Hartford Business Journal

10 ConneCTiCuT Green Guide • SprinG 2014 www.CTGreenGuide.com GoveRnMenT WATCH Legislature To Regulate Electricity Suppliers T he main priority of the Connecticut General Assembly's energy leadership this year will be to install consumer protections against competitive electricity suppliers. "We want to arm consumers with as much informa- tion as possible for them to make the best decision pos- sible," said State Sen. Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), co-chair of the legislature's Energy & Technology Committee. The move by the legislature comes after thousands of customers of electricity suppliers were charged double the rates of the standard service rate offered by the state's utili- ties during the winter's colder days. These consumers were automatically switched to variable rates without notification after the contracts on their original fixed rates expired. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority launched an investigation into the marketing tactics of electricity suppliers, and Attorney General George Jepsen is closely monitoring the actions of the companies. The competitive supplier industry rose out of Connecticut's deregulation of the electric utilities. Consumers now have the option of shopping around for better deals from competitive suppliers for the generation portion of their bills, instead of just taking the utility rates. About half of the state's 1.5 million electricity customers use a competitive supplier. Duff said the legislature will work on consumer protections against monthly price spikes and require the suppliers to develop notification pro- News Cycle State Sen. Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) Government Grades by Brad Kane REGioNaL PaCT — The six new england governors agreed to work together to lower energy prices by encouraging more electric transmission and natural gas pipeline construction. Still in the early stages, the pact already solicited iSo new england to build up to 3,600 megawatts of new transmission. ELECTRiC VEhiCLES — The Department of energy & environmental Protection created a non-monetary award for the Connecticut auto dealers that sell the most electric cars. The state also granted $178,000 to businesses, towns, and schools to build ev charging stations. Grade: B+ Grade: B Renovation Complete on Knights of Columbus HQ The energy-saving renovation of the 23-story Knights of Columbus headquarters in new Haven was completed in January, includ- ing the replacement of 560 sunshades and all window walls. Designed in 1969, the headquarters is anchored by four masonry towers with floor- to-ceiling glass walls filing the gaps. While the towers stood the test of time, the glass façade needed replacement, said John Barbara, senior associate and designer for Washington, D.C. firm Leo A. Daly, the project manager. While the façade was the focus of the face- lift, the building underwent multiple energy efficiency upgrades as part of the three-year construction process. Changes to the heating and cooling system, better windows, and more insulation will lead to a 30 percent energy savings in the 200,000-square-foot building, Barbara said. indianapolis-based facadeTek served as a subcontractor on the project to manufacture all the glass needed for the 23 floors. Minnesota architectural firm viracon Glass helped design the windows. The Knights of Columbus Supreme Council building at 1 Columbus Plaza in New Haven. PHoTo | ConTribuTed

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