General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6928 establishes a framework for municipal electric aggregation programs in Connecticut, set to take effect on October 1, 2025. The bill introduces new definitions such as "public aggregator," "municipal aggregation plan," and "auto-enroll customer," clarifying the roles of municipalities in procuring electric supply for residents. It allows municipalities to form public aggregators to solicit bids for energy products while ensuring vulnerable customers are exempt from automatic enrollment. The bill outlines procedural requirements for creating aggregation programs, including the need for legislative approval, public review periods, and public hearings, emphasizing equitable treatment of all electric customers and reliable service.

The legislation also modifies the municipal aggregation process by streamlining approval and communication procedures between public aggregators and electric distribution companies. It stipulates that if proposed customer communications are not approved or denied within a specified timeframe, they will be automatically deemed approved. Public aggregators must provide timelines for implementation and monthly updates until agreements with suppliers are executed. The bill ensures voluntary customer participation, mandates clear notices regarding automatic enrollment and opt-out rights, and allows public aggregators to establish their own practices without prior authority approval. Additionally, it expands the scope of aggregation to include municipalities and regional water authorities, repealing and replacing existing statutes to incorporate these changes. Violations of the new regulations will incur penalties, with fines potentially directed towards nonprofit energy assistance programs.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 16-245b