Pay More for Brown Water or None at All?

After enjoying brown water last week, or in about 1,000 cases no water at all, it does seem odd that residents around Fairfield County, Wiltonians included, would have to pay more for Aquarion's services.

But the water company has submitted a proposal that, according to AG Richard Blumenthal's office, "would raise rates by $31 million a year over a three-year period," affecting about 600,000 customers in 39 towns.

Blumenthal said the proposal was "excessive, unwarranted and should be rejected," in a release, adding that instead of justifying an increase, Aquarion has actually "overstated its expenses and actually seeks to bolster its return on equity to a rate higher than any other utility in the state."

 "Aquarion is living in an alternate financial universe," Blumenthal said. "When many consumers have lost jobs and income, and are conserving money to overcome economic disaster, Aquarion is opening the dam...."