Does this truly serve the public good?

To the Legislature:

Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) was enacted in 2015 and significantly accelerated in 2024 (H.289) to require most utilities to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030–2035.  

Over the last five years, residential electricity rates have risen sharply — from roughly 18–20¢/kWh around 2021 to the current average of 24.56¢/kWh (about 30% above the national average). This represents a cumulative increase of roughly 20–35%, with many recent rate cases adding further pressure.  

These costs are pushing many Vermonters — especially our seniors/ elderly, low-income and fixed-income households — into fuel poverty, forcing difficult if not outright impossible trade-offs between heating, food, and medicine in our cold climate.  

The PUC’s mandate requires “high-quality public utility services at minimum reasonable costs, consistent with the long-term public good of the state.” When policy causes widespread financial harm today, does it truly serve the public good? 

I urge legislators to support a full legislative review of energy affordability, potential reforms to the RES, ( with clean energy sources and renewable sources ) and stronger protections for vulnerable residents. This is harming real people right now. 

E.G. Fact: Vermont fuel assistance program always runs out of funds before all the seniors needs have properly been met so they are safe and secure. This creates harm and further distress. Insane – every fuel company in Vermont can and will service customers in any weather conditions and can also accurately estimates fuel costs to climate conditions. How can that be that seniors / elderly are going without fuel for a state that posts close to 10 B budget? 

This Vermont  “renewable only” energy policy has been and continues to harm real people now. 

– Libby Moyer, Vershire