Could Aquarion Sale Raise Water Rates? Danbury Lawmaker Urges Pause

DANBURY, CT — Concerns are growing that a proposed $2.4 billion sale of Aquarion Water Company could lead to higher water bills for Connecticut residents.

State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, a Democrat who represents Bethel and Danbury, said he has joined a bipartisan group of more than 30 state lawmakers calling on regulators to delay a decision until legal questions surrounding the deal are resolved.

Aquarion provides drinking water to more than 700,000 customers, including communities in Fairfield County.

The lawmakers sent a letter to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority urging the agency to pause its review of the proposed sale.

The request asks PURA to hold off on any final decision while courts review a recent Superior Court ruling related to the case and while the Connecticut General Assembly considers possible legislation clarifying regulators' authority.

The proposed transaction would transfer ownership of Aquarion, Connecticut’s largest private water utility, to the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.

Critics of the deal have raised concerns that the purchase could lead to higher water rates for customers.

“If you borrow billions of dollars to buy a water company, the obvious question is who ultimately pays that bill,” Allie-Brennan said in a statement. “Many residents are worried it will show up in their water rates, and that’s exactly why this deal deserves careful review.”

PURA previously rejected the proposed sale, citing concerns about governance and protections for ratepayers. However, a court decision has required the agency to reconsider the application.

Allie-Brennan said lawmakers want to ensure regulators have full authority to review all aspects of the transaction before any decision is made.

“This is a multibillion-dollar decision that could impact water rates for hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents,” he said.