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Today I joined a bipartisan group of legislators in asking the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to pause any final decision on the proposed sale of Aquarion Water Company.
Aquarion is Connecticut’s largest private water utility, and there is currently a proposal for a $2.4 billion sale of the company to the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.
Some supporters believe public ownership could provide long-term benefits. Others have raised serious concerns that borrowing billions of dollars to finance the purchase could ultimately lead to higher water rates for customers.
Simply put: if billions are borrowed to buy the system, many residents want to know who ultimately pays that bill.
Last year, PURA rejected the proposal after raising concerns about governance and protections for ratepayers. However, a recent court ruling has created questions about how much authority PURA has to review the full details of the transaction.
That’s why we asked regulators to slow down and ensure they have clear authority to review every aspect of the deal before making a final decision.
This is a major decision that could affect water infrastructure and rates for hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents for decades.
Clean, reliable water is one of the most basic services people depend on. Connecticut residents deserve transparency, oversight, and confidence that any decision is truly in the public interest.
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