Time to get going on electricity bills

4/25/07
It’s not an option available to most people struggling with out-of-control energy prices, but a move by Sikorsky Aircraft last week may prod more big businesses in their direction. The company’s exploration of a plan to produce its own power is, according to the company, about fighting pollution, but rising costs surely play a role.
The company, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., submitted plans recently to build a $13.6 million, 7.5-megawatt power plant to help meet its energy needs. Other UTC divisions with similar applications on file include Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sundstrand. They join other businesses like General Electric, Pitney Bowes and Latex Foam in exploring a way to separate themselves from the region’s power grid.
In theory, if any or all of these companies did manage to produce their own power and require less from the central grid, it could mean supply for everyone else goes up, and prices come down. That’s a long way off, but anything that could start to reverse the upward trends of the past year should be encouraged.
Connecticut electricity rates are reported to be the most expensive in the continental United States following a 25 percent jump in United Illuminating Co.’s bills in January and a more than 20 percent spike at Connecticut Light & Power Co. in 2006. This wasn’t supposed to be the situation following the state’s decision to deregulate the power business, but maybe an increase in private power generation will finally yield a positive result for ratepayers.
But because the majority of power consumers in the state are residential, it’s unlikely even a move by the region’s biggest employers could have a substantial, long-term impact. It’s up to our legislators and regulators to focus on rising electric bills — the peak season of air-conditioner-induced shortages is right around the corner. If people continue to see their bills skyrocket to pay for service that remains spotty, the state should expect major repercussions from its electricity customers. That is, assuming the entire middle class doesn’t move to North Carolina first.