Fairfield to Host Second Aquarion Hearing July 9

First Selectman Michael Tetreau announced earlier this week that another public comment hearing on the  Aquarion Water Company’s proposed rate increases will be held on Tuesday, July 9 at 6:30 pm at Fairfield Warde High School’s auditorium, 755 Melville Avenue.

Fairfield residents and businesses are encouraged to attend this public comment hearing to voice any concerns on Aquarion’s proposed rate increases for each of the next three years. The first year’s increases for Fairfield are proposed at 18.3 percent for residential, 18.4 percent for public authority and commercial use,  and 9.0 percent for public fire usage.  

Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which conducted a hearing in Fairfield on June 18, will hold a second hearing in Fairfield for anyone who was not able to attend the June hearing.   

A transcriptionist will be present to record comments. Any resident or business can attend and voice their opinion at the July hearing or one being held in the Town of Simsbury on July 8, 2013 at 6:30 pm or email a statement to as soon as possible to PURA.executivesecretary@ct.gov.

Last February, Aquarion notified PURA of the proposed increases. PURA is statutorily charged with regulating the rates and services of Connecticut’s investor owned electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies. If these increases take effect, residents, the Town, its public fire, as well as businesses would incur these costs starting this September. A final decision is expected to be made this August.

“I strongly urge residents to attend the hearing or send comments to PURA. I had made strong objections to these excessive increases on behalf of the Town at the June hearing. I will also attend the July hearing," Tetreau said. 

"Since these increases could also affect other municipalities in the State, I have reached out to my fellow mayors and first selectmen to encourage them to let PURA know of any objections they may have. I am hoping that a collaborated effort will help to mitigate the final rate increases.”

Information is available on PURA’s website, http://www.ct.gov.pura. The Docket No. is 13-02-20.