Speak Up Tonight on 18 Percent Water Rate Increase

Tonight's your chance to weigh in, Aquarion water customers. 

Aquarion Water Company told customers earlier this month that after applying with state utilities regulators for a rate increase, expected to be in place by September, customers can expect to see an increase in their water bills of more than 18 percent.   

But it’s not quite a done deal.  

Customers will have a chance to weigh in at a PURA public hearing on the rate increase request by Aquarion scheduled for today, Monday June 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Mystic Middle School.
In a letter sent to Stonington water customers, Aquarion president and CEO Charles V. Firlotte wrote the company sought “rate relief” with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in March to “ensure that we are able to continue providing high quality water.”   

According to Aquarion’s math, a residential customer using 6,000 gallons a month, currently paying $43.54 can look forward to an 18.3 percent increase or an additional $7.98 added to the bill, which would come to $51.52.   

Aquarion’s position is it has already invested “$143 million in water utility infrastructure improvements” and the rate increase is needed to cover the costs of those enhancements.   

As a proposal to soften the impact, the company wants to implement a three-year rate plan where the second and third year increases would be 1.8 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively.