) for calendar years commencing on January 1, 2018, up to and including the calendar year commencing on January 1, 2020, five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class I renewable energy sources, and two and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class II renewable energy sources, and (C) for calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2021, four cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class I renewable energy sources, and two and one-half cents per kilowatt hour if the wholesale supplier fails to comply with the renewable portfolio standards during the subject annual period for Class II renewable energy sources. The electric distribution company shall promptly transfer any payment received from the wholesale supplier for the failure to meet the renewable portfolio standards to the Clean Energy Fund for the development of Class I renewable energy sources, provided, on and after June 5, 2013, any such payment shall be refunded to ratepayers by using such payment to offset the costs to all customers of electric distribution companies of the costs of contracts and tariffs entered into pursuant to sections 16-244r, 16-244t and 16-244z, except that, on or after January 1, 2023, any such payment that is attributable to a failure to comply with the Class II renewable portfolio standards shall be deposited in the sustainable materials management account established pursuant to section 16-244bb. Any excess amount remaining from such payment shall be applied to reduce the costs of contracts entered into pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection, and if any excess amount remains, such amount shall be applied to reduce costs collected through nonbypassable, federally mandated congestion charges, as defined in section 16-1.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section regarding an alternative standard service option, an electric distribution company providing transitional standard offer service, standard service, supplier of last resort service or back-up electric generation service in accordance with this section shall, not later than July 1, 2008, file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for its approval one or more long-term power purchase contracts from Class I renewable energy source projects with a preference for projects located in Connecticut that receive funding from the Clean Energy Fund and that are not less than one megawatt in size, at a price that is either, at the determination of the project owner, (A) not more than the total of the comparable wholesale market price for generation plus five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour, or (B) fifty per cent of the wholesale market electricity cost at the point at which transmission lines intersect with each other or interface with the distribution system, plus the project cost of fuel indexed to natural gas futures contracts on the New York Mercantile Exchange at the natural gas pipeline interchange located in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana that serves as the delivery point for such futures contracts, plus the fuel delivery charge for transporting fuel to the project, plus five and one-half cents per kilowatt hour. In its approval of such contracts, the authority shall give preference to purchase contracts from those projects that would provide a financial benefit to ratepayers and would enhance the reliability of the electric transmission system of the state. Such projects shall be located in this state. The owner of a fuel cell project principally manufactured in this state shall be allocated all available air emissions credits and tax credits attributable to the project and no less than fifty per cent of the energy credits in the Class I renewable energy credits program established in section 16-245a attributable to the project. On and after October 1, 2007, and until September 30, 2008, such contracts shall be comprised of not less than a total, apportioned among each electric distribution company, of one hundred twenty-five megawatts; and on and after October 1, 2008, such contracts shall be comprised of not less than a total, apportioned among each electrical distribution company, of one hundred fifty megawatts. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall not issue any order that results in the extension of any in-service date or contractual arrangement made as a part of Project 100 or Project 150 beyond the termination date previously approved by the authority established by the contract, provided any party to such contract may provide a notice of termination in accordance with the terms of, and to the extent permitted under, its contract, except the authority shall grant, upon request, an extension of the latest of any such in-service date by (i) twelve months for any project located in a distressed municipality, as defined in section 32-9p, with a population of more than one hundred twenty-five thousand, and (ii) not more than thirty-six months for any project having a capacity of less than five megawatts, provided any such project (I) commences construction by April 30, 2015, and (II) the authority has provided previous approval of such contract. The cost of such contracts and the administrative costs for the procurement of such contracts directly incurred shall be eligible for inclusion in the adjustment to any subsequent rates for standard service, provided such contracts are for a period of time sufficient to provide financing for such projects, but not less than ten years, and are for projects which began operation on or after July 1, 2003. Except as provided in this subdivision, the amount from Class I renewable energy sources contracted under such contracts shall be applied to reduce the applicable Class I renewable energy source portfolio standards. For purposes of this subdivision, the authority's determination of the comparable wholesale market price for generation shall be based upon a reasonable estimate. On or before September 1, 2011, the authority, in consultation with the Office of Consumer Counsel and the Connecticut Green Bank, shall study the operation of such renewable energy contracts and report its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section regarding an alternative standard service option, an electric distribution company providing transitional standard offer service, standard service, supplier of last resort service or back-up electric generation service in accordance with this section that has within its service territory a biomass facility that is a Class I renewable energy source and began operation after December 1, 2013, shall, not later than July 1, 2018, file with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for its approval a ten-year power purchase contract not to exceed nine cents per kilowatt hour for energy and renewable energy certificates with such facility for generation equivalent to seven and one-half megawatts of electric capacity. The costs incurred by an electric distribution company pursuant to this subdivision shall be recovered on a timely basis through a nonbypassable fully reconciling component of electric rates for all customers of such electric distribution company.
(i) (1) As used in this section:
(A) “Participating electric supplier” means an electric supplier that is licensed by the department to provide electric service, pursuant to this subsection, to residential or small commercial customers.
(B) “Residential customer” means a customer who is eligible for standard service and who takes electric distribution-related service from an electric distribution company pursuant to a residential tariff.
(C) “Small commercial customer” means a customer who is eligible for standard service and who takes electric distribution-related service from an electric distribution company pursuant to a small commercial tariff.
(D) “Qualifying electric offer” means an offer to provide full requirements commodity electric service and all other generation-related service to a residential or small commercial customer at a fixed price per kilowatt hour for a term of no less than one year.
(2) In the manner determined by the authority, residential or small commercial service customers (A) initiating new utility service, (B) reinitiating service following a change of residence or business location, (C) making an inquiry regarding their utility rates, or (D) seeking information regarding energy efficiency shall be offered the option to learn about their ability to enroll with a participating electric supplier. Customers expressing an interest to learn about their electric supply options shall be informed of the qualifying electric offers then available from participating electric suppliers. The electric distribution companies shall describe then available qualifying electric offers through a method reviewed and approved by the authority. The information conveyed to customers expressing an interest to learn about their electric supply options shall include, at a minimum, the price and term of the available electric supply option. Customers expressing an interest in a particular qualifying electric offer shall be immediately transferred to a call center operated by that participating electric supplier.
(3) Not later than September 1, 2007, the authority shall establish terms and conditions under which a participating electric supplier can be included in the referral program described in subdivision (2) of this subsection. Such terms shall include, but not be limited to, requiring participating electrical suppliers to offer time-of-use and real-time use rates to residential customers.
(4) Each calendar quarter, participating electric suppliers shall be allowed to list qualifying offers to provide electric generation service to residential and small commercial customers with each customer's utility bill. The authority shall determine the manner such information is presented in customers' utility bills.
(5) Any customer that receives electric generation service from a participating electric supplier may return to standard service or may choose another participating electric supplier at any time, including during the qualifying electric offer, without the imposition of any additional charges. Any customer that is receiving electric generation service from an electric distribution company pursuant to standard service can switch to another participating electric supplier at any time without the imposition of additional charges.
(6) An electric distribution company shall transfer a residential customer to the standard service rate not later than seventy-two hours after receipt of a request from a residential customer eligible for standard service, provided such customer shall remain on the standard service rate for at least the remainder of that billing cycle. An electric distribution company shall transfer a residential customer to the electric generation service rate of an electric supplier not later than forty-five days after the electric distribution company receives from the electric supplier a successful enrollment of such residential customer.
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general statutes, nothing shall prohibit a residential customer who moves from one dwelling to another dwelling within the state from immediately receiving electric generation service from an electric supplier, provided such customer was receiving such service from an electric supplier immediately prior to such move.
(j) Each electric distribution company shall offer to bill customers on behalf of participating electric suppliers and to pay such suppliers in a timely manner the amounts due such suppliers from customers for generation services, less a percentage of such amounts that reflects uncollectible bills and overdue payments as approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
(k) On or before July 1, 2007, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a proceeding to examine whether electric supplier bills rendered pursuant to section 16-245d and any regulations adopted thereunder sufficiently enable customers to compare pricing policies and charges among electric suppliers.
(l) The authority shall conduct a proceeding to determine the cost of billing, collection and other services provided by the electric distribution companies or the department solely for the benefit of participating electric suppliers and aggregators. The department shall order an equitable allocation of such costs among electric suppliers and aggregators. As part of this same proceeding, the department shall also determine the costs that the electric distribution companies incur solely for the benefit of standard service and last resort service customers. After such determination, the department shall allocate and provide for the equitable recovery of such costs from standard service or last resort service customers.
(m) Nothing in the provisions of this section shall preclude an electric distribution company from entering into standard service supply contracts or standard service supply components with electric generating facilities.
(P.A. 98-28, S. 20, 117; P.A. 03-135, S. 4; 03-221, S. 3, 4; P.A. 04-236, S. 9; 04-247, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-1, S. 25, 26, 33; P.A. 06-196, S. 233; P.A. 07-242, S. 49, 92, 124; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 91; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 171; P.A. 13-5, S. 9; 13-6, S. 1; 13-119, S. 7–9; 13-298, S. 13; 13-303, S. 10; P.A. 14-75, S. 3; 14-94, S. 25, 29; 14-134, S. 11; P.A. 17-144, S. 4; P.A. 18-50, S. 3; P.A. 22-118, S. 164.)
History: P.A. 98-28 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 03-135 made technical changes, deleted provision in Subsec. (a) re extension of the standard offer by the General Assembly, deleted former Subsec. (b) re service to customers on and after January 1, 2004, who do not or are unable to arrange for services, added new Subsec. (b) re transitional standard offer, added new Subsec. (c) re standard service, added new Subsec. (d) re alternative transitional standard offer and standard service, added new Subsec. (e) re supplier of last resort, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (f) and amended said Subsec. to change “2003” to “2006” and “2004” to “2007” and to add “pursuant to a plan submitted by the electric distribution company and approved by the department”, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (g) and amended said Subsec. to add reference to transitional standard offer service, standard service, and supplier of last resort service and to delete reference to January 1, 2004, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (h) and amended said Subsec. to delete reference to default service and back-up electrical generation services, to add reference to transitional standard offer service, standard service and back-up electric generation service and to change “2004” to “2007”, redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (i) and amended said Subsec. to delete provision re standards or procedures for procuring power and competitive bidding, and added new Subsec. (j) re compliance with renewable portfolio standards and purchase of long-term power purchase contracts from Class I renewable energy source projects, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 03-221 amended Subsec. (h) to make a technical change and amended Subsec. (j)(1) to revise provisions re contracting with suppliers to comply with the renewable portfolio standards, responsibility for payment for failure to meet such standards, and treatment of such payment, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 04-236 amended Subsec. (b)(2)(E) to make a technical change, effective June 8, 2004; P.A. 04-247 amended Subsec. (j)(2) to add “for its approval”, to add requirement for projects to be not less than one megawatt in size, and to add requirement for a preference for projects that provide financial benefit to ratepayers or enhance reliability of the electric transmission system; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-1 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to designate existing language as Subpara. (A) and to add new Subpara. (B) to require the department to conduct a proceeding re receipt of information to select electric generating services, and amended Subsec. (b)(2)(D) to allow the transitional standard offer to be adjusted to provide for the cost of long-term power purchase contracts from certain Class I projects, effective July 1, 2005, and amended Subsec. (j)(2) to change filing deadline from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008, to add a new pricing option, to require projects to be located in this state, to provide air emission and tax credits for certain fuel cell projects, to replace language re inclusion of costs of the contracts in the generation service charge with language re the transitional standard offer and standard service, and to make technical changes; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (j)(2), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-242 amended Subsec. (e)(1) to delete limitation on any customer receiving electric generation services from electric supplier being eligible to receive supplier of last resort service without a one-year commitment and amended Subsec. (e)(2) to require electric distribution companies to procure electricity “at least every calendar quarter”, effective July 1, 2007, amended Subsec. (j)(2) to change total megawatts of contracts to not less than 125 megawatts on and after October 1, 2007, and until September 30, 2008, and to not less than 150 megawatts on and after October 1, 2008, and add provision re study, effective June 4, 2007, and added Subsecs. (k) to (n) re participating electric suppliers, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 11-80 changed “Department of Public Utility Control” to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” in Subsecs. (a)(1), (b)(1)(A) and (2)(A), (c)(2), (e)(2), (f), (j)(1), and (2) and (m), changed “Department of Public Utility Control” to “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsecs. (a)(2), (d)(1), (i) and (l), changed “department” to “authority” in Subsecs. (b), (c), (d), (f), (j) and (k), changed “Renewable Energy Investment Fund” to “Clean Energy Fund” and “Renewable Energy Investments Advisory Council” to “Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority” in Subsec. (j), amended Subsec. (c)(3) to delete provisions re mitigating variation of price, procurement plan criteria and timing of bid submittal and to add provisions re companies cooperating with procurement manager and complying with procurement plan and re bid by affiliate, amended Subsec. (c)(4) to allow Public Utilities Regulatory Authority's procurement manager to retain “entities as it sees fit to assist” re procurement of standard service electric generation services, amended Subsec. (c)(5) to add provisions re contracts procured prior to approval of plan developed pursuant to Sec. 16-244m and re department review of each bid, amended Subsec. (j)(2) to add “preference for projects located in Connecticut”, prohibit issuance of order that results in extension of in-service date or contractual arrangement re Project 100 or Project 150 and change “2007” to “2011”, added new Subsec. (n) re proceeding re billing cost, collection and services by electric distribution companies or department for participating electric suppliers and aggregators, and redesignated existing Subsec. (n) as Subsec. (o), effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 amended Subsec. (j)(2) to add provision re extension of latest in-service date for projects located in certain distressed municipalities and make a technical change, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-5 deleted former Subsecs. (a) and (b) re standard offer and transitional standard offer, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (o) as Subsecs. (a) to (m), and made technical and conforming changes, effective May 8, 2013; P.A. 13-6 amended Subsec. (j)(2) to add provision re extension of latest in-service date for projects having a capacity of less than 5 megawatts and to make technical changes, effective May 8, 2013; P.A. 13-119 amended Subsecs. (a)(3), (g) and (j) to replace “Department of Energy and Environmental Protection” with “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” and further amended Subsec. (g) to add provision re return to standard service, effective June 18, 2013; P.A. 13-298 amended Subsec. (c)(5) to replace “department” with “authority”, add provision re participation by any interested person, including Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, and make a technical change, effective July 8, 2013; P.A. 13-303 amended Subsec. (j)(1) to replace provision re contested case with provision re uncontested proceeding and to add provisions re issuing decisions on proceedings and refunding payments to ratepayers, effective June 5, 2013; P.A. 14-75 amended Subsec. (i) by adding Subdivs. (6) and (7) re transferring residential customer to standard service or electric generation service rate and re immediate receipt of electric generation service when moving, effective June 3, 2014; P.A. 14-94 amended Subsec. (h)(2) by changing in-service date extension from 24 months to 36 months for any project having a capacity less than 5 megawatts provided the project commences construction by April 30, 2015, and the authority has previously approved the contract, and by substituting “Connecticut Green Bank” for “Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority”, effective June 6, 2014; P.A. 14-134 amended Subsec. (e) by deleting provision re standard offer electric generation services, effective June 6, 2014; P.A. 17-144 amended Subdiv. (h)(1) to designate provision re amount if wholesale supplier fails to comply with renewable portfolio standards as Subpara. (A) and amended same to add “For calendar years up to and including calendar year 2017,” and add Subpara. (B) re amount for calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2018, and made a technical change, effective June 27, 2017; P.A. 18-50 amended Subsec. (h)(1) by replacing “commencing on and after January 1, 2018” with “commencing on January 1, 2018, up to and including the calendar year commencing on January 1, 2020” in Subpara. (B), adding Subpara. (C) re amount if wholesale supplier fails to comply with renewable portfolio standards for calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2021, adding reference to tariffs re refund to offset costs, adding reference to Sec. 16-244z, and making conforming changes, and further amended Subsec. (h) by adding Subdiv. (3) re power purchase contract between electric distribution company and certain biomass facilities, effective May 24, 2018; P.A. 22-118 amended Subsec. (h)(1) by adding exception re the deposit of payments on and after January 1, 2023.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 16 - Public Service Companies

Chapter 283 - Telephone, Gas, Power and Water Companies

Section 16-228. - Telephone lines.

Section 16-229. - Excavation in highway.

Section 16-230. - Bond requirement.

Section 16-231. - Appeal.

Section 16-231a. - Cuts and permanent patches in highway. Inspections. Repairs. Certification.

Section 16-232. - Rights of companies organized under general law.

Section 16-233. - Use of gain by town, city, borough, fire district or Department of Transportation.

Section 16-234. - Conducting vegetation management; notice to abutting and private property owners. Changing location of, erecting or placing wires, conductors, fixtures, structures or apparatus over, on or under any highway or public ground; rights...

Section 16-235. - Control by local authorities. Orders. Appeals.

Section 16-236. - Appraisal of damages; costs.

Section 16-237. - No prescriptive right.

Section 16-238. - Wires may be cut; notice.

Section 16-239. - Dispatches transmitted in order. Exceptions.

Section 16-240 to 16-242. - Delivery of messages. Mortgage by telegraph company. Telephone service to telegraph companies.

Section 16-243. - Jurisdiction of authority over electricity transmission lines.

Section 16-243a. - Private power producers. Purchase and sale of electricity. Avoided costs. Small renewable power projects. Interconnectivity standards.

Section 16-243aa. - Distribution of electricity across a public highway or street by a municipality or state or federal governmental entity.

Section 16-243b. - Definitions. Jurisdiction.

Section 16-243bb. - Adjustment of electric distribution company residential fixed charge.

Section 16-243c. - Electricity transmission and distribution services for electric cooperatives utilizing cogeneration technology and renewable energy resources.

Section 16-243cc. - Energy storage deployment. Report.

Section 16-243d. - Project by private power producer deemed “industrial project”.

Section 16-243dd. - Energy storage project proposals.

Section 16-243e. - Electric distribution company purchase of electricity generated by municipal resources recovery facilities.

Section 16-243ee. - Electric energy storage resource programs and associated funding mechanisms. Report.

Section 16-243f. - Private power providers. Regulations concerning the purchase and sale of electricity.

Section 16-243g. - Assignment of electricity purchase agreements.

Section 16-243h. - Credit to residential customers who generate electricity; metering.

Section 16-243i. - Awards to retail end use electric customers and electric distribution companies re customer-side distributed resources.

Section 16-243j. - Long-term financing for customer-side distributed resources and advanced power monitoring and metering equipment.

Section 16-243k. - Assessment of customer-side and grid-side distributed resources, effectiveness of award program.

Section 16-243l. - Rebate for customer-side distributed resource projects that use natural gas.

Section 16-243m. - Measures to reduce federally mandated congestion charges.

Section 16-243n. - Time-of-use, mandatory peak, shoulder, off-peak and seasonal rates. Optional interruptible or load response rates.

Section 16-243o. - Waiver of back-up power rates.

Section 16-243p. - Recovery of costs, investments and lost revenues by an electric distribution company.

Section 16-243q. - Class III renewable energy portfolio standards.

Section 16-243r. - Customer-side distributed resources and grid-side distributed resources. Qualifications for applicability of certain provisions.

Section 16-243s. - Awards to electric distribution companies for programs for load curtailment, demand reduction and retrofit conservation.

Section 16-243t. - Class III credits.

Section 16-243u. - Plan to build peaking generation.

Section 16-243v. - Connecticut electric efficiency partner program. Residential furnace or boiler replacement and propane fuel tank purchase program.

Section 16-243w. - Advanced metering system plan and deployment.

Section 16-243x. - Time-of-use meters. Notice of availability.

Section 16-243y. - Microgrid and resilience grant and loan pilot program to support distributed energy generation for critical facilities.

Section 16-243z. - Geographic information systems data sharing. Disclosure of locations of medical hardship accounts in emergencies.

Section 16-244. - Electric deregulation; findings and declarations.

Section 16-244a. - Rate freeze for electric service.

Section 16-244aa. - Performance-based regulation of electric distribution companies.

Section 16-244b. - Electric customers to choose electric suppliers. Phase-in of electric deregulation.

Section 16-244bb. - Sustainable materials management account.

Section 16-244c. - Standard service. Alternative standard service. Supplier of last resort. Back-up generation service. Participating electric suppliers.

Section 16-244cc. - Energy storage systems pilot program.

Section 16-244d. - Program for distribution of information re electric suppliers. Rate board Internet web site.

Section 16-244e. - Ownership or operation of generation assets. Customer bill. Energy storage systems to enhance distribution reliability or resiliency.

Section 16-244f. - Divestiture of nonnuclear electric generation facilities. Plan. Approval of sale by authority.

Section 16-244g. - Divestiture of nuclear electric generation facilities. Plan. Approval of sale by authority.

Section 16-244h. - Code of conduct for electric distribution companies, generation entities or affiliates and electric suppliers. Contents of code. Penalties, damages.

Section 16-244i. - Duties of electric distribution companies.

Section 16-244j. - Electric transmission lines from Bethel to Norwalk. Moratorium. Working group and comprehensive assessment.

Section 16-244k. - Allocation of the proceeds of the retail adder.

Section 16-244l. - Modification of fuel cell electricity purchase agreements.

Section 16-244m. - Procurement Plan re standard service.

Section 16-244n. - Standard service contract buydown.

Section 16-244o. - Generation evaluation and procurement process.

Section 16-244p. - Transmission line project review.

Section 16-244q. - Request for proposal re reliability concerns.

Section 16-244r. - Long-term contracts re zero emission generation projects. Solicitation of Class I generation projects. Renewable energy credits.

Section 16-244s. - Zero emission generation projects solicitation plan. Procurement plan. Noncompliance fee.

Section 16-244t. - Power purchase contracts re low-emission generation projects. Renewable energy credits.

Section 16-244u. - Virtual net metering.

Section 16-244v. - Renewable energy sources generation. Proposals to build, own or operate facilities.

Section 16-244w. - Grid-side system enhancements pilot program.

Section 16-244x. - Shared clean energy facility pilot program.

Section 16-244y. - Fuel cell electricity generation. Soliciation of proposals to aquire new fuel cell electricity generation projects with associated tariffs.

Section 16-244z. - Renewable energy tariffs.

Section 16-245. - Licensing of electric suppliers. Customer assignment or transfer. Procedures. Penalties. Regulation of electric aggregators. Procedures. Penalties.

Section 16-245a. - Renewable portfolio standards.

Section 16-245aa. - Renewable energy and efficient energy finance program.

Section 16-245b. - Municipalities and regional water authorities acting as electric aggregators; registration with Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

Section 16-245bb. - Bond authorization.

Section 16-245c. - Municipal electric utilities participating in deregulated environment. Authority to provide generation services outside service area.

Section 16-245cc. - Demand charge waiver for fuel cells.

Section 16-245d. - Billing of electric service. Standard format. Contents. Bill inserts and mailings. Electronic bill payment confirmation.

Section 16-245dd. - Residential electric space heating tariff.

Section 16-245e. - Stranded costs of electric distribution companies. Definitions. Calculation by authority. Procedures. Adjustments. Mitigation.

Section 16-245ee. - Energy conservation and load management and renewable energy projects in lower income communities. Requirements for approval.

Section 16-245f. - Funding of certain disbursements to the General Fund. Funding of stranded costs through rate reduction bonds. Funding of economic recovery transfer through economic recovery revenue bonds. Assessment.

Section 16-245ff. - Residential solar investment program.

Section 16-245g. - Competitive transition assessment. Determination by authority of amount and how applied to electric customers. Duration.

Section 16-245gg. - Master purchase agreement for solar home renewable energy credits.

Section 16-245h. - Transition property. Surplus competitive transition assessment. Restrictions on use of transition property by electric distribution companies.

Section 16-245hh. - Condominium renewable energy grant program.

Section 16-245i. - Financing orders re the economic recovery transfer, the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund, the Clean Energy Fund and stranded costs.

Section 16-245ii. - Energy consumption data of nonresidential buildings.

Section 16-245j. - Rate reduction bonds and economic recovery revenue bonds; terms.

Section 16-245jj. - Town customer electricity and gas usage information.

Section 16-245k. - Security interest in transition property; creation; perfection. Transferring transition property. Duration of authority to issue financing orders.

Section 16-245kk. - Issuance of bonds, notes and other obligations by the Connecticut Green Bank.

Section 16-245l. - Systems benefits charge. Determination by authority of amount and how applied to customers.

Section 16-245ll. - Clean energy bonds.

Section 16-245m. - Energy Conservation Management Board. Conservation and Load Management Plan.

Section 16-245mm. - Special capital reserve funds.

Section 16-245n. - Connecticut Green Bank. Charge assessed against electric customers. Clean Energy Fund. Environmental Infrastructure Fund.

Section 16-245nn. - Residential solar photovoltaic system permit.

Section 16-245o. - Use of customer information. Promotional inserts in electric bills prohibited. Standard form re contract terms and conditions. Procedures for entering, renewing and terminating service contracts. Rate increase disclosures. Marketin...

Section 16-245p. - Information re electric supplier and electric distribution company to be provided to customers.

Section 16-245q. - Changing electric suppliers.

Section 16-245r. - Discrimination by electric suppliers prohibited.

Section 16-245s. - Switching electric suppliers; procedures; penalties; regulations.

Section 16-245t. - Complaints to authority re electric suppliers; procedures; remedies.

Section 16-245u. - Unfair and discriminatory conduct and unfair trade practices in electric market prohibited. Investigations.

Section 16-245v. - List of displaced electric utility employees to be provided to distribution companies and electric suppliers.

Section 16-245w. - Fee to be paid by self-generation facilities in lieu of certain assessments; study by authority.

Section 16-245x. - Monitoring and reporting by authority of electric rates of each customer class. Action to minimize rate differential.

Section 16-245y. - Annual reporting re status of electric deregulation.

Section 16-245z. - Internet links to Energy Star program.

Section 16-246. - Other companies which may sell electricity.

Section 16-246a. - Definitions.

Section 16-246b to 16-246d. - Area within which domestic company may generate and transmit electric energy. Area within which foreign electric company may generate and transmit electric energy. Joint ownership of facility; waiver of right to petition...

Section 16-246e. - Procurement and sale by authority of electric power capacity and power output from out-of-state producers. Approval by Governor.

Section 16-246f. - Electric company emergency assistance.

Section 16-246g. - Pilot program for electric generation.

Section 16-247. - Foreign telephone companies.

Section 16-247a. - Goals of the state. Definitions.

Section 16-247b. - Unbundling of telephone company's network, services and functions. Access to telephone company's telecommunications services, functions and unbundled network elements. Rates for competitive or emerging competitive service. Subsidiz...

Section 16-247c. - Provision of intrastate telecommunications services. Civil penalty. Competition.

Section 16-247d. - Biennial reports on competition for intrastate interexchange telecommunications service. Plan for implementing competition. General Assembly approval required.

Section 16-247e. - Basic telecommunications services. Lifeline and telecommunications relay service programs. Universal service program.

Section 16-247f. - Regulation of telecommunication services: Initial classifications, reclassifications, tariffs, exemption from filing tariff.

Section 16-247g. - Certificate of public convenience and necessity for intrastate telecommunications services: Application, requirements, suspension, revocation. Fees. Obligation to serve.

Section 16-247h. - Use of public right-of-way for provision of intrastate telecommunications service.

Section 16-247i. - Telecommunications service and regulation status report.

Section 16-247j. - Regulations.

Section 16-247k. - Alternative forms of regulation for telephone companies: Plan requirements, monitoring period, modification.

Section 16-247l. - Access by certified telecommunications providers to occupied buildings: Service, wiring, compensation, regulations, civil penalty.

Section 16-247m. - Withdrawal by telephone company of retail telecommunications service. Applications.

Section 16-247n. - Certification of telephone company's operations support systems interface. Rates. Proceedings.

Section 16-247o. - Consultant to test operations support systems interface.

Section 16-247p. - Quality-of-service standards. Performance standards.

Section 16-247q. - Education outreach program for telecommunications competition, scope. Consumer Education Advisory Council established.

Section 16-247r. - Discrimination by telephone companies and certified telecommunications providers prohibited.

Section 16-247s. - Directory assistance database. Disclosure and distribution of cellular mobile telephone numbers.

Section 16-247t. - Customer inquiries and complaints regarding cellular mobile telephone service.

Section 16-247u. - Unauthorized procurement and sale of telephone records. Definitions. Exclusions. Telephone company protection of records. Penalties. Unfair trade practice.

Section 16-247v. - Performance standards for restoration of intrastate telecommunications service after emergencies. Credit for service outages.

Section 16-248. - Rights of telephone company in operation May 23, 1985.

Section 16-249 to 16-250a. - Authority finding re extension of exchange business of telephone company. Determination of public convenience and necessity for extension. Reselling or sharing of line purchased or leased from telephone company.

Section 16-250b. - Cellular mobile telephone service. Authority jurisdiction. Regulations.

Section 16-251. - Bonds of telephone company.

Section 16-252. - Bonds may be secured by mortgage.

Section 16-253 and 16-254. - Amount of capital to be paid in. Subscriptions for cash. Sections 16-253 and 16-254 are repealed, effective October 1, 2002.

Section 16-255. - General powers.

Section 16-255a to 16-255i. - Acquisition of control of domestic telephone companies limited; statement; expenses of department. Form of statement. Hearing re department approval of acquisition; standard of review. Nonvotable securities; injunctive r...

Section 16-256. - Notice of offense in party line usage in telephone directory.

Section 16-256a. - Directory assistance charge prohibited.

Section 16-256b. - Special telecommunications equipment for deaf and hearing impaired persons. Fund. Amplification controls for coin and coinless telephones installed for public or semipublic use.

Section 16-256c. - Extended local calling criteria. Calling volume. Subscriber survey and vote. Petitions.

Section 16-256d. - Itemized telephone bills for business customers.

Section 16-256e. - Recorded telephone message devices prohibited. Blocking devices or services prohibited: Class A misdemeanor.

Section 16-256f. - Blocking service available to customers.

Section 16-256g. - Proceeding to determine monthly subscriber fee. Assessment of subscribers for enhanced emergency 9-1-1 program.

Section 16-256h. - Business to residential pricing ratio for basic exchange service.

Section 16-256i. - Primary local or intrastate interexchange carrier orders. Unauthorized switching. Penalty.

Section 16-256j. - Billing for telecommunications services. Information re carriers, basic, local service and taxes.

Section 16-256k. - Disclosure for removal or change in telecommunications service. Disclosure for promotional offerings.

Section 16-257. - Recording of agreement of consolidation or merger of electric and gas companies.

Section 16-258. - Standards concerning electricity and gas.

Section 16-258a. - Registration of natural gas sellers. Procedures. Penalties.

Section 16-258b. - Registration of electric generating facilities.

Section 16-258c. - Dual fuel capability requirements for electric generating facilities.

Section 16-258d. - District heating systems incentive program.

Section 16-258e. - Electric distribution company procurement of electricity and renewable energy credits from a combined heat and power system.

Section 16-259. - Inspection of meters.

Section 16-259a. - Inaccurate billing. Financial liability of customer. Payment plan.

Section 16-260. - Water meters may be required.

Section 16-261. - Extension of electric lines to unserved areas. Determination of rates.

Section 16-261a. - Interagency electric and magnetic fields task force; composition; study. Assessment of electric public service companies for specified expenses of task force.

Section 16-262. - Gas companies authorized to deal in natural gas.

Section 16-262a. - Water company to have area resident as director or advisory council of area residents.

Section 16-262b. - Notice of discharge of explosives or highway excavation to gas companies.

Section 16-262c. - Termination of utility service for nonpayment, when prohibited. Amortization agreements. Moneys allowed to be deducted from customers' accounts and moneys to be included in rates as an operating expense. Hardship cases. Notice. Reg...

Section 16-262d. - Termination of residential utility service on account of nonpayment. Notice. Nontermination in event of illness during pendency of customer complaint or investigation. Amortization agreement. Appeal. Notice re credit rating informa...

Section 16-262e. - Notice furnished tenants re intended termination of utility service. Assumption by tenants of liability for future service. Liability of landlords for certain utility services. Deduction from rent. Access to meters.

Section 16-262f. - Action for receivership of rents and common expenses by electric distribution, gas and telephone companies; petition; hearing; appointment; duties; termination.

Section 16-262g. - Penalty.

Section 16-262h. - Nonexclusivity of remedy.

Section 16-262i. - Regulations.

Section 16-262j. - Refusal of residential utility service. Regulations. Refusal of telecommunications service to a candidate or committee. Interest on customer security deposits.

Section 16-262k. - Interconnection of public water supply systems to relieve site-specific water shortages.

Section 16-262l. - Receivership of water companies for failure to provide adequate service. Personal liability of directors, officers and managers.

Section 16-262m. - Construction specifications for water companies.

Section 16-262n. - Definition. Economic viability of water companies. Reviews. Failure to comply with orders. Hearings.

Section 16-262o. - Acquisition of water company ordered by authority. Rates and charges. Recovery of acquisition costs.

Section 16-262p. - Improvements by acquiring entity.

Section 16-262q. - Compensation for acquisition of water company.

Section 16-262r. - Satellite management of water companies. Expedited rate proceedings.

Section 16-262s. - Voluntary acquisition of water company. Surcharges. Rate of return.

Section 16-262t. - Action for receivership of rent and common expenses by water companies; petition; hearing; appointment; duties; termination.

Section 16-262u. - Replacement and repair of water service connections. Granting of exceptions.

Section 16-262v. - Water company infrastructure projects: Definitions.

Section 16-262w. - Water company rate adjustment mechanisms.

Section 16-262x. - Termination of residential utility service. Requirements.

Section 16-262y. - Water company revenue adjustment mechanism.

Section 16-262z. - Properties served by deficient well systems. Extension of service by water company.