Sale of Aquarion Water to Regional Water Authority approved by state senate

During the special session of the state senate on June 26, Democrats overrode opposition form some Republicans to authorize the sale of Aquarion Water to the quasi-public Regional Water Authority based in New Haven.

The proposal of the sale was made public less than a week before hand.

The approval, which only authorizes the purchase without guaranteeing it will happen spurred some concern even from those who voted for it.

“It was totally out of left field,” said Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, co-chair of the Energy and Technology Committee to the CT Mirror on Wednesday. “Obviously, there’s some measure of emergency if they want to bid in, but that’s not adhering to the typical process, and that’s a pretty big concern.”

Ultimately the proposal, part of an omnibus bill also adjusting car taxes, passed 20-9 along party lines.

Aquarion is being offered by sale by Eversource after it posted disappointing returns in 2023. The water company and its assets were originally acquired by the electric company for more than $1.6 billion in 2017.