FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2025
CONTACT: Mayor's Office, 203-385-4001
MUNICIPAL, REGIONAL LEADERS CELEBRATE PURA’S DECISION TO DENY THE SALE OF AQUARION WATER COMPANY
STRATFORD, CT – Municipal and Regional leaders from across southwestern Connecticut today celebrate the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) decision to deny the sale of Aquarion Water Company from Eversource to a new public authority, the Aquarion Water Authority (AWA), which would operate alongside the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA). Today’s decision is a resounding success for the coalition of municipalities that have fought for months to oppose the transaction due to potential increases in water rates, loss of local control, and reduced municipal revenues.
“Today’s decision by PURA’s to deny the sale of Aquarion Water Company is a massive victory for our member municipalities and the ratepayers of our Region who would have been negatively impacted by this transaction,” said MetroCOG Executive Director Matthew Fulda. “This application was fundamentally flawed, financially risky and not in the public’s best interest. PURA’s decision asserts that the concerns of residential ratepayers, chief elected officials, and local stakeholders within our Region were warranted. I am thankful to all of those who expressed their concerns and to PURA for protecting our consumers and communities.
The Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) intervened on behalf of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford & Trumbull. Along with other Public Intervenors, they argued that the proposed transaction would have been detrimental to water ratepayers, local control, and municipal revenues.
Trumbull First Selectwoman Vicki Tesoro: “I applaud PURA’s decision to deny the sale of Aquarion Water Company to the South Central Regional Water Authority. The sale was not in the best interest of our community for a number of critical reasons, including a projected large rate increase for our residents and businesses and the loss of future tax revenue to the Town of Trumbull. I am grateful to all who have expressed their opposition to this transaction and our regional planning agency, MetroCOG, who took the lead in representing our six municipalities to oppose this sale.”
Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim: "PURA's decision to deny the sale of Aquarion Water Company is a huge win for the City of Bridgeport and for our neighboring cities and towns. I hope this proves that there will be no rate increases due to the sale of Aquarion Water. I thank PURA for protecting our residents from increased rates."
Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick: " I am grateful to PURA for its decision to deny the sale of Aquarion Water Company to the Regional Water Authority. I also want to thanks the leadership of our Metropolitan Councils of Governments for stepping up to lead this David-and-Goliath effort on behalf of water ratepayers, residents, and businesses in our region. We, the CEOs of Trumbull, Stratford, Monroe, Easton, Bridgeport, and Fairfield, have worked together since August 2024. With the strong support of MetroCOG, we presented the facts and concerns that helped inform PURA's favorable decision. I am proud of our partnership and the outcome it achieved for the people we serve."
Fairfield First Selectwoman Christine Vitale added: “This decision is a victory for Fairfield residents and for communities across the region. We thank MetroCOG for their leadership and for amplifying the concerns of municipalities serviced by Aquarion. PURA listened carefully to the issues raised by thousands of residents and municipal leaders and ultimately determined that this transaction was not in the public interest, recognizing the potential impact on water rates, decline in tax revenue, and loss of local control.”
Monroe First Selectman Terrance P. Rooney: “This leveraged buyout of Aquarion by RWA was a raw deal for many municipalities. The avoidance of questionable land development, tax exemptions, and rate hikes will now be adverted by this historic and strong stance, by PURA. I am very proud to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the political leaders of MetroCOG, the State Senate, and House of Representatives to see better options for our people. As leaders, our job is to protect our municipalities from threats such as these, and the collective efforts of all municipal leaders proved fruitful in this instance. This denial of the RWA purchase of Aquarion by PURA is perfect example of the strength the Councils of Governments (COGs) have when they stand united on issues. This was a fight for the state of our public drinking water and for now our people will continue to receive the high-quality level of service we have come to expect over decades of management by the Aquarion Water Company.
Easton First Selectman Dan Lent: “I was newly elected across party lines to 'protect the watershed,' and I’ve been working on these issues for years as a proven environmental activist. I’ve submitted extensive testimony on the watershed, consistently voiced my concerns, and more recently joined press conferences. Yesterday, I also reminded residents again to urgently submit emails opposing the poorly structured sale. The odds were against us, but we needed to fight to ensure the protection of our watershed areas and to protect the municipal revenues and property taxes that Easton relies on. I am so happy to see the denial of this sale. It would have been a total disaster for Easton.”
“I am thankful for the MetroCOG Board of Directors commitment to unanimously oppose this transaction on behalf of their constituents and the region,” Matthew Fulda said. “Today’s decision highlights the power of strong local and regional partnerships.”