Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com December 22, 2014 • Hartford Business Journal 29 Industry Focus Employee Benefits | Retirement Plans | Wealth Management 207 Pitkin Street, East Hartford, CT 860.882.1112 info@constitutionag.com www.constitutionag.com Securities and Advisory services offered through Registered Representatives of Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, Member SIPC Constitution Advisory Group and Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation are not affiliated. LFS-891094-032814 power Grid gas infrastructure into New England between 2016 and 2018. Once these proposals become finished projects, the supply side of the economic equation will increase and prices will likely return to the levels enjoyed in the region during previ- ous winters and throughout the rest of the year. The proposals being developed now, however, cannot be completed for this winter as building this type of infrastructure takes years. As a result, 2015 will be a transition period. Fortunately, options exist for businesses to manage their energy costs. Through the competitive retail electricity market, consumers have access to multiple suppliers in addition to default utility standard offer service. As always, businesses and consum- ers should make informed decisions, carefully considering all options and appropriate terms and conditions. C u s t o m e r s remaining on stan- dard offer supply may also inquire about bill smooth- ing programs to help address win- ter volatility and prices as well as federal assistance for low-income consumers. Nota- bly, Connecticut has policies that prohibit utilities from disconnect- ing consumers' electricity during winter months to ensure no one is left out in the cold. As the region- al energy market transitions, ener- gy companies are responding. The proposed market-based infrastructure developments offer the best path to meet the current chal- lenges for Connecticut's businesses and consumers. As these investments move forward in 2015, it is the hope of the New England Power Generators Association that gov- ernment policymakers ensure important market-based infra- structure projects can be sited and appropriately developed where they are needed. After all, it is the infrastructure devel- opments being proposed now that will provide the basis to drive Connecticut's economy for decades to come. n Dan Dolan is the president of the New England Power Genera- tors Association. The low cost of natural gas electricity already caused a Vermont nuclear plant to close, although Millstone Power Station in Waterford remains operating. ▶ ▶ With some recent power plant retirements and replacement capacity currently under development, the electricity supply across New England has tightened, which will lead to higher winter energy prices. P H O T O | H B J F i l e E c o n o m i c F o r E c a s t

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