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Senior Deputy Senate Republican Leader Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) issued the following statement regarding the Southington Town Council’s resolution to eliminate the “Public Benefits” charge from electric bills:
“I commend the Southington Town Council for bringing forward this important resolution to eliminate the public benefits charge from electric bills and for recognizing the urgent need to address Connecticut’s excessively high energy costs. This charge is a hidden tax—a collection of fees and expenditures that were never properly debated or voted on by the legislature. Instead, these costs are imposed on ratepayers with little transparency or accountability.
“At the heart of this resolution is Senate Bill 598, my proposal to remove these unnecessary charges and ensure that electric bills reflect only the actual costs of producing and delivering electricity. This is a practical, immediate step toward meaningful relief for consumers. The resolution also acknowledges the six-part Republican plan—Senate Bill 647, which offers long-term solutions to drive down energy costs in Connecticut.
“Unfortunately, the Democrats on the Southington Town Council chose not to support this resolution. Their decision appears to be politically motivated rather than policy-driven, as their primary objection seems to be the inclusion of my bill. Instead of standing with Southington residents, who are struggling under the weight of high energy costs, they prioritized partisan politics over practical solutions.
“Adding to the frustration, I was not present at this council meeting, yet Democrat councilors used that opportunity to make false and misleading claims about me and to distort the facts about electric rates, the public benefits charge, and the role of Millstone in our energy system,” he said.
Senator Sampson also went on to address misleading claims in connection with the issue.
Addressing Misleading Claims
“Some council members made inaccurate or misleading statements about my bill and my record. I want to set the record straight:
1. Removing the Public Benefits Charge does not simply shift costs to the budget. Right now, only Eversource and UI customers pay this charge, while municipal electric customers do not. The charge is also calculated based on usage, meaning those who offset their use, e.g., solar panels, largely avoid it. If the funding for these programs is truly necessary, they should go through the normal budget process—which includes public hearings, legislative votes, and full transparency—rather than being buried in electric bills as hidden taxes.
2. The claim that more than 150 bills are addressing electric rates is incorrect. While there are currently 164 bills before the Energy and Technology Committee, only a fraction deal specifically with reducing electric rates. My bill is one of the few that provides real relief, and it has already been featured in multiple news reports, including NBC Connecticut.
3. Councilman Palmieri’s claim that I have not introduced, or co-sponsored successful energy bills is false. To date, I have helped introduce or co-sponsor around 200 bills that have become law—an exceptional record for a Republican in the minority. More importantly, it is the Democrat majority in Hartford that created this crisis through their failed policies. It only makes sense that I refused to take part in the damage they have done. Instead, I have been leading the charge against their destructive energy policies and fighting for affordability.
However, when the Democrats put forward good policy, I have always been willing to work with them. One such example is Senate Bill 7 from 2023, which I co-sponsored and which was designed to reduce electric rates. The idea that I should have supported the same Democrats who created Connecticut’s affordability crisis is absurd.
4. Councilman Jack Perry reiterated this same false claim, stating that I have never passed a bill into law. That is simply not true. These kinds of misstatements—whether deliberate or out of ignorance—undermine honest debate on important policy issues. The fact is, my record speaks for itself, and those who take the time to review it will see a long list of bipartisan legislative successes.
5. Calling this resolution a ‘political gimmick’ is an unfortunate mischaracterization. This was a sincere effort led by Republicans on the council and me to push for real solutions for ratepayers. My legislative colleagues and I have been proposing real, actionable solutions to fix this problem for more than two years. Here is our latest press conference outlining those solutions:
Republicans Have Led the Charge for Lower Electric Rates
Beyond legislation, I have been actively engaged with residents across Connecticut who are demanding lower electric rates. I recently joined with a group of residents to launch a Change.org petition advocating for the removal of the public benefits charge. This petition now has more than 70,000 signatures, which we presented to Governor Lamont. You can watch my remarks at that press conference here.
Unfortunately, despite this overwhelming public outcry, the Governor largely ignored our concerns. Even more disappointing, Senate Democrat leadership mocked residents who attended a rally at the Capitol to protest high utility rates. That is unacceptable. Connecticut families deserve leaders who listen and act, not dismiss their concerns. Watch the coverage here.
A Call to Action
I remain committed to fighting for lower electric bills and real relief for Connecticut residents. I encourage everyone to read Senate Bill 598 and Senate Bill 647), and join me in demanding action from the legislature.
The bottom line is simple: Republicans are offering real solutions to lower electric rates. Democrats have chosen to obstruct progress. Connecticut residents deserve better.”
