Aquarion Water may be sold to a new regional authority controlled by Regional Water Authority (RWA) for $2 billion. This would change how rates are set, how the utility is overseen, and how decisions are made about water service in Aquarion communities.
Under the proposed structure, a multi-layered bureaucracy is created. RWA would have six seats and Aquarion would have five on one new governing board. On the other, control is population based meaning 30 Aquarion town would have ZERO votes. This would leave Aquarion towns with no control over decisions about rates, infrastructure, and service — even though Aquarion serves more customers.
Right now, PURA reviews and approves Aquarion’s rates, monitors service quality, ensures infrastructure investment, and provides an independent process for resolving customer complaints.
If the sale goes through, Aquarion would no longer be regulated by PURA, and customers would lose the protections of this independent oversight and complaint resolution system.
The authority for RWA to buy Aquarion was approved by the legislature during a special session as part of a larger bill, without a separate public hearing or referendum for the affected towns.
We encourages all residents to learn more about the proposal and its potential impact, and to share their feedback with state lawmakers.
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