With furnaces and boilers working hard during the recent cold weather, the high cost of energy is on the minds of many Granite Staters.
Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers at the State House this week over who bears responsibility for the problem.
In the frigid cold outside the State House, Democrats criticized Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s energy policy, trying to make the case that she is not doing enough to help people pay their electric and heating bills.
“As a business owner, I see rising utility costs squeeze everything – wages, expansion, stability and my ability to do long-term planning,” said Dover City Councilor Tony Retrosi.
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Democratic lawmakers are also criticizing the governor’s choice for a new commissioner to lead the Public Utilities Commission. Ayotte is tapping Deputy Energy Commissioner Chris Ellms, who got his start working in the office of Gov. Chris Sununu.
“This political move obliterates the red line we were promised would remain between the Department of Energy and the Public Utilities Commission, and how does the blurring of this line bring us any closer to better rate-setting and lower energy costs?” said state Rep. Kat McGhee, D-Hollis.
The governor fired back, saying the high cost of energy is precisely why she is making such sweeping changes at the PUC.
“The PUC has issued decisions that I think were not good for ratepayers,” Ayotte said. “It’s why the prior individual that served as chairman, I chose not to reappoint him. Performance-based ratemaking and some of the issues that caused increases to our bills, energy bills – I think it’s just there’s not been enough focus at the Public Utilities Commission on ratepayers.”
Ayotte said she wanted someone who is “willing to challenge” the utility companies, and that’s why she chose Ellms for the job.
He faces a hearing in the days ahead.
