“A mess.” Sens.. Harding & Fazio Statement on Ongoing PURA Instability & Uncertainty

For Immediate Release 

Sen. Stephen Harding and Sen. Ryan Fazio issued the following statement regarding the ongoing instability and uncertainty at the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

“PURA is now down to just two voting commissioners. It’s bad practice.  And it is a completely predictable crisis that didn’t have to be this way.

Year after year, Republicans have offered policy solutions to bring long-term rate reduction and stability for consumers. Republicans have also repeatedly stated that PURA should always be populated with bipartisan representation for all five seats, as outlined in the law.

Our calls have fallen on deaf ears.

Instead, we see this inconsistency which creates uncertainty for energy consumers.  It also appears to entail extra influence from the governor’s office.

We need predictability to our regulatory system and smart, fair, and tough regulators on PURA to protect consumers.

The governor still won’t answer our current questions about this listless and leaderless state government agency.

One of those unanswered questions is as follows: Just two PURA commissioners will remain as of Oct. 10. State law says that the chair may assign any matter before PURA to a board of three or more members. What happens now with the current UI rate case up for a final vote on Oct. 28 and other matters before PURA? That rate case impacts ratepayers in 17 towns, governor. What’s your plan?

This situation is a mess.

We need leadership. Where is it?”