Leaders Cite Concerns of Drastic Rate Hikes and Loss of Independent Oversight

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) and the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) today announced that a coalition of 26 mayors and first selectmen have formally declared their opposition to the proposed sale of Aquarion Water Company to the New Haven-based Regional Water Authority (RWA).

In a letter to the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the municipal leaders who represent communities currently served by Aquarion, detailed the significant disadvantages the transaction would impose on their residents. The letter urges PURA to reject the sale, arguing it would lead to higher water rates, eliminate crucial independent oversight, and transfer control of local water systems to a politically unaccountable body.

Noting that the average RWA customer already pays 30% more for water than an Aquarion customer, the leaders expressed further concern that RWA projects rates for current Aquarion customers will increase by 65% over the next decade to finance the $2 billion-plus acquisition.

“This deal is not in the public interest of the communities we represent,” said Francis Pickering, Executive Director of WestCOG. “It offers no benefit to our residents and instead threatens them with soaring costs and a complete loss of the public accountability that PURA has long provided. We ask PURA to protect consumers and reject this proposal.”

A key concern outlined by the local leaders is the loss of regulatory oversight. Unlike a government-regulated private utility, RWA is not regulated by PURA, which means there will be no independent oversight of rate-setting, service quality, or infrastructure investment. If the sale proceeds, Aquarion customers would also lose access to PURA's Customer Affairs Resolution Center, an essential tool for resolving service complaints.

The proposed governance structure would also leave the communities served by Aquarion with a permanent minority voice. The new authority would be controlled by a board where 6 of the 11 members are appointed by RWA, and only 5 are from the Aquarion service territory, despite it representing a larger service area and asset base.

At the same time, a 59-person Representative Policy Board (RPB) will be making decisions on rates and possibly other issues. The RPB is structured in a way that 30 members of the AWA RPB will have zero votes based on population and zero say on their water rates. RWA confirmed in testimony before PURA that the RPB does not have any staff or any requirement for engineering, financial, technical or other professional expertise.

“The governance structure is fundamentally inequitable and creates a new government entity that hands decision-making power for our region’s water supply to those outside the region,” said Matthew Fulda, Executive Director of MetroCOG. “This transaction was advanced without meaningful public input, and it effectively silences the voices of the very communities that will be most impacted. We cannot allow the control of our most essential resource to be surrendered to an entity that is not accountable to our residents.”

WestCOG, MetroCOG, and the municipal leaders signing the letter call on PURA to uphold its responsibility to protect Connecticut consumers by rejecting the proposed sale.

The letter was signed by Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, New Milford First Selectman Pete Bass, Easton First Selectman David Bindelglass, Wilton First Selectwoman Toni Boucher, New Canaan First Selectwoman Donna Carlson, Bethel First Selectman Dan Carter, Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, Newtown First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci, Brookfield First Selectman Steve Dunn, Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, New Fairfield First Selectwoman Melissa Lindsey, Sherman First Selectman Don Lowe, Southbury First Selectman Jeffrey A. Manville, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti, Redding First Selectwoman Julia Pemberton, Bridgewater First Selectman Curtis S. Read, Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rilling, Monroe First Selectman Terry Rooney, Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, Middlebury First Selectman Edward B. St. John, Trumbull First Selectwoman Vicki Tesoro, Westport First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, Fairfield First Selectwoman Christine Vitale, and Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky.

About WestCOG

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) is a regional planning organization serving 18 municipalities in Western Connecticut. WestCOG works with local leaders to improve quality of life and economic prosperity for the region through planning, collaboration, and the provision of shared services.

About MetroCOG

The Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) is a regional planning agency that provides services and assistance to the six member municipalities of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull. MetroCOG works collaboratively with its municipal partners to advance a shared vision for the region through planning in areas such as transportation, land use, and economic development.

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“It offers no benefit to our residents and instead threatens them with soaring costs and a complete loss of the public accountability that PURA has long provided. We ask PURA to protect consumers and reject this proposal.”