Westport and Neighbors Block Aquarion Water Company Sale

Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) just blocked the proposed $2.4 billion sale of Aquarion Water Company, and the decision’s got people talking. Local officials, advocacy groups, and residents are all weighing in.

Technically, the transaction between Eversource and the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) checked the financial boxes. But PURA said the governance structure didn’t measure up to Connecticut’s standards for managerial suitability.

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All three PURA commissioners agreed. Their rejection comes after a wave of opposition from municipalities, state agencies, and environmental advocates.

PURA Blocks $2.4 Billion Aquarion Water Deal

The deal would have moved Aquarion Water Company—serving communities across Fairfield County and beyond—into a quasi-public entity. This new board would have included representatives from towns in the service area.

Local leaders and watchdogs didn’t like the sound of it. They argued this setup could weaken oversight and accountability, and honestly, you can see why they’d worry.

Municipal and Statewide Opposition

Towns like Westport, Fairfield, New Canaan, Ridgefield, and Wilton sent in formal opposition. Their leaders said the governance structure left ratepayers exposed to possible future price hikes.

State Senator Ceci Maher and State Representative Jonathan Steinberg applauded PURA’s move. They pointed out the risks of less oversight and transparency if the deal had gone through.

Concerns Over Governance and Oversight

PURA recognized that the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority already serves places like New Haven, Hamden, and East Haven. Still, commissioners felt its governance model for handling Aquarion’s bigger territory just didn’t meet state standards.

They want to see strong managerial structures for vital utilities, and they’re not willing to budge on that.

Advocacy Groups Play a Key Role

It wasn’t just local governments pushing back. Organizations like the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Public Health, Save the Sound, and the National Association of Water Companies all called on PURA to reject the sale.

They focused on protecting water quality, looking out for ratepayers, and keeping the public’s trust intact.

Local Groups Demand Fairness

Smart Water Westport, a grassroots coalition, cheered PURA’s ruling. The group likes the idea of public water ownership but thought the price was steep and protections for ratepayers came up short.

Marc Lemcke, the group’s leader, said RWA is a “strong operator,” but the deal lacked transparency and fairness. That’s a tough pill to swallow for folks who just want clean, affordable water.

Opportunities for Future Negotiations

Representative Steinberg thinks the parties might try to revise the proposal to fix the governance issues. He’s not sure it’ll be easy, though, since the flaws run pretty deep.

He also sees a chance for towns like Darien and Greenwich to push for a utility structure that actually fits what their communities need.

Implications for Connecticut’s Water Utility Landscape

PURA’s decision is going to shape how future water utility deals get put together in Connecticut. For communities from Bridgeport to Norwalk, the message is clear: public utility governance has to be transparent, accountable, and up to the state’s strict standards.

Any new proposals will need to put ratepayer protections and community voices front and center. Otherwise, they probably won’t get far.

Key Takeaways from the Decision

For residents, the rejection means Aquarion stays under Eversource’s ownership for now.

It also shows that state regulators will keep a close eye on deals that might hurt consumer interests, no matter how tempting the finances look.

Governance matters just as much as financial viability in utility transactions.
Local opposition—from towns like Westport, Fairfield, and Ridgefield—can really sway regulatory outcomes.
State agencies and advocacy groups still play a big role in protecting public resources.
PURA’s ruling pushes for more transparency, rate protection, and public accountability.

Here is the source article for this story: Pushback from Westport and neighbors helps sink Aquarion sale

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