The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has initiated the next phase of the state’s 2026-27 Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) by requesting stakeholder comments on 12 strategic questions addressing energy affordability, infrastructure investment, electrification, reliability, climate policy and economic competitiveness. The questions provide an early indication of the issues likely to shape future legislation, PURA proceedings, utility programs and energy development across Connecticut. Comments are due by October 16, 2026, at 4 p.m. EDT, if you wish to provide public input on the development of Connecticut’s next Comprehensive Energy Strategy.
Energy policy is at its best when it is informed by real-world experience. The questions posed by DEEP recognize that achieving affordability, reliability and decarbonization requires careful consideration of operational realities, market conditions and customer impacts. This proceeding presents an important opportunity for stakeholders to help shape that discussion.
The notice seeks input on a broad range of energy policy issues organized around three principal themes:
Affordability, Customers and Communities
DEEP is seeking feedback on strategies to improve energy affordability, modernize electric and gas rate design, expand customer participation in energy decision-making and promote the equitable distribution of energy costs, infrastructure impacts and clean energy benefits. The questions address topics including energy burden, customer protections, electrification, environmental justice and cost allocation.
Building Connecticut’s Energy System
DEEP is examining how Connecticut should plan for future energy demand, facilitate the siting and interconnection of new energy resources, coordinate planning across fuel sectors, address workforce and supply-chain constraints and align utility incentives with least-cost solutions for customers. DEEP is highlighting issues such as electrification, data center growth, permitting and interconnection processes, infrastructure investment and resource procurement.
Climate, Markets and Resilience
The notice also seeks input on pathways to achieve Connecticut’s climate goals while maintaining affordability and reliability, methods for valuing energy-related benefits and the impact of external factors such as ISO New England markets, federal policy, fuel markets, supply chains and extreme weather.
For each strategic question, DEEP asks stakeholders to identify potential policy, legislative, regulatory, financing, procurement and planning approaches, as well as relevant data, tradeoffs, and practical experience that should inform the state’s recommendations. DEEP has indicated that stakeholder feedback will help define both the scope and priorities of the forthcoming CES and that additional opportunities for public input may follow as the process continues.
What This Means for Stakeholders
This proceeding provides stakeholders with an early opportunity to influence Connecticut’s long-term energy policy direction before DEEP develops specific recommendations for the CES. The issues highlighted in the notice, including energy affordability, utility rate design, electrification, interconnection policy, infrastructure investment, permitting reform, resource procurement and climate compliance, are likely to influence future legislation, PURA proceedings, utility programs and energy development policy.
The strategic questions also offer an early indication of where Connecticut energy policy may be headed. In particular, DEEP is focusing on the challenge of balancing affordability, reliability, economic growth and decarbonization while addressing large load growth, infrastructure needs, workforce constraints and evolving market conditions. These issues will have direct implications for utilities, municipalities, project developers, competitive suppliers, large energy users and other market participants.
Stakeholders should consider whether the strategic questions adequately capture the challenges and opportunities facing their organizations and whether additional policy, regulatory or legislative proposals should be advanced through the comment process. Because the CES is expected to inform Connecticut’s energy policies and priorities for years to come, early participation may provide stakeholders with a meaningful opportunity to shape the state’s approach to affordability, infrastructure planning, resource development, market design and decarbonization.
Where Harris Beach Murtha Can Help
Drawing on his experience as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for a major Connecticut utility, Daniel Canavan brings firsthand knowledge of how state energy policies are developed, implemented and translated into utility programs, infrastructure investments, regulatory requirements and legislative initiatives. This experience provides clients with valuable insight as they evaluate and engage in the Comprehensive Energy Strategy process.
Our Energy Industry Team is closely monitoring this proceeding and is available to assist clients in evaluating the potential implications of the CES, developing and submitting comments and engaging with DEEP on issues affecting their businesses, operations and investment objectives.
If you need assistance, please reach out to attorney Daniel R. Canavan of our Energy Industry Team at 203-772-7749 and dcanavan@harrisbeachmurtha.com, or the Harris Beach Murtha attorney with whom you most frequently work.
This alert is not a substitute for advice of counsel on specific legal issues.
Harris Beach Murtha’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York State in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains; as well as in Boston, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and Newark, New Jersey.