Community Corner

State to Hold Superstorm Sandy Public Hearing in Waterford Jan. 15

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority is reviewing preparation and response of the state's utilities and wants your input.

The following information was provided by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection:

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will hold a public hearing Jan. 15 in Waterford as it continues its review of the preparation and response of Connecticut’s electric distribution companies and gas companies in restoring service following Storm Sandy.

The public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Waterford Town Hall at 15 Rope Ferry Road.

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PURA held previous public hearings in Westport Monday and last Thursday in East Haven as part of its Storm Sandy review.

Governor Malloy’s Storm Legislation, Public Act 12-148, requires PURA to review utility company performance when more than 10 per cent of an electric distribution company’s customers are without service for more than 48 consecutive hours, which was the case during Storm Sandy.  The investigation will cover the state’s two major electric distribution companies: The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and The United Illuminating Company (UI), and also Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, Yankee Gas Services Company and The Southern Connecticut Gas Company.

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Information on this investigation, Docket No. 12-11-07, including all documents and rulings, can be found at www.ct.gov/pura.

PURA’s standard regulatory investigation following major storms, since Storm Gloria in 1985, includes a forensic review of the performance of the electric distribution companies and the gas local distribution companies.  Their performance will be evaluated against the Gas and Electric Company Performance Standards PURA recently approved. 

The standards will include:

• Emergency planning
• Preparation for the specific storm
• Restoration performance
• Plans for mutual assistance and supplemental staff, and
• Communications with municipal and other public officials.

PURA invites written and electronic comments from the public, including town officials, regarding their experience with the electric and natural gas utility companies in the aftermath of Storm Sandy.  Comments will be accepted until the close of the administrative record of Docket No. 12-11-07.  Anyone wishing to comment on the docket can do so through the scheduled public hearings, the PURA web filing system at www.ct.gov/pura, or by email at dpuc.executivesecretary@po.state.ct.us, or by sending written comments to:

Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
Executive Secretary’s Office
10 Franklin Square,
New Britain, CT 06051

At the conclusion of this investigation the Authority may order specific remedies, compliance filings and orders.  In addition, PURA may determine whether other sanctions are warranted.


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