Rate Case Timelines & Adjustments

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA or the Authority) regulates the distribution rates of all investor-owned electric, natural gas, and water utilities in Connecticut. In order to modify their distribution rates, a company must file a detailed application to amend their rates with the Authority.

PURA is statutorily charged with conducting an adjudicated proceeding to investigate any rate application. This investigation is called a “rate case” and is one of the core functions of the Authority. PURA is guided by Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 16-19 and 16-19e, among other statutes, when conducting a rate case and reviewing a rate application. The Office of Consumer Counsel is a statutory party in all PURA proceedings, including rate cases, and is charged with representing ratepayers’ interests before PURA.

By law, the utility company has the burden to prove that its proposed rates are just and reasonable. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-22. This burden requires the utility to provide more than mere assertions or documentation of expenses. Rather, the company must provide credible and sufficient evidence and clear explanations that demonstrate that the proposed rate change is just and reasonable and that the costs arise from prudent and efficient management of the utility.

Below is a list of Connecticut’s investor-owned utilities and information pertaining to their most recent rate case:

Note: The Authority regulates six investor-owned water utilities in Connecticut, of which Connecticut Water Company (CWC) and Aquarion Water Company (Aquarion) are the largest. CWC serves approximately 108,000 customers (or roughly 350,000 people) and Aquarion serves approximately 207,000 customers (or roughly 700,000 people). Combined, the other four investor-owned water utilities in Connecticut serve approximately 9,500 customers.

*Final Decision approved a settlement agreement submitted for PURA’s consideration.