Public Act No. 23-102 Summary

• Changes rate decoupling requirements for gas and electric distribution companies effective October 1, 2023, giving the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority discretion to determine decoupling mechanisms while considering impacts on ratepayers, service outages, and utility incentives for conservation.

• Prohibits public service companies with more than 75,000 customers from recovering through rates costs for trade association memberships, lobbying, certain advertising, executive travel/entertainment, board expenses, and investor relations activities.

• Establishes a stakeholder compensation program allowing the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to award up to $100,000 per group (max $300,000 per proceeding) to help low-income and disadvantaged communities participate in utility proceedings.

• Increases penalties for utility non-compliance from $5,000 to $10,000 per offense, with heightened penalties up to $40,000 for rate case violations, and directs 95% of fines to energy assistance programs through fiscal year 2024.

• Establishes the Connecticut Council for Advancing Nuclear Energy Development to coordinate nuclear energy research and expansion, and allows nuclear power facilities constructed after October 1, 2023 to qualify as Class I renewable energy sources.