AARP Connecticut applauds the final decision by the Connecticut Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) to reject United Illuminating Company’s supplemental rate increase request. An approved increase would have significantly raised the cost of electricity for Connecticut ratepayers, who already pay the highest retail electricity price in the continental United States.
Connecticut’s manufacturing industry will need an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 new skilled workers for the state’s 4,100 manufacturing companies in the next two decades. Connecticut state colleges and universities, private colleges, and the state’s comprehensive and technical high schools have done a great job of introducing the varied and high-tech career opportunities available to students in the manufacturing industry. However, the growing demand for qualified workers to meet the resurgent manufacturing industry is outpacing the supply, which has created an increasing need for instructors. AARP Connecticut has begun assisting schools in identifying and recruiting retired manufacturers who might consider applying their real world skills in the classroom.
AARP Connecticut went in front of members of the Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee on Friday, March 15, to voice concern about SB 877 (an Act Concerning Revenue Items to Implement the Governor’s Budget), which calls for a repeal of the bipartisan income tax relief promise for social security recipients, and those with pensions and annuity income. Most incumbent legislators of both parties promoted their affirmative vote to repeal this tax during the 2018 campaigns .
Mary Fay, the inaugural Executive Director of the Connecticut Retirement Security Authority (CRSA), recently sat with AARP Connecticut volunteer Tim Ryan to talk about the new program that will offer retirement security to employees who do not have a plan offered by their employer. Fay and Ryan discussed the need for the program, status of the launch and her career history.
AARP is now accepting applications for the 2019 Community Challenge grant program to fund “quick-action” projects that spark change in local communities. The grant program, which is now in its third year, is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which aims to make communities great places to live for everyone.
After nearly two decades of implementing legislative and regulatory policies, it is time to provide consumers with the ultimate protection from the confusing – often abusive and illegal – marketing tactics of third-party electric suppliers. Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz, in collaboration with AARP and other consumer advocates, as well as U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, called for the end of the third-party residential electric market that economically harms consumers at a press conference today.