Hawthorn
Mr.
Mrs.
Miss
Ms.
Dr.
Prefix
First Name
Last Name
Email
Phone
Address
Zip
AK
AL
AR
AZ
CA
CO
CT
DC
DE
FL
GA
HI
IA
ID
IL
IN
KS
KY
LA
MA
MD
ME
MI
MN
MO
MS
MT
NC
ND
NE
NH
NJ
NM
NV
NY
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VA
VT
WA
WI
WV
WY
State
The following editable messages may be sent on your behalf...
DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes
PURA Executive Secratary
Dear Commissioner, 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 oppose 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. As DEEP plays a critical role in protecting Connecticut’s natural resources and ensuring responsible utility governance, I urge you to advise against this conversion and help ensure continued transparency, accountability, and consumer protection. Thank you for your consideration.
Hello, 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 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. For these reasons, please protect consumers and communities by rejecting this conversion proposal. If PURA considers any alternative, it should require a structure that preserves independent oversight, maintains transparent and data-driven decision making, and keeps strong avenues for customer recourse. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
______
Send All
Help
These messages may be sent to your relevant lawmakers if you are a constituent in their district.
Powered by Speak4
opens a new window