Aquarion should not provide CT services

I am writing regarding PURA Docket No. 25-04-03, “Joint Application of Aquarion Water Authority, South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority and Eversource Energy for Approval of a Change of Control.”

Please urge PURA to reject the proposal to convert Aquarion into a public water authority controlled by the Regional Water Authority (RWA), as it is not in the public interest.

If approved, Aquarion would fall outside PURA’s jurisdiction as an authority. Customers would lose independent, expert oversight and access to PURA’s Customer Affairs Resolution Center for unresolved complaints. Rates and service quality would no longer be tested by PURA’s ratemaking and safety experts before customers are asked to pay more.

The proposed governance structure would replace that oversight with an 11-member board in which six members are appointed by RWA and five by the Aquarion authority, with the CEO and CFO coming from RWA. That gives Aquarion towns a minority voice on decisions about rates, infrastructure investment, service quality, and stewardship of watershed lands. A politically appointed board is not a substitute for independent regulation.

Testimony in the hearings left many important questions unanswered. Witnesses often could not provide concrete answers and repeatedly said that solutions are expected but that no action has been taken. Customers should not be left in limbo on issues that affect the safety and cost of an essential utility that people ingest every day.

The financial risks would fall on customers. Materials in the record indicate that RWA customers already pay more for water than Aquarion customers, that RWA has raised rates significantly over the past decade, and that projected increases for Aquarion customers under government ownership could be substantial. In addition, acquisition premiums and transaction costs would be recovered in authority rates, shifting costs to ratepayers rather than shareholders. Towns could also lose property tax revenue.

Governor, Connecticut has a proud tradition of independent utility oversight that balances consumer protection with environmental stewardship. I urge your administration to make clear its support for preserving PURA’s independent authority and rejecting this conversion proposal.

Thank you for your leadership and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]