Vote on quasi-public entity’s purchase of Aquarion Water scheduled for today

On June 24 the Regional Water Authority, a quasi-public entity that provides access to water throughout the New Haven region announced that it was interested in putting forward a bid for the water company, which owner Eversource Energy is seeking to sell after acquiring it for $1.6 billion in 2017.

Eversource began considering the sale of the water company shortly after posting significant losses for 2023.

“As part of a regional supply strategy, the RWA plans to submit a bid to purchase the Aquarion Water Company,” Kevin Watsey, the director of public affairs for the regional water authority told CT Insider earlier this week.

The RWA is not subject to oversight by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, instead having input from a 60-member council of representatives from the municipalities served by the RWA, who in turn select and advise five members of the 11 person board of governors.

The resulting entity would be named the “Aquarion Water Authority.”

Many state legislators have said they are unsure about how they will vote when the bill is debated on June 26, citing a lack of vetting or procedural confusion about authorizing the sale during a special session.