Lawmakers urge regulators to reject Eversource rate request

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing back against Eversource’s plans for an 11% rate hike.  

The group of nearly 70 Democrats and Republicans sent a letter on June 11 urging the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to “subject this application to the most rigorous scrutiny possible.” 

The group added they want PURA to “reject every single dollar of it that is not justified.”

Eversource sent its own letter to PURA last month, indicating that it plans to file a request by July 14 for a rate increase to take effect in 2027.  

The company said in a statement Tuesday that it’s confident it will show PURA the request is warranted.  

“The plan we’re putting forward will demonstrate a clear need for continued investments to ensure the safety and reliability of the electric system – which is a necessity for both customers and policymakers in reaching their goals to move the state forward – and we welcome a comprehensive, open and fair review from our regulators,” the company said.  

In its letter, Eversource said it’s been running a $503 million deficit. It estimates that half of that loss is tied to improving the state’s power grid.  

Lawmakers suggested that the number is inflated, citing Eversource’s $ 1.69 billion profit last year.  

“We’ve reached a point, in fact, we reached a point years ago, where residents can no longer bear the burden of these increases in utility costs,” Sen. Jason Perillo (R-Shelton) said.  

Eversource also said it could seek an even higher request to cover costs associated with clean-up for storms between 2018 and 2023.  

Lawmakers urged PURA to question how much of that costs customers should pay, noting regulators previously determined “found significant deficiencies” in Eversource’s response to Tropical Storm Isaias.  

Lawmakers sent a similar letter in response to a request for a 42% rate hike from Aquarion, Eversource’s water company.  

Aquarion submitted that request while appealing PURA’s decision to reject a sale of the company.  

PURA has since approved the sale of the company to the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA).  

A spokesman for Eversource said the company is working to finalize that sale.  

“The closing of the transaction will avoid the need for the immediate rate request that is before regulators,” the company said in its statement.  

The RWA is a quasi-public agency, meaning that rate requests are approved by its members rather than by PURA.  

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