Statement from First Selectman Camillo regarding the possible sale of Aquarion to the South Connecticut Regional Water District

On Thursday evening, August 22, I testified at the South Central Connecticut Regional Water District Representative Policy Board’s public hearing on the proposed sale of Aquarion Water Company. I wanted to put on the record some of my concerns regarding the proposed sale of Aquarion to the South Central CT Regional Water Authority and ask board members direct questions.

I am concerned about the potential impact this could have on Aquarion customers in Greenwich, and I know some of our neighboring communities have similar concerns. This sale could well result in higher water prices for Greenwich customers.

The facts show that Regional Water Authority customers pay rates approximately 23 percent higher than Aquarion customers. I am also concerned about the potential debt the Authority would incur if this sale were to go through and how this could potentially lead to further rate increases for customers.

Additionally, if this sale goes through, the water utility’s property in Greenwich would no longer be subject to taxes because it would then be owned by the South Central CT Regional Water Authority and not Aquarion. This represents a potential loss of revenue for the city and all of this must be considered before decisions are made.

We need to look at how this sale would be structured, what the monitoring process is, and what the impact will be on Greenwich and Aquarion’s entire customer base. I look forward to further dialogue on this potential sale.