🌱Electric Bill Hikes Coming In January + Annual Holiday Train Show

Hello, everybody! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Including news about...

• Essex Winter Series Concert schedule!
• Check out the Annual Holiday Train Show!
• What will electric bills in Connecticut look like after Jan. 1?

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 49 Low: 37.

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Here are the top three stories today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

1. The Essex Winter Series is back! In addition to the usual extraordinary concerts, according to Zip06.com, "this year’s concert schedule also includes the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Jeff Barnhart and His Hot Jazz Collective and the renowned male vocal group, Chanticleer. The New Haven Symphony, which has performed at Winter Series before, nonetheless, has something very new for this season’s appearance, marimba soloist Aya Kaminaguchi. The Essex Winter Series Concerts line-up will include Brentano String Quartet with Mihae Lee on Sunday, Dec. 18 at Valley Regional High School, New Haven Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, Jan. 22 at Valley Regional High School, Jeff Barnhart and His Hot Jazz Collective on Sunday, Feb. 26 at John Winthrop Middle School, Project: Music Heals String Trio with Mihae Lee on March 12 at John Winthrop Middle School, Chanticleer on April 23 at Valley Regional High School. All concerts begin at 3 p.m. For more information or tickets, visit essexwinterseries.com." Hope to see you there! (zip06.com)
2. It's time for the 29th Annual Holiday Train Show at the Connecticut River Museum for its 29th year of fun for all ages. See what train artist Steve Cryan has created this year! A fully operational 26-foot train layout, “I SPY” scavenger hunts and toddler-sized viewing layout are all part of the fun. The show runs through Sunday, February 19, 2023. Hope to see you there. (Bestthingsct.com)
3. What will your electric bill be like after January 1? According to the Hartford Courant, "Starting Jan. 1, the state’s two largest electric utilities will be enacting 100% rate increases on the “generation’' portion of their bills that will hike costs by about $85 per month for the average Eversource customer and nearly $80 per month for United Illuminating that covers 17 towns near the shoreline. Over the past five years, the supply rates charged by the utilities in a pass-through from the generators have been in a relatively narrow range of about 8 cents to 12 cents per kilowatt hour. The prices have been nowhere near the new rate of 24 cents — the level coming Jan. 1 that has sparked outrage around the state. Gov. Ned Lamont says that Eversource customers will receive a monthly credit of about $10 on their bills, and the state will be working in future months to help low-income ratepayers who qualify for assistance. While many consumers have fallen out of the habit in recent years, state officials say that they can avoid the price hikes by shopping around for a better price for their electricity. Legislators realize that consumers are highly concerned about their rates with less than one month before the price hikes take effect. “The average ratepayer,’’ [Senator] Norm Needleman said, “cannot tolerate a doubling of rates, and it has us all scrambling to figure out what we can do as legislators. As the policymakers, we have an obligation to look at that volatility and decide what the right approach is.’'(Hartford Courant)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Shell & Bee Studio: Macrame Tree Ornaments (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Chester CT Historical Society: "Day 3 of Chester Historical Society photos. This is another one (like yesterday's photo was) from Rob and Tom Miceli's book, "Chester: Lost, Found, Remembered." It's clearly marked as being the 4th grade in 1956-57. " (Chester CT Historical Society via Facebook)
• Ivoryton Library Association: "We are extending our Illumination Book Sale. Come see us this week and get some holiday shopping finished." (Ivoryton Library Association via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Check out Sustainable Essex's latest newsletter about the intersection of agriculture and climate change." (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Check out the latest free class listing from the Women's Business Development Council for December through March. All WBDC classes are being held virtually via Zoom. http://ow.ly/69FY50JGMlH" (Essex Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Secret Seller Holiday Market (December 10)
• Holiday Market! (December 10)
• Holiday Lantern Tour (December 11)
• Free Zoom meeting with our specialist on security system installers in Old Saybrook (December 17)
• Cool Yule 2022 with String of Pearls Big Band (December 22)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around.

— Karena Garrity

About me: I am a native of Connecticut, who currently resides in the Tri-Town community of Chester, Deep River and Essex. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my small town community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com