Readers speak: Why CT’s stakeholder compensation program should be preserved

Recently, the Hartford Courant has run a number of articles about public participation in Connecticut’s electricity rate setting process.

When it comes to making decisions about utility rates and energy affordability, PURA is restricted to only considering information from testimony and comments in their dockets. Who shows up to testify and comment at rate setting hearings? Mostly, it’s the utility corporations that are the very entities asking for rate increases.

There are very few residents showing up to fight for affordability. Without public participation, the utility corporations have an outsized voice.

Much more public participation is needed. That’s why the legislature passed the stakeholder compensation program in 2023, with bipartisan support. This program provides resources for regular people struggling with energy bills to bring their perspectives to the PURA table.

This stakeholder program should be preserved to help PURA make better decisions.

Samantha Dynowski, is state director, Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter

https://www.courant.com/2026/02/10/readers-speak-why-cts-stakeholder-compensation-program-should-be-preserved/