This resulted in nearly $200 million in unpaid bills, costs that are now being passed on to all ratepayers through the public benefits charge. Additionally, the state directed Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) like UI & Eversource to enter into power purchase agreements for renewable energy, often at rates far higher than the market price. While these initiatives aim to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, they have also driven up costs for consumers. In response to these issues, I supported Public Act 20-5, known as the "Take Back Our Grid Act," which holds utilities accountable for their performance during storms and prevents EDCs from passing through unnecessary charges to ratepayers. Last year, I backed bipartisan legislation Public Act 23-102 for current transparency in EDC billing and to further limit pass-through charges for lobbying, public relations, and political advocacy. So, what else can be done now to address the current energy cost issues? 1.