House gives final passage to consumer protections

HARTFORD, Conn. –The House of Representatives gave final passage Monday to legislation that requires more transparency from third-party electricity suppliers and reduces deceptive marketing tactics to residential customers.

The bill, which passed 145 to 0, will require suppliers to maintain their initial sign-on electric rates for at least three months. It also requires that electric bills include the standard rate, so consumers can compare it with the rate they’re paying. The legislation also gives customers greater flexibility to drop their electric supplier and forces suppliers to give more frequent notice about variable rates.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy applauded the passage of the legislation.

“This bill will help put an end to misleading and deceptive marketing practices,” he said in a statement. “It will give our families the information they need to evaluate pricing options offered by electric retailers and to choose the plan that is best for them and their pocketbooks.”

Advocates like those from the AARP wanted the legislation to go further by capping variable rates and defining how those rates are calculated.

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