WESTPORT — A hearing on Aquarion Water Co.’s request to increase rates to cover projected “operating deficiencies” over the next three years will take place Thursday in Westport.
The in-person hearing, conducted by the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, will start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave.
The proposed rate hike by the regional water company, which serves more than 200,000 customers — including Westport residents — will be reviewed by PURA not only at the local hearing Thursday, but at two online hearings. The first is set at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 (register here) and the second will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 (register here).
The higher rates, according to Aquarion, are needed to cover operating revenue deficiencies of approximately $27.5 million for the year starting March 15, 2023; approximately $13.6 million more in the next year, and an additional amount of about $8.8 million for the third year.
Read Aquarion’s full application for higher rates here.
The rate-hike request comes in the midst of local and statewide drought conditions, and as Aquarion since July has implemented a “Mandatory Irrigation Program” to restrict use of automatic sprinklers to twice weekly in Westport and other area communities.
In its notice of intent to file for the rate increase, Aquarion officials say the extra funding is needed for “a modern, reliable water infrastructure system, consistent with ever-increasing health and environmental regulatory standards.”
Aquarion, the notice says, “has worked hard to implement industry-leading work practices and to achieve operating efficiencies. However, it is necessary at this time for the company to realign its rates with the underlying cost structures to ensure a safe and reliable water supply, including preservation of public health and fire protection.”
In addition to the PURA hearings, comments can be emailed to PURA.ExecutiveSecretary@ct.gov with “Docket No. 22-07-01 Comments” in the subject line. The emailed comments, along with comments made at the hearings, all become part of the official record.
Why do we not have municipally owned utilities again? Now Eversource owns both our power and water, and we have some of the worst infrastructure and highest bills in the nation. Many surrounding areas in CT have municipal owned power companies, have lower bills, and much better reliability. (Our power never went out when we lived in Norwalk, and when Westport was in the dark for over a week with the storms last year, Norwich had no issues. Heck, a 60 minute outage is considered major for them!)
Eversource is paying it’s top executive $10M-$15M a year, has industry leading profits and stock dividends, and yet our rates are still going up with no end in sight. The market doesn’t work when there’s an intrenched monopoly. I’d rather see those profits back in the pocks of customers and going towards giving us affordable and reliable service.
Great comment.