There are some things the Democrat’s super majority does not speak of when promoting the Affordable Heat Act. Vermont has the smallest economy of any state; Vermont’s total carbon dioxide emissions are only 1/10 of a percent of total U.S. emissions, the lowest of any state; and Vermont pays more for hydropower electricity than any other place in North America.

The state data below is from U.S. Government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) website.

In 2023, Vermont’s Gross Domestic Product was 43.1 billion and ranked lowest in the nation

Vermont’s carbon emissions were 5.6 million metric tons, just 1/10 of a percent of the U.S. total of 4911.2 million metric tons, again ranked lowest in the nation.

Vermonters are paying more for hydro-electric energy than any other place in North America. The New York Times recently reported on each state’s sources of electricity. Hydropower is the major source of electricity in four states. They are Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. Hydropower is inexpensive to generate, and three of these states’ electricity rates reflect that. But Vermont does not.

The U.S. EIA annually reports each state’s average electricity rates. The Idaho rate is 12.28 cents/kWh, Washington is at 12.34 cents, and Oregon is at 15.12 cents. Vermont is at 21.91 cents/kWh.

There is one Canadian Province whose primary source of electricity is also hydropower. (Yes, it is Quebec.) Hydro-Quebec’s electricity rate north of us is 7.8 cents/kWh in Canadian Currency. That is 5.8 cents in U.S. Dollars. A kilowatt hour of Hydro-Quebec electricity costs 3.75 times more in Vermont than in Quebec.

Quebec’s low cost of electricity heats 80 percent of the homes in Quebec.

The Affordable Heat Act will push Vermonter’s oil, LP, and kerosene costs higher to induce us to switch to Vermont’s expensive electricity. However, the legislature’s focus should be on reducing the cost of electricity instead of setting Vermonters up to pay higher heating fuel prices.

But our electric rates are just going up, the U.S. EIA reported Vermont’s average electric rate increased by 5% last year. Legislation this past year allows Vermont electric companies to increase rates by 3% annually without getting approval from the Public Utility Commission. The goal of Hydro-Quebec’s Lake Champlain pipeline is to provide 20 percent of New York City’s electricity. Might that create a supply and demand issue causing Vermont’s electric rates to increase significantly?

One of the proponent’s talking points is that Vermont’s home heating fuel dealers will consolidate, monopolize and raise home heating fuel prices. What they do not say is the Canadian company, Gaz Metro, owns both Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas. Gaz Metro is the largest natural gas conglomerate in Canada. All GMP and VT Gas profits flow North. It is the GMP customers, not Gaz Metro, that pay a 6% surcharge to Efficiency Vermont and cover the cost of all rebates and discounts offered by GMP.

And, if you are a Vermont Gas customer, please note that Idaho’s average cost for natural gas is $12.42 per thousand cubic feet. Vermont’s average cost is twice that at $25.16.

Owen Farnsworth

Lincoln