Senator Tony Hwang Works with Regional Municipal Leaders to Expedite PURA Review of Aquarion/Eversource Water Sale and Reaffirm “Public Interest” Oversight

HARTFORD, CT—State Senator Tony Hwang (R–Fairfield) today joined leaders from the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) and the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) to urge swift legislative action on HB 5249, a proposal intended to clarify governance and consumer protection oversight by the CT Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) connected to the proposed $2.4 billion sale of Aquarion Water from Eversource (Aquarion/Eversource) to a quasi-public structure affiliated with the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA).

MetroCOG and WestCOG collectively represent 24 municipalities across southwestern Connecticut, home to nearly one million residents and have been engaged in ongoing advocacy focused on water rate affordability, governance accountability, municipal stability, environmental stewardship, and transparent decision-making.

Senator Hwang emphasized that HB 5249 is about reaffirming the legislature’s intent that utility transactions of this magnitude must remain subject to robust PURA review and must clearly satisfy the statutory requirement that outcomes serve the public interest, including ratepayer protections, due process, and enforceable accountability.

“Water is not an ordinary commodity, it is essential to life, public health, environmental protection, and economic stability,” said Senator Hwang. “That’s why rate affordability, transparency, and accountability must be non-negotiable. HB 5249 is a common sense step to reinforce legislative intent and ensure PURA’s regulatory oversight is respected and strengthened—so families and seniors aren’t forced to absorb unchecked rate increases or see costs shifted onto local taxpayers.”

Hwang also underscored that the proposed Aquarion/Eversource to RWA transaction has already raised serious concerns across the Aquarion service region, including the risk of significant water rate impacts, municipal taxation lapse and weakened oversight—issues highlighted by municipal and regional leaders when PURA previously rejected the transaction as not in the public interest.

“The public hearing and legislative process must match the stakes of this decision,” Hwang continued. “We need clarity now, provide legislative guidance to PURA, clear expectations to the utility industry, and protections for ratepayers and municipalities. I urge expedited action out of the Energy & Technology Committee and prompt passage by both chambers so we reaffirm, without ambiguity, that public-interest oversight, due process, and transparent governance are the standard for any water utility sale in Connecticut.”

Matthew Fulda of MetroCOG and Francis Pickering of WestCOG joined in saying:

“MetroCOG and WestCOG appreciated the opportunity to testify before the Energy and Technology Committee regarding HB 5249. We firmly believe the legislature intended for PURA to maintain its full regulatory authority when reviewing the proposed sale of the Aquarion Water Company and this raised bill affirms that intent.”

Senator Hwang’s edited video testimony to the Energy & Technology Committee, delivered alongside regional municipal leaders in support of HB 5249, is available here: (YouTube) https://youtu.be/zML3aQFveZQ