Office of Consumer Counsel seeks to uphold rejection of United Illuminating’s proposed rate hikes

Connecticut’s Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) has filed Motions to Intervene in The United Illuminating Co.’s (UI) administrative appeals to the Superior Court seeking the overturn of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) recent rejection of the utility’s proposed rate hike.

Earlier this month, UI – a division of Avangrid (NYSE:AGR) – filed its appeals of PURA’s Final Decision contesting its core elements, including their allowed revenue requirement and return of equity determinations. In a press statement, the OCC said its intervention is designed to “intervening to preserve the Final Decision’s substantial rate benefits to customers, including reductions due to the company’s well-documented performance and management deficiencies, as well as to defend important regulatory principles that are designed to protect consumers.”

The OCC added it will also “continue to have constructive dialogue with UI on Connecticut’s transition to a performance based regulatory framework.” UI CEO Frank Reynolds claimed PURA’s actions would result in greater costs to consumers and harm for the state, claiming the rate hikes were “investments” in the state’s power supply and upkeep.

“United Illuminating’s appeals have commenced another lengthy process where they will attempt to distort the impact of PURA’s decision and weaken the integrity of Connecticut’s regulatory framework for the benefit of their bottom line,” said Consumer Counsel Coleman. “That’s why my office filed motions to intervene in the Superior Court proceedings on behalf of the customers in their service territory. During the rate case over the course of the last year, my team succeeded in demonstrating major shortcomings in UI’s original rate application, and we are prepared to do it again. Utility customers benefit from a proactive regulatory body that is willing to hold our utilities to applicable legal standards, and OCC will seek to ensure consumer interests are elevated in these appeals.”