Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee Public Hearing
Operation Fuel Testimony on S.B. 1560
Public Hearing April 16, 2025
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee Public Hearing Wednesday, April 16, 2025 Submitted by Gannon Long, Chief Program & Policy Officer, Operation Fuel, Inc
Dear Co-Chairs Rep. Horn, Sen. Fonfara, Ranking Members Rep. Polletta, Sen. Fazio, Vice Chairs Rep. Constantine, Rep. Rader, Sen. Cabrera and Sen. Billie Miller and Honorable Members of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony on S.B. 1560, An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Economy, Electricity Affordability and Business Competitiveness and Establishing the Connecticut Energy Procurement Authority and the Green Bond Fund.[1]
Operation Fuel is a 501(c)3 private nonprofit founded in 1977 during the oil embargo, when energy price shocks destabilized household budgets and the national economy. Today, we continue to provide emergency energy and utility assistance to eligible Connecticut households experiencing financial crisis. Simply put: for thousands of households across Connecticut, Operation Fuel is the last option in an emergency.
Operation Fuel appreciates the committee’s goals to reduce energy costs for Connecticut residents, including deploying and leveraging emerging technologies such as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), solar power, and energy storage. As this bill moves forward, we encourage the legislature to examine potential redundancies and costs that the new structure would impose on our current system. Additionally, we believe it is vital that the new Connecticut Energy Procurement Authority (CEPA) would be subject to robust public transparency, including avenues to ensure stakeholder input toward and the public’s right to appeal CEPA decisions.
As Connecticut’s emergency energy assistance fund, Operation Fuel sees every day how our state’s affordability crisis impacts low-and moderate-income families. We provide up to $500 in direct bill assistance, for qualifying Connecticut residents who earn up to 75% of State Median Income (SMI)[2].
In addition to generating financial support from foundations, individuals and other sources, Operation Fuel receives $2.1 million annually from ratepayers, which amounts to less than $2 a year for the average household energy usage. As written, S.B. 1560 (lines 656-660) would maintain this funding level, which has remained flat since it was first established in 2015.
Medical challenges, job loss, and other life events strike when least expected. They don’t correspond with a person’s merit, geography, or political party. To better reflect the need in 2025, we request that the committee modify the bill to increase our allocation to $5.8 million[3], which would more accurately reflect the emergency assistance demand Operation Fuel experienced in Fiscal Year 2024.
As energy prices climb, Connecticut families need accessible emergency assistance more than ever before.
We are grateful that in February 2024, the legislature voted unanimously to allocate $1.75 million to Operation Fuel in emergency funding. This helped us support approximately 3,300 additional families last year. However, we still had to close our assistance season after just two and a half months — turning away more than 2,500 families who applied for assistance — due to lack of funds. Operation Fuel is requesting a funding increase of $3.7 million to $5.8 million, which reflects the actual demand we experienced in FY 2024.
As energy costs have risen steadily for Connecticut families since 2015, so has the affordability crisis for low-and moderate-income households in our state. According to Operation Fuel’s most recent Affordability Study[4], the affordability gap between what families can afford to pay compared to their actual energy costs, grew 37% between 2019 and 2023. When households can’t afford to pay their energy bills, these costs are designated “uncollectible,” and then socialized via rates across all ratepayer classes – exacerbating the affordability challenge. Operation Fuel recognizes that when families are in an emergency situation, they need somewhere to go for help. In reviewing our funding increase request, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) provided a ratepayer impact analysis showing that $5.8 million in annual funding for Operation Fuel would amount to less than $3 a year bill impact for ratepayers across our state. This modest funding increase will help prevent your constituents from experiencing additional fees, shutoffs, and even homelessness that result from unpaid utility bills. Early intervention, even just with a few hundred dollars a year, can prevent these terrible consequences.
Financially, it’s clear that a small investment in Operation Fuel protects families and reduces costs in our electric system overall. We ask you to consider the human impact of emergency assistance for low- and moderate-income families struggling to keep their lights on and their homes warm. Here are quotes from just a few of our neighbors and how impactful $500 is to their families:
- “I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer July of 2023. Then underwent surgical lumpectomy, and then 8 months of chemotherapy. I ended up in the hospital from February to March of 2024 from a bad reaction to one of the drugs they gave me. When I recovered from that, I went through vigorous radiation that took a toll on my body. I just need a little help keeping the house warm and the pipes from freezing.”
- “I lost my job and needed help. Operation Fuel notified my oil provider of the grant and was very organized. They quickly made sure oil was delivered. During these hard times, this meant a lot to me knowing Operation Fuel was there to help me and so many others. They are a great organization, and very professional. I am so thankful they helped me.”
- “I cannot afford to put more oil in the tank due to rent and other obligations. My husband passed away last year and I had to go back to full time work. It has not been easy.”
Hearing stories like these every day from clients, Operation Fuel recognizes we provide a lifeline to struggling families across our state. In addition to direct support, we advocate for clients in the Connecticut General Assembly, PURA and other venues. As we read the bill, we note a few concerns about the proposed CEPA structure. First, as the Office of Consumer Counsel articulates clearly in their written testimony[5], the bill would establish new processes for various efforts already underway, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and other initiatives being examined in active PURA dockets. Secondly, the bill as written would provide great latitude to the CEPA board, and minimal oversight from the general public, to establish its public meeting schedule, determine the expertise and number of staff required to operate, and limit the ability for stakeholders to appeal CEPA decisions. We encourage the committee to work with OCC and other stakeholders to eliminate potential redundancies, examine necessary costs, and ensure public accountability as the bill moves forward.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony. We appreciate your leadership and desire to help the residents of Connecticut. We are glad to work with the committee on this and other issues before you. Please contact Operation Fuel’s Public Affairs & Policy Advisor, Mike Turaj, at mike@operationfuel.org to discuss more.
Sincerely,
Gannon R. Long, MBA
Chief Program & Policy Officer
Operation Fuel, Inc.
gannon@operationfuel.org
1 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/TOB/S/PDF/2025SB-01560-R00-SB.PDF
2 https://uwc.211ct.org/connecticut-state-median-income-2023/
3 Along with a corresponding increase in administrative funding from $200,000 to $580,000 annually.
4 https://operationfuel.org/veicmap/
5 https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/findata/TMY/2025SB-01560-R000416-Coleman,%20Claire,%20Consumer%20Counsel-CT%20Office%20of%20Consumer%20Counsel–TMY.PDF