Sen. Harding Statement on PURA Draft Decision on Aquarion Merger

Sen. Stephen Harding today issued the following statement regarding the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s preliminary draft of its decision on the merger between Aquarion and the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. (Conclusion attached. Proposed Final Decision here: (https://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/4b3c728dd1c0d642852586db0069aa70/3d6352d1af9e113985258db20077cb3b/$FILE/25-04-03%20Remand%20PFD.pdf)

“We must now pass nonpartisan legislation to give PURA authority to review all parts of the deal.

This sale would bring about a tsunami of annual water rate hikes for ratepayers across Connecticut.

It’s the product of an atrocious legislative backroom deal that silenced the voices of the public.

Our focus must be on protecting water customers in this already unaffordable state while protecting the environment.”