Raised Bill No. 5245 establishes a framework for municipal electric aggregation programs in Connecticut, set to take effect on October 1, 2026. The bill defines key terms such as "public aggregator," "eligible customer," and "municipal aggregation plan," allowing municipalities to form public aggregators to procure electric supply and related services for their residents. It outlines the process for creating aggregation programs, which includes developing a detailed municipal aggregation plan that must undergo public review and hearings before approval. The bill also introduces "auto-enroll customers," who will be automatically included in the program unless they opt out, with exceptions for those who have opted out of information sharing or are experiencing financial hardships.

Additionally, the bill mandates that public aggregators submit their plans for review and outlines the criteria for offering voluntary energy products. It emphasizes transparency and consumer choice by requiring customer communications, including opt-out notices, to adhere to the approved plan. The bill also includes provisions for penalties for unauthorized communications and expands the list of entities required to comply with regulatory provisions. Notably, the bill introduces new legal language in Sections 3 and 4 under statutes 16-245b and 33-219(b) to facilitate these aggregation programs, with no deletions from current law, indicating a focus on adding new provisions to enhance local control over energy procurement.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 16-245b