House Republican Press Release

March 7, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. HOVEY: NU TO MEET WITH MONROE SENIORS REGARDING ENERGY ISSUES

Local Legislator Organizes Meeting With High Meadows Residents, Utility Co.

State Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-Monroe, Newtown) today urged residents of the High Meadows Condominium complex who are interested in learning more about energy issues and ways to reduce their electricity bills to attend a meeting that will be held at the complex on Monday, March 26. Rep. Hovey has arranged to have a representative from Northeast Utilities (NU) meet with seniors at the High Meadows clubhouse from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Throughout Connecticut, consumers have experienced skyrocketing electricity costs since early 2006. Local customers were subject to a 22.4 percent rate increase last year. An additional 7.7 percent increase on residential and commercial customers took effect at the beginning of January 2007. Because the High Meadows units have electric heat, residents have been hit extremely hard by the rate increases.

“Most High Meadows residents have seen their electric bills double in the past two months,” said Rep. Hovey. “They are essentially using half of their social security benefits for electricity and are locked into using this form of heat. This meeting will allow residents to ask questions on electricity costs and to learn ways they may be able to lower them.”

Rep. Hovey has added topics that will include heating conservation, assessment of heating efficiency and NU’s circuit breaker program for reducing costs.