by Dana Benson
Save Our Towns/Save Our Schools
Aquarion is owned by EverSource, which announced in March its intention to divest it. The Regional Water Authority (RWA) of CT, a quasi-governmental entity/company based in New Haven, is investigating buying Aquarion. RWA serves fifteen towns, and Aquarion serves fifty-nine towns. In June, the CT Legislature approved the RWA’s consideration of buying Aquarion. The RWA is in the process of doing its “due diligence.” Public Hearings start this week on the sale purchase by (RWA). This is an open bidding process.
It is not guaranteed that RWA will be the winning bidder.
If they were to buy Aquarion, it would be positive for Easton because they defended reservoir town zoning and said high-density housing did not belong in the watershed in 2017. To my knowledge, Aquarion and Eversource have never made such a public statement. Read RWA’s comments on the 2017 Affordable Housing Bill here: https://bit.ly/3T1AImn.
Another positive is that RWA has a Consumer Protection Advocate on its board, whom the governor appoints. If the merger occurred, the executive committee or Board governing the combined company would have five members appointed by Aquarion and six appointed by RWA.
The combined company would fall under a different regulator. The Public o Utilities Regulatory Authority governs Aquarion. Currently, Aquarion pays Easton about $1,400,000 a year in property taxes. RWA is exempt from taxes. However, they have a program under which they compensate towns called the “Pilot Program” (Payment in Lieu of Taxes).
Dr. Bindelglass has spoken with RWA and will continue to talk to them. He plans to testify in person or submit written testimony.
If you want to express your opinions to the Selectmen, their emails are below. If you wish to testify, the information on how to do so is below, along with the relevant documents.
Hearings:
• Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
In-person at Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Drive, New Haven, Connecticut.
Zoom:
Meeting ID: 241 778 741 528
Passcode: rYNJh7
Dial-in by phone +1 469-965-2517,,829533122# United States, Dallas Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 829 533 122#
https://bit.ly/3AxxJMn
Documents:
RWA application to purchase Aquarion:
https://bit.ly/46VPZLc
Excerpt from 4/24 RWA Meeting on Aquarion:
https://bit.ly/4dVR3kS
Easton Selectmen emails:
[email protected]
