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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1531
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 6554
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)
AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC UTILITY TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATORY AUTHORITY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subdivision (1) of section 1-200 of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2025): 3
(1) "Public agency" or "agency" means: 4
(A) Any executive, administrative or legislative office of the state or 5
any political subdivision of the state and any state or town agency, any 6
department, institution, bureau, board, commission, authority or official 7
of the state or of any city, town, borough, municipal corporation, school 8
district, regional district or other district or other political subdivision of 9
the state, including any committee of, or created by, any such office, 10
subdivision, agency, department, institution, bureau, board, 11
commission, authority or official, and also includes any judicial office, 12
official, or body or committee thereof but only with respect to its or their 13
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administrative functions, and for purposes of this subparagraph, 14
"judicial office" includes, but is not limited to, the Division of Public 15
Defender Services; 16
(B) Any person to the extent such person is deemed to be the 17
functional equivalent of a public agency pursuant to law; [or] 18
(C) Any "implementing agency", as defined in section 32-222; or 19
(D) Any public service company, as defined in section 16-1, with 20
more than two hundred thousand customers in the state, with respect 21
to any portions of its business under the regulation of the Public Utilities 22
Regulatory Authority. 23
Sec. 2. Section 16-243gg of the general statutes is repealed and the 24
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 25
(a) No electric distribution company, gas company, pipeline 26
company or water company, as such terms are defined in section 16-1, 27
shall recover through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with 28
membership, dues, sponsorships or contributions to a business or 29
industry trade association, group or related entity incorporated under 30
Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent 31
corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended 32
from time to time. 33
(b) No electric distribution company, gas company, pipeline 34
company or water company, as such terms are defined in section 16-1, 35
shall recover through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with 36
lobbying or legislative action, as such terms are defined in section 1-91. 37
(c) No electric distribution company, gas company, pipeline 38
company or water company, as such terms are defined in section 16-1, 39
shall recover through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with 40
advertising, marketing, communications that seek to influence public 41
opinion or any other related costs identified by the authority, unless 42
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such marketing, advertising, communications or related costs are 43
specifically approved or ordered by the authority or the Department of 44
Energy and Environmental Protection. 45
(d) No electric distribution company, gas company, pipeline 46
company or water company, as such terms are defined in section 16-1, 47
shall recover through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with (1) 48
travel, lodging or food and beverage expenses for such company's board 49
of directors and officers or the board of directors and officers of such 50
company's parent company; (2) entertainment or gifts; (3) any owned, 51
leased or chartered aircraft for such company's board of directors and 52
officers or the board of directors and officers of such company's parent 53
company; or (4) investor relations. 54
(e) No electric distribution company, gas company, pipeline 55
company or water company that is a public agency, as defined in section 56
1-200, as amended by this act, shall recover through rates any direct or 57
indirect costs associated with complying with the provisions of the 58
Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200, as amended by 59
this act. 60
[(e)] (f) On or before January 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, each 61
electric distribution company, gas company, pipeline company or water 62
company, as such terms are defined in section 16-1, with more than 63
seventy-five thousand customers shall report to the authority an 64
itemized list of costs associated with the activities described in this 65
section and subsection (b) of section 16-243p in a form prescribed by the 66
authority. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) Any 67
costs spent by the parent company or affiliates of the public service 68
company directly billed or allocated to the public service company; (2) 69
a list of the title, job description and salary of any employees of the 70
public service company who performed work associated with the 71
activities described in this section or in subsection (b) of section 16-243p 72
and the hours attributed to such work; (3) a list of the title, job 73
description and salary of any employees of the parent company or 74
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affiliate who performed work associated with the activities described in 75
this section or in subsection (b) of section 16-243p and the hours 76
attributed to such work that were directly billed or allocated to the 77
public service company; (4) an itemized list of costs that the public 78
service company made to all third-party vendors for any expenses 79
associated with the activities described in this section or in subsection 80
(b) of section 16-243p including unredacted billing amounts, billing 81
dates, payees and explanation of the expenditure in detail sufficient to 82
describe the purpose of the cost; and (5) any other itemized information 83
deemed relevant by the authority. No electric distribution company, gas 84
company, pipeline company or water company, as such terms are 85
defined in section 16-1, shall recover through rates any costs associated 86
with the preparation of such report. 87
Sec. 3. Subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 16-245m of the 88
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 89
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 90
(3) Programs included in the plan developed under subdivision (1) of 91
this subsection shall be screened through cost-effectiveness testing that 92
compares the value and payback period of program benefits for all 93
energy savings to program costs to ensure that programs are designed 94
to obtain energy savings and system benefits, including mitigation of 95
federally mandated congestion charges, whose value is greater than the 96
costs of the programs. Program cost-effectiveness shall be reviewed by 97
the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection annually, or 98
otherwise as is practicable, and shall incorporate the results of the 99
evaluation process set forth in subdivision (4) of this subsection, except 100
the Home Energy Solutions Audit program, which shall be subject to 101
audit by the Auditors of Public Accounts not less than biennially, in lieu 102
of review by the commissioner. If a program is determined to fail the 103
cost-effectiveness test as part of the review process, it shall either be 104
modified to meet the test or shall be terminated, unless it is integral to 105
other programs that in combination are cost-effective. On or before 106
March 1, 2005, and on or before March first annually thereafter, the 107
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board shall provide a report, in accordance with the provisions of 108
section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 109
having cognizance of matters relating to energy and the environment 110
that documents (A) expenditures and fund balances and evaluates the 111
cost-effectiveness of such programs conducted in the preceding year, 112
and (B) the extent to and manner in which the programs of such board 113
collaborated and cooperated with programs, established under section 114
7-233y, of municipal electric energy cooperatives. To maximize the 115
reduction of federally mandated congestion charges, programs in the 116
plan may allow for disproportionate allocations between the amount of 117
contributions pursuant to this section by a certain rate class and the 118
programs that benefit such a rate class. Before conducting such 119
evaluation, the board shall consult with the board of directors of the 120
Connecticut Green Bank. The report shall include a description of the 121
activities undertaken during the reporting period. 122
Sec. 4. Subsection (e) of section 16-2 of the general statutes is repealed 123
and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 124
(e) To [insure] ensure the highest standard of public utility 125
regulation, on and after October 1, 2007, any newly appointed utility 126
commissioner of the authority shall have education or training and three 127
or more years of experience in one or more of the following fields: 128
Economics, engineering, law, accounting, finance, utility regulation, 129
public or government administration, consumer advocacy, business 130
management, and environmental management. On and after July 1, 131
1997, at least three of these fields shall be represented on the authority 132
by individual utility commissioners at all times. [Any time a utility 133
commissioner is newly appointed, at least one of the utility 134
commissioners shall have experience in utility customer advocacy] On 135
and after October 1, 2025, any appointments shall ensure that at least 136
one member has expertise in economics, accounting, forensic auditing 137
or financial regulation; at least one member has experience in utility 138
customer advocacy, with public service or administration experience; 139
and at least one member has a law degree with experience in 140
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administrative or utility regulatory law, provided at least half of the 141
appointed commissioners shall not have had prior employment with an 142
entity regulated by the authority. No person who is an executive of a 143
company or other entity that has received a notice of violation from the 144
authority or an equivalent agency, or who has been an executive or 145
principal of a company or other entity that has engaged in litigation with 146
the authority or an equivalent agency, shall be eligible to serve as utility 147
commissioner. 148
Sec. 5. Section 16-9 of the general statutes is repealed and the 149
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 150
All decisions, orders and authorizations of the Public Utilities 151
Regulatory Authority shall be in writing and shall specify the reasons 152
therefor, shall be filed and kept in the office of the authority and 153
recorded in a book kept by it for that purpose and shall be public 154
records. Said authority may, at any time, for cause shown, upon hearing 155
had after notice to all parties in interest not less than two weeks prior to 156
such hearing, rescind, reverse or alter any decision, order or 157
authorization by it made. Written notice of all orders, decisions or 158
authorizations issued by the authority shall be given to the company or 159
person affected thereby, by personal service upon such company or 160
person or by registered or certified mail, as the authority determines. 161
Any final decision, order or authorization of the Public Utilities 162
Regulatory Authority in a contested case shall constitute a final decision 163
for the purposes of chapter 54. 164
Sec. 6. Section 16-25 of the general statutes is repealed and the 165
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 166
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall fix a time and place 167
for all hearings and shall mail notice thereof to such parties in interest 168
as the authority deems necessary and give public notice thereof at least 169
[one week] two weeks prior to any such hearing. 170
Sec. 7. Subsection (k) of section 16-2 of the general statutes is repealed 171
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and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 172
(k) No utility commissioner of the Public Utilities Regulatory 173
Authority shall, for a period of [one year] five years following the 174
termination of his or her service as a utility commissioner, accept 175
employment: (1) By a public service company or by any person, firm or 176
corporation engaged in lobbying activities with regard to governmental 177
regulation of public service companies; (2) by a certified 178
telecommunications provider or by any person, firm or corporation 179
engaged in lobbying activities with regard to governmental regulation 180
of persons, firms or corporations so certified; or (3) by an electric 181
supplier or by any person, firm or corporation engaged in lobbying 182
activities with regard to governmental regulation of electric suppliers. 183
No such utility commissioner who is also an attorney shall in any 184
capacity, appear or participate in any matter, or accept any 185
compensation regarding a matter, before the authority, for a period of 186
one year following the termination of his or her service as a utility 187
commissioner. 188
Sec. 8. Subsection (g) of section 16-2 of the general statutes is repealed 189
and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 190
(g) No utility commissioner of the Public Utilities Regulatory 191
Authority or employee of the Department of Energy and Environmental 192
Protection assigned to work with the authority shall have any interest, 193
financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any business, 194
employment, transaction or professional activity, or incur any 195
obligation of any nature, which is in substantial conflict with the proper 196
discharge of his or her duties or employment in the public interest and 197
of his or her responsibilities as prescribed in the laws of this state, as 198
defined in section 1-85, concerning any matter within the jurisdiction of 199
the authority; provided, no such substantial conflict shall be deemed to 200
exist solely by virtue of the fact that a utility commissioner of the 201
authority or employee of the department assigned to work with the 202
authority, or any business in which such a person has an interest, 203
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receives utility service from one or more Connecticut utilities under the 204
normal rates and conditions of service. For purposes of this subsection, 205
a utility commissioner who has been employed in a profession regulated 206
by the authority shall be deemed to have such a substantial conflict in 207
matters concerning the former employer of such commissioner or an 208
entity affiliated with such employer for a period of not less than five 209
years after the termination of such employment, and such commissioner 210
shall recuse himself or herself from participating in any matter 211
concerning such employer or affiliated entity during such five-year 212
period. 213
Sec. 9. Subsection (n) of section 16-2 of the general statutes is repealed 214
and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 215
(n) Two or more utility commissioners serving on a panel established 216
pursuant to subsection (c) of this section may confer or communicate 217
regarding the matter before such panel. [Any such conference or 218
communication that does not occur before the public at a hearing or 219
proceeding shall not constitute a meeting as defined in section 1-200.] 220
Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 16-19 of the general statutes is 221
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 222
1, 2025): 223
(a) No public service company may charge rates in excess of those 224
previously approved by the Public Utilities Control Authority or the 225
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, except that any rate approved by 226
the Public Utilities Commission, the Public Utilities Control Authority 227
or the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall be permitted until 228
amended by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, that rates not 229
approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may be charged 230
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and that the hearing 231
requirements with respect to adjustment clauses are as set forth in 232
section 16-19b. For water companies, existing rates shall include the 233
amount of any adjustments approved pursuant to section 16-262w since 234
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the company's most recent general rate case, provided any adjustment 235
amount shall be separately identified in any customer bill. Each public 236
service company shall file any proposed amendment of its existing rates 237
with the authority in such form and in accordance with such reasonable 238
regulations as the authority may prescribe. Each electric distribution, 239
gas or telephone company filing a proposed amendment shall also file 240
with the authority an estimate of the effects of the amendment, for 241
various levels of consumption, on the household budgets of high and 242
moderate income customers and customers having household incomes 243
not more than one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty level. 244
Each electric distribution company shall also file such an estimate for 245
space heating customers. Each water company, except a water company 246
that provides water to its customers less than six consecutive months in 247
a calendar year, filing a proposed amendment, shall also file with the 248
authority a plan for promoting water conservation by customers in such 249
form and in accordance with a memorandum of understanding entered 250
into by the authority pursuant to section 4-67e. Each public service 251
company shall notify each customer who would be affected by the 252
proposed amendment, by mail, at least one week prior to the first public 253
hearing thereon, but not earlier than six weeks prior to such first public 254
hearing, that an amendment has been or will be requested. Such notice 255
shall also indicate (1) the date, time and location of any scheduled public 256
hearing, (2) a statement that customers may provide written comments 257
regarding the proposed amendment to the Public Utilities Regulatory 258
Authority or appear in person at any scheduled public hearing, (3) the 259
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority telephone number for obtaining 260
information concerning the schedule for public hearings on the 261
proposed amendment, and (4) whether the proposed amendment 262
would, in the company's best estimate, increase any rate or charge by 263
five per cent or more, and, if so, describe in general terms any such rate 264
or charge and the amount of the proposed increase. If a company fails 265
to provide adequate notice, the authority shall consider the effective 266
filing date of such company's proposed amendment to be the date that 267
the company provides adequate notice to customers, as determined by 268
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the authority. Until the effective filing date, no days shall count toward 269
the time limit for a final decision in this subsection. In the case of a 270
proposed amendment to the rates of any public service company, the 271
authority shall hold one or more public hearings thereon, except as 272
permitted with respect to interim rate amendments by subsections (d) 273
and (g) of this section, and shall make such investigation of such 274
proposed amendment of rates as is necessary to determine whether such 275
rates conform to the principles and guidelines set forth in section 16-19e, 276
or are unreasonably discriminatory or more or less than just, reasonable 277
and adequate, or that the service furnished by such company is 278
inadequate to or in excess of public necessity and convenience, provided 279
the authority may (A) evaluate the reasonableness and adequacy of the 280
performance or service of the public service company using any 281
applicable metrics or standards adopted by the authority pursuant to 282
section 16-244aa, and (B) determine the reasonableness of the allowed 283
rate of return of the public service company based on such performance 284
evaluation, except that no public service company that is an electric 285
distribution company may be allowed a rate of return that exceeds the 286
weighted average cost of capital for such company, as determined by 287
the authority. The authority, if in its opinion such action appears 288
necessary or suitable in the public interest may, and, upon written 289
petition or complaint of the state, under direction of the Governor, shall, 290
make the aforesaid investigation of any such proposed amendment 291
which does not involve an alteration in rates. If the authority finds any 292
proposed amendment of rates to not conform to the principles and 293
guidelines set forth in section 16-19e, or to be unreasonably 294
discriminatory or more or less than just, reasonable and adequate to 295
enable such company to provide properly for the public convenience, 296
necessity and welfare, or the service to be inadequate or excessive, it 297
shall determine and prescribe, as appropriate, an adequate service to be 298
furnished or just and reasonable maximum rates and charges to be made 299
by such company. In the case of a proposed amendment filed by an 300
electric distribution, gas or telephone company, the authority shall also 301
adjust the estimate filed under this subsection of the effects of the 302
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amendment on the household budgets of the company's customers, in 303
accordance with the rates and charges approved by the authority. The 304
authority shall issue a final decision on each electric distribution or gas 305
company rate filing not later than three hundred fifty days after the 306
effective filing date of the proposed amendment. The authority shall 307
issue a final decision on all public service company rate filings, except 308
electric distribution or gas company rate filings, not later than two 309
hundred seventy days after the effective filing date of the proposed 310
amendment. 311
Sec. 11. Subsection (g) of section 16-19 of the general statutes is 312
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 313
1, 2025) 314
(g) The authority shall hold either a special public hearing or combine 315
an investigation with an ongoing four-year review conducted in 316
accordance with section 16-19a or with a general rate hearing conducted 317
in accordance with subsection (a) of this section on the need for an 318
interim rate decrease (1) when a public service company has, for the 319
rolling twelve-month period ending with the two most recent 320
consecutive financial quarters, earned a return on equity which exceeds 321
the return authorized by the authority by at least one-half of one 322
percentage point, (2) if it finds, in the case of an electric distribution 323
company, a rate of return that exceeds the weighted average cost of 324
capital for such company, as determined by the authority, (3) if it finds 325
that any change in municipal, state or federal tax law creates a 326
significant increase in a company's rate of return, or [(3)] (4) if it provides 327
appropriate notice that a public service company may be collecting rates 328
or may have an authorized rate of return which is or are more than just, 329
reasonable and adequate, as determined by the authority, provided the 330
authority shall require appropriate notice of hearing to the company 331
and its customers who would be affected by an interim rate decrease in 332
such form as the authority deems reasonable. The company shall be 333
required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the authority that earning 334
such a return on equity, having an authorized rate of return or collecting 335
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rates which are more than just, reasonable and adequate is directly 336
beneficial to its customers. At the completion of the proceeding, the 337
authority may order an interim rate decrease if it finds that such return 338
on equity or rates exceeds a reasonable rate of return or is more than 339
just, reasonable and adequate as determined by the authority. Any such 340
interim rate decrease shall be subject to a customer surcharge if the 341
interim rates collected by the company are less than the rates finally 342
approved by the authority or fixed at the conclusion of any appeal taken 343
as a result of any finding by the authority. Such surcharge shall be 344
assessed against customers in such amounts and by such procedure as 345
ordered by the authority. 346
Sec. 12. Subsection (d) of section 16-47 of the general statutes is 347
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 348
1, 2025): 349
(d) (1) (A) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall investigate 350
and hold a public hearing on the question of granting its approval with 351
respect to any application made under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) 352
of this section or subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section and 353
thereafter may approve or disapprove any such application in whole or 354
in part and upon such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or 355
appropriate. In connection with its investigation, the authority may 356
request the views of the gas company, electric distribution company, 357
water company, telephone company, community antenna television 358
company or holding company which is the subject of the application 359
with respect to the proposed acquisition. 360
(B) After the filing of an application satisfying the requirements of 361
such regulations as the authority may adopt in accordance with the 362
provisions of chapter 54, but not later than thirty business days after the 363
filing of such application, the authority shall give prompt notice of the 364
public hearing to the [person required to file the application] applicant 365
and to the subject company or holding company. Such hearing shall be 366
commenced as promptly as practicable after the filing of the application, 367
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but not later than sixty business days after [the] such filing. 368
(C) The authority shall make its determination as soon as practicable, 369
but not later than two hundred days after the filing of the application, 370
unless the [person required to file the application] applicant agrees to 371
an extension of time or the authority extends the time as provided in 372
this subsection. The authority may extend the time period for making 373
its determination by not more than thirty days if, before the end of such 374
time period, the authority notifies all parties and intervenors to the 375
proceedings of such extension. 376
(D) The authority may, in its discretion, grant the subject company, 377
certificate holder, provider or holding company the opportunity to 378
participate in the hearing by presenting evidence and oral and written 379
argument. 380
(E) If the authority fails to give notice of its determination to hold a 381
hearing, commence the hearing, or render its determination after the 382
hearing within the time limits specified in this subdivision, the 383
proposed acquisition shall be deemed approved, except no such 384
proposed acquisition shall be deemed approved pursuant to this 385
subparagraph if the applicant (i) seeks approval to control a gas 386
company or electric distribution company, or a holding company 387
thereof, and (ii) already controls a gas company or electric distribution 388
company, or a holding company thereof, in the state. 389
(F) In each proceeding on a written application submitted under said 390
subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section or subdivision (1) of 391
subsection (c) of this section, the authority shall, in a manner [which] 392
that treats all parties to the proceeding on an equal basis, take into 393
consideration [(1)] (i) the financial, technological and managerial 394
suitability and responsibility of the applicant, [(2)] (ii) the ability of the 395
gas company, electric distribution company, water company, telephone 396
company, community antenna television company or holding company 397
which is the subject of the application to provide safe, adequate and 398
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reliable service to the public through the company's plant, equipment 399
and manner of operation if the application were to be approved, and 400
[(3)] (iii) for an application concerning a telephone company, the effect 401
of approval on the location and accessibility of management and 402
operations and on the proportion and number of state resident 403
employees. 404
(G) The authority shall only grant its approval of an application filed 405
on or after January 1, 2021, made under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) 406
of this section, if the holding company [effects] implements a change in 407
the composition of the board of directors to include a proportional 408
percentage of Connecticut-based directors equivalent to the percentage 409
that Connecticut service areas represent of the total service areas 410
covered by the holding company. 411
(H) On and after October 1, 2025, the authority shall not approve any 412
application made pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this 413
section if the applicant seeking approval to control a gas company or 414
electric distribution company, or a holding company thereof, already 415
controls a gas company or electric distribution company, or a holding 416
company thereof, in the state. 417
(2) (A) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall investigate and 418
hold a public hearing on the question of granting its approval with 419
respect to any application made under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) 420
of this section or subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section and 421
thereafter may approve or disapprove any such application in whole or 422
in part and upon such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or 423
appropriate. In connection with its investigation, the authority may 424
request the views of the subject certificate holder, provider or holding 425
company which is the subject of the application with respect to the 426
proposed acquisition. 427
(B) After the filing of an application satisfying the requirements of 428
such regulations as the authority may adopt in accordance with the 429
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provisions of chapter 54, but not later than thirty business days after the 430
filing of such application, the authority shall give prompt notice of the 431
public hearing to the [person required to file the application] applicant 432
and to the subject certificate holder, provider or holding company. Such 433
hearing shall be commenced as promptly as practicable after the filing 434
of the application, but not later than sixty business days after [the] such 435
filing. [, and the] 436
(C) The authority shall make its determination as soon as practicable, 437
but not later than one hundred eighty days after the filing of the 438
application [,] unless the [person required to file the application] 439
applicant agrees to an extension of time or the authority extends the time 440
as provided in this subsection. The authority may extend the time 441
period for making its determination by not more than thirty days if, 442
before the end of such period, the authority notifies all parties and 443
intervenors to the proceedings of such extension, [. Such authority-444
noticed extension may only occur once] provided only one such 445
extension may be noticed by the authority. 446
(D) The authority shall, upon request of the certificate holder, 447
provider or holding company, grant the subject company or holding 448
company the opportunity to participate in the hearing by presenting 449
evidence and oral and written argument. 450
(E) If the authority fails to give notice of its determination to hold a 451
hearing, commence the hearing or render its determination after the 452
hearing within the time limits specified in this subdivision, the 453
proposed acquisition shall be deemed approved. 454
(F) In each proceeding on a written application submitted under said 455
subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section or subdivision (2) of 456
subsection (c) of this section, the scope of review for the authority shall 457
be limited to [(A)] (i) the financial, technological and managerial 458
suitability and responsibility of the applicant, and [(B)] (ii) the legal, 459
financial and technical ability of the holder of a certificate of cable 460
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franchise authority pursuant to section 16 -331p, certified 461
telecommunications provider, certified competitive video service 462
provider or holding company which is the subject of the application to 463
provide safe, adequate and reliable service subject to the authority's 464
regulation. 465
Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) On and after January 1, 2026, 466
no person, firm or corporation shall control both an electric distribution 467
company and a gas company, as defined in section 16-1 of the general 468
statutes. Any such person, firm or corporation that has control of more 469
than one such company in violation of this section shall divest itself of 470
the additional company and retain no more than one such company by 471
January 1, 2026. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall, after 472
notice and hearing in accordance with section 16-10a of the general 473
statutes, as amended by this act, revoke the franchise to operate as a 474
public service company, as defined in section 16-1 of the general 475
statutes, of any person, firm or corporation that is not in compliance 476
with the provisions of this section. 477
Sec. 14. Subsection (a) of section 16-10a of the general statutes is 478
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 479
1, 2025): 480
(a) Whenever any person, firm or corporation, incorporated under 481
the general statutes or any special act, is granted a franchise to operate 482
as a public service company, as defined in section 16-1, and fails to 483
provide service which is adequate to serve the public convenience and 484
necessity of any town, city, borough, district or other political 485
subdivision of the state, or any portion thereof, for a period of five years 486
from the date of such franchise or from January 1, 1961, whichever is 487
later, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, on its own initiative, or 488
upon complaint of any such town, city, borough, district or other 489
political subdivision, or on petition of not less than five per cent of the 490
affected persons, but in no event more than one thousand persons, in 491
any such town, city, borough, district or other political subdivision, shall 492
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fix a time and place for a hearing to be held thereon. Whenever any such 493
person, firm or corporation fails to comply with the merger prohibition 494
set forth in section 13 of this act, the authority shall fix a time and place 495
for a hearing to be held thereon. The authority shall give notice thereof 496
to all parties in interest and shall make such further investigation into 497
the alleged failure to provide such service or comply with the merger 498
prohibition as it deems necessary. If upon such hearing, said authority 499
finds that the holder of such franchise has failed to provide such service 500
or comply with such prohibition and that there is an immediate need for 501
such service, it may revoke such franchise as to any such town, city, 502
borough, district or political subdivision, or any portion thereof, or 503
make such other order as may be necessary to provide such service. 504
Whenever any person, firm or corporation, incorporated under the 505
general statutes or any special act, is granted a franchise to operate as a 506
railroad company, as defined in section 13b-199, and fails to provide 507
adequate service, or has discontinued the service, on any segment of its 508
lines for which such franchise is granted for a period of five years or 509
more, the franchise for such segment of line shall cease to exist and shall 510
be revoked by the authority for such failure to operate such service or 511
discontinuance of service for a period of five years or more. 512
Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) Notwithstanding any 513
provision of the general statutes, no state agency, as defined in section 514
4b-13 of the general statutes, quasi-public agency, as defined in section 515
1-120 of the general statutes, or municipality, as defined in section 7-516
131q of the general statutes, shall offer a right of first refusal for the 517
conveyance of any real property to a public service company, as defined 518
in section 16-1 of the general statutes, prior to offering such property for 519
general sale. 520
Sec. 16. Section 16-19 of the general statutes is amended by adding 521
subsection (i) as follows (Effective October 1, 2025): 522
(NEW) (i) The authority shall not approve the imposition of any fee 523
by a public service company under this section that would discourage 524
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the adoption of grid-enhancing or energy-efficient technologies. 525
Sec. 17. Subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 16-245d of the 526
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 527
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 528
(5) An electric distribution company shall, in accordance with the 529
billing format developed by the authority, include the following 530
information in each customer's bill: (A) The total amount owed by the 531
customer, which shall be itemized using the categories described in 532
subdivision (3) of this subsection; (B) any unpaid amounts from 533
previous bills which shall be listed separately from current charges; (C) 534
except for customers subject to a demand charge, the rate and usage for 535
the current month and each of the previous twelve months in the form 536
of a bar graph or other visual form; (D) the payment due date; (E) the 537
interest rate applicable to any unpaid amount; (F) the toll-free telephone 538
number of the electric distribution company to report power losses; (G) 539
the toll-free telephone number of the Public Utilities Regulatory 540
Authority for questions or complaints; and (H) if a customer has a 541
demand of five hundred kilowatts or less during the preceding twelve 542
months, a statement about the availability of information concerning 543
electric suppliers pursuant to section 16-245p. An electric distribution 544
company shall not impose any additional fees other than those set forth 545
in this subdivision. 546
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2025 1-200(1)
Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 16-243gg
Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 16-245m(d)(3)
Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 16-2(e)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 16-9
Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 16-25
Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 16-2(k)
Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 16-2(g)
Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 16-2(n)
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Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 16-19(a)
Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 16-19(g)
Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 16-47(d)
Sec. 13 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 14 October 1, 2025 16-10a(a)
Sec. 15 October 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 16 October 1, 2025 16-19(i)
Sec. 17 October 1, 2025 16-245d(a)(5)
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) deem certain public service companies a public agency for
purposes of the Freedom of Information Act and not permit them to
recover through rates costs of compliance with said act, (2) subject the
Home Energy Solutions program to audit by the Auditors of Public
Accounts, (3) modify the expertise and other requirements of utility
commissioner appointments and impose revolving door and substantial
conflict recusal requirements, (4) modify other processes of the Public
Utilities Regulatory Authority, (5) prohibit certain mergers of utility
companies, (6) prohibit a utility company from owning both gas and
electric utilities, (7) prohibit a public utility company from imposing any
fees that would discourage the adoption of grid-enhancing and energy-
efficient technologies, (8) prohibit a right of first refusal to acquire
property by a utility company, and (9) prohibit deceptive fees to utility
end use customers.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]