Nothing says “Who’s my state representative?” like a stunner of an electric bill from a public utility.

The recent Eversource rate increase got the attention of everyone. Household electric bills zoomed in July, as predicted, and will float in the stratosphere for the foreseeable future. The public utility/publicly traded company sets its rates as approved by PURA, the state regulatory agency. But state law created PURA and it is state government that gets the vocal criticism along with Eversource.

As unwelcome as a rate hike is, the scenario is familiar. Normally, what Connecticut voters are thinking about when they elect their part-time legislators is mainly to formulate a budget that pays for essential services; keep taxes and utility costs down; and lower gasoline taxes. That’s where the lawmakers’ work hits home. Until they fail at any of those expectations, many people give them little thought.

But the conservative majority on the United States Supreme Court has issued several opinions since 2022 that empower state legislatures beyond the recurring issues of the last half-century. At the moment it seems unlikely that steady-habits Connecticut would ever go in for major changes in the exercise of basic rights, but it would have the court’s blessing if it did. Other states have been doing so. Issues that have been under federal jurisdiction for decades have become a matter of states’ rights.

Thus far the decision most likely to affect this year’s elections at all levels is the return of abortion lawmaking power to the states. The 2022 decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ended the constitutional right to abortion that Roe v. Wade established in 1973.

In the past two years a number of states have enacted stringent limitations on having, seeking and providing abortions. Other legislatures, Connecticut included, acted to reaffirm the formerly federally ensured rights. Reproductive rights proposals are now making their way to the ballots in others. Some post-2022 laws, including that of Idaho, have already reached the Supreme Court.

Until two years ago, state lawmakers had no say in abortion rights, and thus voters had no need to ask a candidate for their position.

Of the other issues that now could come before the General Assembly in the wake of Supreme Court cases, the most consequential for all citizens are those that concern voting rights. After every Census states may have an opening to gerrymander districts, but recent egregious attempts, such as an Alabama law, have gotten hung up by the court.

Other states are in the throes of ongoing efforts to pass measures that would limit access to polls or early and mail-in voting. The basis for some of these is an interpretation of the Elections Clause in the Constitution that would give state legislatures complete authority to limit the number and location of polling places and times in order to benefit the party in power.

Voter suppression probably would not happen in Connecticut, but who is to say “never” in today’s politics?

So, who’s your state senator? Your representative? Who might it be after Nov. 5, 2024? It has become more critical than ever to know what a candidate stands for, judging not only by their campaign promises but by past votes and experience. It has often been the time-honored Connecticut way to stand squarely in the middle. That is not a bad thing. Compromise is a good and election-worthy skill.

In the meanwhile, Connecticut ratepayers are probably stuck with the high electric bills until next year. The chance that lawmakers will convene in a special session to address electric rates is slim. Republicans want one; they say they have a plan to reduce an average bill by $125 a year. Every little bit does help, but that works out to about $10 lower per month. It’s hard to see that being enough relief for people who cannot afford a payment that has gone up 20 percent or more.

Democrats, as the majority, can simply refuse to act on seeking a special session.The governor says the solution is more energy sources. If he is right, who is doing what to make that happen? Who’s your legislator?

Visit https://cga.ct.gov/ and scroll down to the “Find Your Legislator” menu. Party-endorsed candidates and primary winners often take a while to be listed on the webpage of the Office of the Secretary of the State, but that is where to search for all aspects of elections information.

In the weeks ahead The Day will be asking local candidates for written answers to pressing questions. Look for their responses in pre-election coverage of southeastern Connecticut races.

The top of the ticket may get all the airtime, but they don’t hold all the power. The Supreme Court said so.

Lisa McGinley is a member of The Day Editorial Board.