Community Forum With Utility Companies Upcoming In Greenwich

GREENWICH, CT — The Town of Greenwich is planning to hold a community forum with several utility companies at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 in the Greenwich Town Hall Meeting Room.

First Selectman Fred Camillo called for the forum after he said he received complaints from residents in the last few months who, after they've expanded their homes or built bigger ones, "were told by one of the utilities that they don't have the capacity anymore, it's going to be a lot more expensive, or they can go try propane, which they obviously did not want to do in those circumstances."

Read also: Greenwich Calls For Pause On State Zoning Mandates, Drawing Bipartisan Support From Local Officials

Local elected officials from Greenwich and neighboring towns held a news conference in Greenwich in late July and called on state lawmakers to implement a moratorium on zoning mandates, saying utility companies do not have the capacity to meet the growing needs of municipalities across the state.

In his weekly newsletter to the community on Friday, Camillo said he invited representatives from Eversource Energy, Aquarion Water Company and Connecticut Natural Gas.

"I want people to be aware of the capacity issues that exist not only in our Town throughout the State. Infrastructure cannot keep up with the construction of new or expanded homes without increased costs for the property owners," Camillo wrote in his newsletter.

"This is why I have called for a moratorium on all State mandates to build housing. These mandates take away local control on housing and that will make the strain on our infrastructure worse," Camillo added. "Our Planning and Zoning Commission can take this into account when making decisions but Hartford mandates take that power away from where it belongs, with us."

Camillo noted the utility companies will be able to speak to capacity and any issues and take questions from the public.

The forum is expected to be recorded and posted online by GCTV.