Senator Blumenthal Proposes Bill to Limit FERC Approval of Power Company Infrastructure Spending
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is introducing federal legislation aimed at increasing scrutiny of power companies' infrastructure spending. The proposed bill would prohibit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from approving any projects that would lead to an increase in electricity prices exceeding 5%. This initiative comes as Eversource, a major utility, is undertaking extensive projects to replace wires and poles across New England. Senator Blumenthal and Connecticut's state Consumer Counsel, Claire Coleman, argue that current transmission construction projects are often excessive and primarily serve to boost utility profits, rather than genuinely benefiting consumers. They highlight concerns that the costs of these projects are disproportionately passed on to customers, leading to higher electricity bills. The legislation seeks to ensure that regulators more closely examine the public benefit of such projects in relation to their cost to consumers, particularly for those spanning multiple... 
