South Central Connecticut Water Authority Seeks 3.4% Rate Hike

0:00The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority wants to raise water rates by 3.4%. That move would bring in about $5 million more each year. They have a public hearing set for Thursday night at 7 p.m. at their headquarters on Sargent Drive in New Haven. This comes as the third Connecticut water utility in recent months pushing for higher rates. The main drivers are cost to clean up, PFAS chemicals, and fixed years of neglected pipes and systems. The increase links to bonds, the authority plans to sell around July 2026. Other providers face the same pressures. Aquarian has spent over $448 million on upgrades since its last rate case. Connecticut water serves more than 107,000 customers in 60 communities and is asking for a 19% jump to cover. Infrastructure and new PFAS treatment projects. Unlike those companies, the water authority isn't regulated by the state utilities board. Instead, a local policy board oversees it as a quasi-public group.

1:02People can join the hearing in person or remotely to share their thoughts. The final rate hike could shift a bit based on bond interest rates from 3.3 to 3.51%, so watch for updates as these costs hit homes across the region. From your city, powered by AI, this is Hartford News today. I'm Corey with The Story.