AN ACT CONCERNING THE COMBINED PUBLIC BENEFITS CHARGE, THE RESTORATION OF ELECTRICITY SERVICE AFTER SYSTEM SERVICE OUTAGES, PROMOTING THE USAGE OF SMART METERS AND PROHIBITING TAX ASSESSMENT INCREASES BASED ON RESIDENTIAL SOLAR INSTALLATIONS.

HB 5957 requires the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to review the "Combined Public Benefits Charge" on electricity bills and assess whether a 96-hour standard for power restoration after outages imposes undue costs. It directly affects electricity ratepayers by creating a tax credit for those who paid the public benefits charge and prohibits municipal tax assessors from increasing property taxes on homes with solar panels. The bill promotes shared solar/battery projects, encourages smart meter adoption, and mandates more frequent reviews of storm damage costs for ratepayers. It also requires reinvestment of funds from nuclear power plant agreements into energy programs.