On July 1, 2025, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 4, "An Act Concerning Energy Affordability, Access and Accountability," into law. The bipartisan legislation will provide immediate electric bill relief to consumers and establishes a plan to improve energy affordability and reliability in the long term. The legislation aims to lower customers' monthly utility bills in the near-term by shifting some of the costs currently covered by public benefit charges to state-backed bonds and tasks the Office of Consumer Council with reporting on and educating consumers about public benefit charges to enhance accountability going forward. The legislation also directs the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to evaluate shut-off protections for customers with medical needs. To manage costs and improve reliability in the long-term, the law updates energy procurement and planning processes by requiring utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies when evaluating potential grid upgrades, updating the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard, and expanding the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's authority over long-term planning and clean energy procurement. The law also creates new incentives for nuclear and geothermal, establishing a grant program for new nuclear site readiness and creating a thermal energy network grants and loans program, both of which will be overseen by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Finally, the legislation expands emergency categories to include wildfires and protects line workers from unsafe conditions during storms restoration. Overall, lawmakers estimate the legislation will save ratepayers over $800 million in the next three years while laying the foundation for structural reforms to improve rate transparency, increase affordability, and strengthen reliability.