Sec. 16-1. Definitions. (a) Terms used in this title and in chapters 244, 244a, 244b,
245, 245a and 245b shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is expressed
or is clearly apparent from the language or context:
(1) "Authority" means the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and "department"
means the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection;
(2) "Director" means a member of said authority;
(3) "Commissioner of Transportation" means the Commissioner of Transportation
appointed under section 13b-3;
(4) "Public service company" includes electric, electric distribution, gas, telephone,
telegraph, pipeline, sewage, water and community antenna television companies and
holders of a certificate of cable franchise authority, owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling plants or parts of plants or equipment, and all express
companies having special privileges on railroads within this state, but shall not include
telegraph company functions concerning intrastate money order service, towns, cities,
boroughs, any municipal corporation or department thereof, whether separately incorporated or not, a private power producer, as defined in section 16-243b, or an exempt
wholesale generator, as defined in 15 USC 79z-5a;
(5) "Plant" includes all real estate, buildings, tracks, pipes, mains, poles, wires and
other fixed or stationary construction and equipment, wherever located, used in the
conduct of the business of the company;
(6) "Railroad company" includes every person owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling any railroad, or any cars or other equipment employed
thereon or in connection therewith, for public or general use within this state;
(7) "Street railway company" includes every person owning, leasing, maintaining,
operating, managing or controlling any street railway, or any cars or other equipment
employed thereon or in connection therewith, for public or general use within this state;
(8) "Electric company" includes, until an electric company has been unbundled
in accordance with the provisions of section 16-244e, every person owning, leasing,
maintaining, operating, managing or controlling poles, wires, conduits or other fixtures,
along public highways or streets, for the transmission or distribution of electric current
for sale for light, heat or power within this state, or engaged in generating electricity to
be so transmitted or distributed for such purpose, but shall not include (A) a private
power producer, as defined in section 16-243b, (B) an exempt wholesale generator, as
defined in 15 USC 79z-5a, (C) a municipal electric utility established under chapter
101, (D) a municipal electric energy cooperative established under chapter 101a, (E)
an electric cooperative established under chapter 597, or (F) any other electric utility
owned, leased, maintained, operated, managed or controlled by any unit of local government under any general statute or any public or special act;
(9) "Gas company" includes every person owning, leasing, maintaining, operating,
managing or controlling mains, pipes or other fixtures, in public highways or streets,
for the transmission or distribution of gas for sale for heat or power within this state, or
engaged in the manufacture of gas to be so transmitted or distributed for such purpose,
but shall not include a person manufacturing gas through the use of a biomass gasification
plant provided such person does not own, lease, maintain, operate, manage or control
mains, pipes or other fixtures in public highways or streets, a municipal gas utility
established under chapter 101 or any other gas utility owned, leased, maintained, operated, managed or controlled by any unit of local government under any general statute
or any public or special act;
(10) "Water company" includes every person owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling any pond, lake, reservoir, stream, well or distributing
plant or system employed for the purpose of supplying water to fifty or more consumers.
A water company does not include homeowners, condominium associations providing
water only to their members, homeowners associations providing water to customers at
least eighty per cent of whom are members of such associations, a municipal waterworks
system established under chapter 102, a district, metropolitan district, municipal district
or special services district established under chapter 105, chapter 105a or any other
general statute or any public or special act which is authorized to supply water, or any
other waterworks system owned, leased, maintained, operated, managed or controlled
by any unit of local government under any general statute or any public or special act;
(11) "Consumer" means any private dwelling, boardinghouse, apartment, store, office building, institution, mechanical or manufacturing establishment or other place of
business or industry to which water is supplied by a water company;
(12) "Sewage company" includes every person owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling, for general use in any town, city or borough, or portion
thereof, in this state, sewage disposal facilities which discharge treated effluent into any
waterway of this state;
(13) "Pipeline company" includes every person owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling mains, pipes or other fixtures through, over, across
or under any public land, water, parkways, highways, parks or public grounds for the
transportation, transmission or distribution of petroleum products for hire within this
state;
(14) "Community antenna television company" includes every person owning,
leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling a community antenna television system, in, under or over any public street or highway, for the purpose of providing
community antenna television service for hire and shall include any municipality which
owns or operates one or more plants for the manufacture or distribution of electricity
pursuant to section 7-213 or any special act and seeks to obtain or obtains a certificate of
public convenience and necessity to construct or operate a community antenna television
system pursuant to section 16-331 or a certificate of cable franchise authority pursuant to
section 16-331q. "Community antenna television company" does not include a certified
competitive video service provider;
(15) "Community antenna television service" means (A) the one-way transmission
to subscribers of video programming or information that a community antenna television
company makes available to all subscribers generally, and subscriber interaction, if any,
which is required for the selection of such video programming or information, and (B)
noncable communications service. "Community antenna television service" does not
include video service provided by a certified competitive video service provider;
(16) "Community antenna television system" means a facility, consisting of a set
of closed transmission paths and associated signal generation, reception and control
equipment that is designed to provide community antenna television service which includes video programming and which is provided in, under or over any public street or
highway, for hire, to multiple subscribers within a franchise, but such term does not
include (A) a facility that serves only to retransmit the television signals of one or more
television broadcast stations; (B) a facility that serves only subscribers in one or more
multiple unit dwellings under common ownership, control or management, unless such
facility is located in, under or over a public street or highway; (C) a facility of a common
carrier which is subject, in whole or in part, to the provisions of Subchapter II of Chapter
5 of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 USC 201 et seq., as amended, except that
such facility shall be considered a community antenna television system and the carrier
shall be considered a public service company to the extent such facility is used in the
transmission of video programming directly to subscribers; or (D) a facility of an electric
company which is used solely for operating its electric company systems. "Community
antenna television system" does not include a facility used by a certified competitive
video service provider to provide video service;
(17) "Video programming" means programming provided by, or generally considered comparable to programming provided by, a television broadcast station;
(18) "Noncable communications service" means any telecommunications service,
as defined in section 16-247a, and which is not included in the definition of "cable
service" in the Communications Act of 1934, 47 USC 522, as amended. Nothing in this
definition shall be construed to affect service which is both authorized and preempted
pursuant to federal law;
(19) "Public service motor vehicle" includes all motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers for hire;
(20) "Motor bus" includes any public service motor vehicle operated in whole or
in part upon any street or highway, by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers, or operated on a regular route or over any portion thereof, or operated between
fixed termini, and any public service motor vehicle operated over highways within this
state between points outside this state or between points within this state and points
outside this state;
(21) "Cogeneration technology" means the use for the generation of electricity of
exhaust steam, waste steam, heat or resultant energy from an industrial, commercial or
manufacturing plant or process, or the use of exhaust steam, waste steam or heat from
a thermal power plant for an industrial, commercial or manufacturing plant or process,
but shall not include steam or heat developed solely for electrical power generation;
(22) "Renewable fuel resources" means energy sources described in subdivisions
(26) and (27) of this subsection;
(23) "Telephone company" means a telecommunications company that provides
one or more noncompetitive or emerging competitive services, as defined in section
16-247a;
(24) "Domestic telephone company" includes any telephone company which has
been chartered by or organized or constituted within or under the laws of this state;
(25) "Telecommunications company" means a person that provides telecommunications service, as defined in section 16-247a, within the state, but shall not mean a
person that provides only (A) private telecommunications service, as defined in section
16-247a, (B) the one-way transmission of video programming or other programming
services to subscribers, (C) subscriber interaction, if any, which is required for the selection of such video programming or other programming services, (D) the two-way transmission of educational or instructional programming to a public or private elementary
or secondary school, or a public or independent institution of higher education, as required by the department pursuant to a community antenna television company franchise
agreement, or provided pursuant to a contract with such a school or institution which
contract has been filed with the department, or (E) a combination of the services set
forth in subparagraphs (B) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision;
(26) "Class I renewable energy source" means (A) energy derived from solar power,
wind power, a fuel cell, methane gas from landfills, ocean thermal power, wave or tidal
power, low emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, a run-of-the-river hydropower facility provided such facility has a generating capacity of not
more than five megawatts, does not cause an appreciable change in the river flow, and
began operation after July 1, 2003, or a sustainable biomass facility with an average
emission rate of equal to or less than .075 pounds of nitrogen oxides per million BTU
of heat input for the previous calendar quarter, except that energy derived from a sustainable biomass facility with a capacity of less than five hundred kilowatts that began
construction before July 1, 2003, may be considered a Class I renewable energy source,
or (B) any electrical generation, including distributed generation, generated from a Class
I renewable energy source;
(27) "Class II renewable energy source" means energy derived from a trash-to-energy facility, a biomass facility that began operation before July 1, 1998, provided
the average emission rate for such facility is equal to or less than .2 pounds of nitrogen
oxides per million BTU of heat input for the previous calendar quarter, or a run-of-the-river hydropower facility provided such facility has a generating capacity of not more
than five megawatts, does not cause an appreciable change in the riverflow, and began
operation prior to July 1, 2003;
(28) "Electric distribution services" means the owning, leasing, maintaining, operating, managing or controlling of poles, wires, conduits or other fixtures along public
highways or streets for the distribution of electricity, or electric distribution-related
services;
(29) "Electric distribution company" or "distribution company" means any person
providing electric transmission or distribution services within the state, including an
electric company, subject to subparagraph (F) of this subdivision, but does not include:
(A) A private power producer, as defined in section 16-243b; (B) a municipal electric
utility established under chapter 101, other than a participating municipal electric utility;
(C) a municipal electric energy cooperative established under chapter 101a; (D) an
electric cooperative established under chapter 597; (E) any other electric utility owned,
leased, maintained, operated, managed or controlled by any unit of local government
under any general statute or special act; (F) after an electric company has been unbundled
in accordance with the provisions of section 16-244e, a generation entity or affiliate of
the former electric company; or (G) an electric supplier;
(30) "Electric supplier" means any person, including an electric aggregator or participating municipal electric utility that is licensed by the Public Utilities Regulatory
Authority in accordance with section 16-245, that provides electric generation services
to end use customers in the state using the transmission or distribution facilities of an
electric distribution company, regardless of whether or not such person takes title to
such generation services, but does not include: (A) A municipal electric utility established under chapter 101, other than a participating municipal electric utility; (B) a
municipal electric energy cooperative established under chapter 101a; (C) an electric
cooperative established under chapter 597; (D) any other electric utility owned, leased,
maintained, operated, managed or controlled by any unit of local government under any
general statute or special act; or (E) an electric distribution company in its provision of
electric generation services in accordance with subsection (a) or, prior to January 1,
2004, subsection (c) of section 16-244c;
(31) "Electric aggregator" means (A) a person, municipality or regional water authority that gathers together electric customers for the purpose of negotiating the purchase of electric generation services from an electric supplier, or (B) the Connecticut
Resources Recovery Authority, if it gathers together electric customers for the purpose
of negotiating the purchase of electric generation services from an electric supplier,
provided such person, municipality or authority is not engaged in the purchase or resale
of electric generation services, and provided further such customers contract for electric
generation services directly with an electric supplier, and may include an electric cooperative established pursuant to chapter 597;
(32) "Electric generation services" means electric energy, electric capacity or generation-related services;
(33) "Electric transmission services" means electric transmission or transmission-related services;
(34) "Generation entity or affiliate" means a corporate affiliate or, as provided in
subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 16-244e, a separate division of an electric
company after unbundling has occurred pursuant to section 16-244e, that provides electric generation services;
(35) "Participating municipal electric utility" means a municipal electric utility established under chapter 101 or any other electric utility owned, leased, maintained,
operated, managed or controlled by any unit of local government under any general
statute or any public or special act, that is authorized by the authority in accordance
with section 16-245c to provide electric generation services to end use customers outside
its service area, as defined in section 16-245c;
(36) "Person" means an individual, business, firm, corporation, association, joint
stock association, trust, partnership or limited liability company;
(37) "Regional independent system operator" means the "ISO - New England, Inc.",
or its successor organization as approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
(38) "Certified telecommunications provider" means a person certified by the authority to provide intrastate telecommunications services, as defined in section 16-247a,
pursuant to sections 16-247f to 16-247h, inclusive;
(39) "Gas registrant" means a person registered to sell natural gas pursuant to section
16-258a;
(40) "Customer-side distributed resources" means (A) the generation of electricity
from a unit with a rating of not more than sixty-five megawatts on the premises of a
retail end user within the transmission and distribution system including, but not limited
to, fuel cells, photovoltaic systems or small wind turbines, or (B) a reduction in the
demand for electricity on the premises of a retail end user in the distribution system
through methods of conservation and load management, including, but not limited to,
peak reduction systems and demand response systems;
(41) "Federally mandated congestion charges" means any cost approved by the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as part of New England Standard Market Design including, but not limited to, locational marginal pricing, locational installed capacity payments, any cost approved by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to reduce
federally mandated congestion charges in accordance with section 7-233y, this section,
sections 16-19ss, 16-32f, 16-50i, 16-50k, 16-50x, 16-243i to 16-243q, inclusive, 16-244c, 16-244e, 16-245m, 16-245n and 16-245z, and section 21 of public act 05-1 of the
June special session* and reliability must run contracts;
(42) "Combined heat and power system" means a system that produces, from a
single source, both electric power and thermal energy used in any process that results
in an aggregate reduction in electricity use;
(43) "Grid-side distributed resources" means the generation of electricity from a
unit with a rating of not more than sixty-five megawatts that is connected to the transmission or distribution system, which units may include, but are not limited to, units used
primarily to generate electricity to meet peak demand;
(44) "Class III source" means the electricity output from combined heat and power
systems with an operating efficiency level of no less than fifty per cent that are part of
customer-side distributed resources developed at commercial and industrial facilities
in this state on or after January 1, 2006, a waste heat recovery system installed on or
after April 1, 2007, that produces electrical or thermal energy by capturing preexisting
waste heat or pressure from industrial or commercial processes, or the electricity savings
created in this state from conservation and load management programs begun on or after
January 1, 2006;
(45) "Sustainable biomass" means biomass that is cultivated and harvested in a
sustainable manner. "Sustainable biomass" does not mean construction and demolition
waste, as defined in section 22a-208x, finished biomass products from sawmills, paper
mills or stud mills, organic refuse fuel derived separately from municipal solid waste,
or biomass from old growth timber stands, except where (A) such biomass is used in a
biomass gasification plant that received funding prior to May 1, 2006, from the Clean
Energy Fund established pursuant to section 16-245n, or (B) the energy derived from
such biomass is subject to a long-term power purchase contract pursuant to subdivision
(2) of subsection (j) of section 16-244c entered into prior to May 1, 2006, (C) such
biomass is used in a renewable energy facility that is certified as a Class I renewable
energy source by the authority until such time as the authority certifies that any biomass
gasification plant, as defined in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, is operational and
accepting such biomass, in an amount not to exceed one hundred forty thousand tons
annually, is used in a renewable energy facility that was certified as a Class I renewable
energy source by the authority prior to December 31, 2007, and uses biomass, including
construction and demolition waste as defined in section 22a-208x, from a Connecticut-sited transfer station and volume-reduction facility that generated biomass during calendar year 2007 that was used during calendar year 2007 to generate Class I renewable
energy certificates, or (D) in the event there is no facility as described in subparagraph
(A) or (C) of this subdivision accepting such biomass, in an amount not to exceed one
hundred forty thousand tons annually, is used in one or more other renewable energy
facilities certified either as a Class I or Class II renewable energy source by the authority,
provided such facilities use biomass, including construction and demolition waste as
defined in said section 22a-208x, from a Connecticut-sited transfer station and volume-reduction facility that generated biomass during calendar year 2007 that was used during
calendar year 2007 to generate Class I renewable energy certificates. Notwithstanding
the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (D) of this subdivision, the amount of biomass
specified in said subparagraphs shall not apply to a biomass gasification plant, as defined
in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision;
(46) "Video service" means video programming services provided through wireline
facilities, a portion of which are located in the public right-of-way, without regard to
delivery technology, including Internet protocol technology. "Video service" does not
include any video programming provided by a commercial mobile service provider, as
defined in 47 USC 332(d), any video programming provided as part of community
antenna television service in a franchise area as of October 1, 2007, any video programming provided as part of and via a service that enables users to access content, information, electronic mail or other services over the public Internet;
(47) "Certified competitive video service provider" means an entity providing video
service pursuant to a certificate of video franchise authority issued by the authority in
accordance with section 16-331e. "Certified competitive video service provider" does
not mean an entity issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity in accordance
with section 16-331 or the affiliates, successors and assigns of such entity or an entity
issued a certificate of cable franchise authority in accordance with section 16-331p or
the affiliates, successors and assignees of such entity;
(48) "Certificate of video franchise authority" means an authorization issued by the
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority conferring the right to an entity or person to own,
lease, maintain, operate, manage or control facilities in, under or over any public highway to offer video service to any subscribers in the state;
(49) "Certificate of cable franchise authority" means an authorization issued by the
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority pursuant to section 16-331q conferring the right
to a community antenna television company to own, lease, maintain, operate, manage
or control a community antenna television system in, under or over any public highway
to (A) offer community antenna television service in a community antenna television
company's designated franchise area, or (B) use the public rights-of-way to offer video
service in a designated franchise area. The certificate of cable franchise authority shall
be issued as an alternative to a certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant
to section 16-331 and shall only be available to a community antenna television company
under the terms specified in sections 16-331q to 16-331aa, inclusive;
(50) "Thermal energy transportation company" means any person authorized under
any provision of the general statutes or special act to furnish heat or air conditioning or
both, by means of steam, heated or chilled water or other medium, to lay and maintain
mains, pipes or other conduits, and to erect such other fixtures necessary or convenient
in and on the streets, highways and public grounds of any municipality to carry steam,
heated or chilled water or other medium from such plant to the location to be served
and to return the same;
(51) "The Connecticut Television Network" means the General Assembly's state-wide twenty-four-hour state public affairs programming service, separate and distinct
from community access channels; and
(52) "Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection" means the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection appointed pursuant to title 4.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the terms "utility", "public utility" and "public service company" shall be deemed to include a community antenna television company and a holder of a certificate of cable franchise authority, except
(1) as otherwise provided in sections 16-8, 16-27, 16-28 and 16-43, (2) that no provision
of the general statutes, including but not limited to, the provisions of sections 16-6b and
16-19, shall subject a community antenna television company to regulation as a common
carrier or utility by reason of providing community antenna television service, other
than noncable communications service, as provided in Subchapter V-A of Chapter 5 of
the Communications Act of 1934, 47 USC 521 et seq., as amended, and (3) that no
provision of the general statutes, including but not limited to, sections 16-6b and 16-19, shall apply to community antenna television companies to the extent any such provision is preempted pursuant to any other provision of the Communications Act of 1934, 47
USC 151 et seq., as amended, any other federal act or any regulation adopted thereunder.
(1949 Rev., S. 5390; February, 1965, P.A. 175, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 546, S. 1; 691, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 208; P.A. 73-267; P.A. 75-486, S. 2, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-214, S. 1; 79-610, S. 7; P.A.
80-482, S. 39, 348; 80-483, S. 65, 186; P.A. 81-297, S. 3; 81-329, S. 1, 11; 81-358, S. 2; 81-439, S. 2, 14; P.A. 85-246, S.
8; 85-509, S. 1, 11; P.A. 86-403, S. 33, 132; P.A. 87-323, S. 4; 87-415, S. 7, 13; P.A. 91-310, S. 3; P.A. 92-137, S. 2; P.A.
93-149; P.A. 94-83, S. 1, 16; P.A. 95-79, S. 47, 189; P.A. 98-28, S. 1, 117; P.A. 99-222, S. 1, 19; 99-286, S. 1, 19; P.A.
00-53, S. 11, 12; P.A. 01-49, S. 1; 01-204, S. 7, 29; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 73, 131; P.A. 03-135, S. 1, 2; 03-163, S.
2; 03-221, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-1, S. 1, 2; P.A. 06-74, S. 1, 2; P.A. 07-242, S. 44; 07-253, S. 1; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 07-5, S. 58; P.A. 08-77, S. 1; 08-185, S. 4; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 186; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 14.)
*Note: Section 21 of public act 05-1 of the June special session is special in nature and therefore has not been codified
but remains in full force and effect according to its terms.
History: 1965 act added definition of community antenna television company; 1967 acts included sewage plants in
definition of "public service company" and defined "sewage company", redefined "water company" to include companies
owning, controlling etc. streams and wells and to delete phrase "for general domestic use in any town, city or borough ...
within this state" and defined "consumer"; 1969 act defined "commissioner of transportation"; P.A. 73-267 included motor
bus companies in definition of "public service company"; P.A. 75-486 replaced definition of "commission" with definition
of "authority"; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 included definition of division of public utility control, effective January 1,
1979; P.A. 79-214 defined "cogeneration technology" and excluded persons owning or operating facilities producing one
or less megawatt from definition of "public service company"; P.A. 79-610 defined "department", deleted railroad and
motor bus companies from definition of "public service company" and added reference to leasing in definitions of "railroad
company" and "water company"; P.A. 80-482 replaced definition of "division" with definition of "department" re public
utility control, deleting previous definition of "department" as "department of transportation"; P.A. 80-483 added reference
to leasing in definitions of "street railway company" and "sewage company"; P.A. 81-297 excluded telegraph company
functions concerning intrastate money order service from definition of public service company; P.A. 81-329 added definitions of "telephone company" and "domestic telephone company"; P.A. 81-358 excluded homeowners and condominium
associations providing water to members only from definition of water company; P.A. 81-439 excluded private power
producers from definitions of public service company and electric company; P.A. 85-246 redefined "public service company" to omit references to street railway companies and deleted a reference to street railway companies in definition of
"motor bus"; P.A. 85-509 made existing section Subsec. (a), added definitions of "community antenna television service",
"community antenna television system", "video programming" and "noncable communications service" in Subsec. (a),
clarified definition of "community antenna television company" to apply to an antenna television system and added Subsec.
(b) re the meaning of the terms "utility", "public utility" and "public service company"; P.A. 86-403 made a technical
change to Subsec. (a); (Revisor's note: In 1987 the definitions in Subsec. (a) were numbered editorially by the Revisors
for ease of reference); P.A. 87-323 redefined "water company" to specifically exclude certain homeowners associations;
P.A. 87-415 redefined "telephone company" to exclude entities which provide only those telecommunications services
authorized under Secs. 16-247f to 16-247h, inclusive; P.A. 91-310 redefined "electric company", "gas company" and "water
company" to specifically exclude municipal utilities; P.A. 92-137 redefined "community antenna television company" to
include municipalities which own or operate electric plants; P.A. 93-149 redefined "community antenna television system"
to include municipalities which own or operate electric plants only if they obtain a certificate of public convenience and
necessity for a community antenna television system; P.A. 94-83 amended Subsec. (a) by clarifying reference to the
Communications Act of 1934 in Subdivs. (16) and (18), redefined "telephone company" in Subdiv. (23) and adding new
Subdiv. (25) defining "telecommunications company", and amended Subsec. (b) by clarifying reference to the Communications Act of 1934, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-79 redefined "telecommunications company" to include a limited liability
company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 98-28 amended Subsec. (a), redefining "public service company" by adding electric
distribution companies and exempting wholesale generators, by making minor changes in definitions of "electric company"
and "renewable fuel resources" and added new Subdivs. (26) to (37), defining "class I renewable energy source", "class
II renewable energy source", "electric distribution services", "electric distribution company", "electric supplier", "electric
aggregator", "electric generation services", "electric transmission services", "generation entity or affiliate", "participating
municipal electric utility", "person" and "regional independent system operator", effective July 1, 1998 (Revisor's note:
In Subdiv. (22) the Revisors editorially changed the phrase "... subdivisions (26) and (27) of this section" to "... subdivisions
(26) and (27) of this subsection"); P.A. 99-222 amended Subsec. (a) by inserting new Subdiv. (38) defining "certified
telecommunications provider", effective June 29, 1999; P.A. 99-286 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes
and by defining "certified telecommunications provider" in words identical to those in P.A. 99-222, effective July 19, 1999;
P.A. 00-53 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining "electric aggregator" in Subdiv. (31) to include regional water authorities, and
by adding a new Subdiv., designated as (39), defining "gas registrant"; P.A. 01-49 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical
changes in Subdivs. (15) and (16); P.A. 01-204 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining "Class I renewable energy source" in
Subdiv. (26) to include biomass gasification plants, effective July 11, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date
of P.A. 01-204 but without affecting this section; P.A. 03-135 redefined "Class I renewable energy source" in Subdiv. (26)
to include "ocean thermal power, wave or tidal power, low emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies"
and certain run-of-the-river hydropower facilities, to revise the type of biomass that falls under the definition and include,
as an exception, "energy derived from a biomass facility that began operation before July 1, 1998" provided "the average
emission rate for such facility is equal to or less than .075 pounds of nitrogen oxides per million BTU of heat input for the
previous calendar quarter", and to include "any electrical generation, including distributed generation, generated from a
Class I renewable energy source", redefined "Class II renewable energy source" in Subdiv. (27) to limit the type of biomass
facility included in the definition to a facility "that began operation before July 1, 1998, provided the average emission
rate for such facility is equal to or less than .2 pounds of nitrogen oxides per million BTU of heat input for the previous
calendar quarter" and to change the type of hydropower facility included in the definition to certain run-of-the-river
hydropower facilities, and added new Subdivs. (40) and (41), defining "distributed generation" and "federally mandated
congestion costs", effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 03-163 redefined "gas company" in Subdiv. (9) to exclude a person manufacturing gas through the use of a biomass gasification plant, effective June 26, 2003; P.A. 03-221 redefined "Class I renewable
energy source" in Subdiv. (26) to delete provisions re the date that a biomass facility began operation, to make the emission
rate applicable to all biomass facilities, and to add an exception for biomass facilities with a capacity of less than five
hundred kilowatts, and redefined "federally mandated congestion costs" in Subdiv. (41) by replacing "imposed" with
"approved" and adding "including, but not limited to, locational marginal pricing and reliability must run contracts",
effective July 1, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-1 amended Subsec. (a) by amending Subdiv. (40) to change the definition
of "distributed generation" to "customer-side distributed resources", to designate existing language as Subpara. (A), to
add a unit rating limit in Subpara. (A), and to add Subpara. (B) re reduction in demand, by amending Subdiv. (41) to change
the definition of "federally mandated congestion costs" to "federally mandated congestion charges" and to add additional
qualifying payments and costs, and by adding Subdivs. (42) to (44), inclusive, defining "combined heat and power system",
"grid-side distributed resources" and "Class III renewable energy source", effective July 21, 2005; P.A. 06-74 amended
Subsec. (a)(26) to insert "sustainable" prior to each occurrence of "biomass facility", to delete language re biomass gasification plants, to make conforming changes, and to delete language within exception for biomass facilities re biomass cultivated
and harvested in a sustainable manner, and added new Subdiv. (45) in Subsec. (a) defining "sustainable biomass"; P.A.
07-242 amended Subsec. (a)(44) to change term from "Class III renewable energy source" to "Class III source" and
redefine the term, effective June 4, 2007; P.A. 07-253 redefined "public service company", "community antenna television
company", "community antenna television service" and "community antenna television system", defined "video service",
"certified competitive video service provider", "certificate of video franchise authority" and "certificate of cable franchise
authority" and made technical changes in Subsec. (a), and added holder of a certificate of cable franchise authority and
made technical changes in Subsec. (b); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 amended Subsec. (a)(45)(C) to change exception from
biomass used in a facility approved before October 1, 2005, to biomass used in a facility certified as a Class I renewable
energy source until department certifies that a biomass gasification plant is operational, effective October 6, 2007; P.A.
08-77 added Subsec. (a)(50) defining "thermal energy transportation company", effective April 30, 2008; P.A. 08-185
redefined "sustainable biomass" in Subsec. (a)(45) by adding as exception renewable energy facilities certified prior to
December 31, 2007, and volume-reduction facilities in Subpara. (C), adding Subpara. (D) re certain other renewable energy
facilities, and adding provision re amount of biomass shall not apply to a biomass gasification plant, effective June 12,
2008; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 added Subsec. (a)(51) defining "the Connecticut Television Network", effective October
5, 2009; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to redefine "authority" as Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and "department" as Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, rather than Public Utilities Control Authority and Department of Public Utility Control, amended Subsec. (a)(2) to replace "commissioner" with "director" as the defined term,
amended Subsec. (a)(30), (41), (48) and (49) to replace "Department of Public Utility Control" with "Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority", amended Subsec. (a)(35), (38), (45) and (47) to replace "department" with "authority", amended
Subsec. (a)(45)(A) to replace "Renewable Energy Investment Fund" with "Clean Energy Fund", and added Subsec. (a)(52)
defining "Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-1b. Department of Public Utility Control. Department head. Section
16-1b is repealed, effective July 1, 2011.
(P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 79, 136; P.A. 80-482, S. 40, 348; P.A. 84-342, S. 3, 13; P.A. 11-80, S. 140.)
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Sec. 16-2. Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Members, appointment,
term, qualifications. Staff. Ethics. Procurement manager. (a) There shall continue
to be a Public Utilities Regulatory Authority within the Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection, which shall consist of three electors of this state, appointed
by the Governor with the advice and consent of both houses of the General Assembly.
Not more than two members of said authority in office at any one time shall be members
of any one political party. On or before July 1, 2011, the Governor shall appoint three
members to the authority. The first director appointed by the Governor on or before
July 1, 2011, who is of the same political party as that of the Governor shall serve a
term of five years. The second director appointed by the Governor on or before July 1,
2011, who is of the same political party as that of the Governor shall serve a term of
four years. The first director appointed by the Governor on or before July 1, 2011, who
is of a different political party as that of the Governor shall serve a term of three years.
Any director appointed on or after January 1, 2014, shall serve a term of four years. The
procedure prescribed by section 4-7 shall apply to such appointments, except that the
Governor shall submit each nomination on or before May first, and both houses shall
confirm or reject it before adjournment sine die. The directors shall be sworn to the
faithful performance of their duties. The term of any commissioner serving on June 30,
2011, shall be terminated.
(b) The authority shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson each June for one-year terms starting on July first of the same year. The vice-chairperson shall perform
the duties of the chairperson in his or her absence.
(c) Any matter coming before the authority may be assigned by the chairperson to
a panel of one or more directors. Except as otherwise provided by statute or regulation,
the panel shall determine whether a public hearing shall be held on the matter, and may
designate one or two of its members to conduct such hearing or request the appointment
of a hearing officer to ascertain the facts and report thereon to the panel. The decision
of the panel, if unanimous, shall be the decision of the authority. If the decision of the
panel is not unanimous, the matter shall be approved by a majority vote of the panel.
(d) The directors of the authority shall serve full time and shall make full public
disclosure of their assets, liabilities and income at the time of their appointment, and
thereafter each member of the authority shall make such disclosure on or before July
thirtieth of each year of such member's term, and shall file such disclosure with the
office of the Secretary of the State. Each director shall receive annually a salary equal
to that established for management pay plan salary group seventy-five by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, except that the chairperson shall receive annually a
salary equal to that established for management pay plan salary group seventy-seven.
(e) To insure the highest standard of public utility regulation, on and after October
1, 2007, any newly appointed director of the authority shall have education or training
and three or more years of experience in one or more of the following fields: Economics,
engineering, law, accounting, finance, utility regulation, public or government administration, consumer advocacy, business management, and environmental management.
On and after July 1, 1997, at least three of these fields shall be represented on the authority
by individual directors at all times. Any time a director is newly appointed, at least one
of the directors shall have experience in utility customer advocacy.
(f) The chairperson of the authority, with the approval of the Commissioner of
Energy and Environmental Protection, shall prescribe the duties of the staff assigned to
the authority in order to (1) conduct comprehensive planning with respect to the functions of the authority; (2) coordinate the activities of the authority; (3) cause the administrative organization of the authority to be examined with a view to promoting economy
and efficiency; (4) organize the authority into such divisions, bureaus or other units as
necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the authority and may from time
to time make recommendations to the commissioner regarding staff and resources; (5)
for any proceeding on a proposed rate amendment in which staff of the authority are to
be made a party pursuant to section 16-19j, determine which staff shall appear and
participate in the proceedings and which shall serve the members of the authority; (6)
enter into such contractual agreements, in accordance with established procedures, as
may be necessary for the discharge of the authority's duties; (7) subject to the provisions
of section 4-32, and unless otherwise provided by law, receive any money, revenue or
services from the federal government, corporations, associations or individuals, including payments from the sale of printed matter or any other material or services; and (8)
require the staff of the authority to have expertise in public utility engineering and
accounting, finance, economics, computers and rate design.
(g) No director of the authority or employee of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection assigned to work with the authority shall, while serving as such
or during such assignment, have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect,
or engage in any business, employment, transaction or professional activity, or incur
any obligation of any nature, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge
of his or her duties or employment in the public interest and of his or her responsibilities
as prescribed in the laws of this state, as defined in section 1-85; provided, no such
substantial conflict shall be deemed to exist solely by virtue of the fact that a director
of the authority or employee of the department assigned to work with the authority, or
any business in which such a person has an interest, receives utility service from one
or more Connecticut utilities under the normal rates and conditions of service.
(h) No member of the authority or employee of the department assigned to work
with the authority, during such assignment, shall accept other employment which will
either impair his or her independence of judgment as to his or her official duties or
employment or require him or her, or induce him or her, to disclose confidential information acquired by him or her in the course of and by reason of his or her official duties.
(i) No director of the authority or employee of the department assigned to work
with the authority, during such assignment, shall wilfully and knowingly disclose, for
pecuniary gain, to any other person, confidential information acquired by him or her in
the course of and by reason of his or her official duties or employment or use any such
information for the purpose of pecuniary gain.
(j) No director of the authority or employee of the department assigned to work
with the authority, during such assignment, shall agree to accept, or be in partnership
or association with any person, or a member of a professional corporation or in membership with any union or professional association which partnership, association, professional corporation, union or professional association agrees to accept any employment,
fee or other thing of value, or portion thereof, in consideration of his or her appearing,
agreeing to appear, or taking any other action on behalf of another person before the
authority, the Connecticut Siting Council, the Office of Policy and Management or the
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection.
(k) No director of the authority shall, for a period of one year following the termination of his or her service as a director, accept employment: (1) By a public service
company or by any person, firm or corporation engaged in lobbying activities with
regard to governmental regulation of public service companies; (2) by a certified telecommunications provider or by any person, firm or corporation engaged in lobbying
activities with regard to governmental regulation of persons, firms or corporations so
certified; or (3) by an electric supplier or by any person, firm or corporation engaged
in lobbying activities with regard to governmental regulation of electric suppliers. No
such director who is also an attorney shall in any capacity, appear or participate in any
matter, or accept any compensation regarding a matter, before the authority, for a period
of one year following the termination of his or her service as a director.
(l) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall include a procurement manager
whose duties shall include, but not be limited to, overseeing the procurement of electricity for standard service and who shall have experience in energy markets and procuring
energy on a commercial scale.
(1949, Rev., S. 5391; 1959, P.A. 383, S. 1; P.A. 74-216, S. 1, 8; P.A. 75-486, S. 3, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 19, 67, 162,
589, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 13, 136; P.A. 80-462, S. 1; P.A. 82-150, S. 1; P.A. 84-342, S. 4, 13; P.A. 85-552, S. 3, 8; P.A.
86-187, S. 4, 10; P.A. 89-291, S. 1, 8; P.A. 94-74, S. 1, 11; 94-77; P.A. 98-28, S. 78, 117; P.A. 99-248, S. 1, 3; 99-286, S.
3, 19; P.A. 00-112, S. 4, 5; P.A. 02-89, S. 22; P.A. 07-242, S. 57; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 15.)
History: 1959 act provided appointment of members be subject to the consent of either house of the general assembly
rather than both, provided for minority representation and added provision that appointment procedure of Sec. 4-7 is
generally applicable; P.A. 74-216 increased membership from three to five members with not more than three of the same
political party, rather than two, reduced terms from six to five years, deleted reference to appointment in odd-numbered
years, added provision to cover terms during transition period and added Subsecs. (b) and (c); P.A. 75-486 amended section
to replace public utilities commission with public utilities control authority, requiring consent of both houses rather then
either house for appointments, increasing terms to six years and providing for transition period and added Subsecs. (d) to
(k); P.A. 77-614 replaced personnel policy board with commissioner of administrative services in Subsec. (d), replaced
"Connecticut energy agency", i.e. department of planning and energy policy, with office of policy and management and,
effective January 1, 1979, replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the
department of business regulation and revised appointment provisions in Subsec. (a) to cover transition period; P.A. 78-303 restored public utilities control authority; P.A. 80-462 replaced former Subsec. (k) re applicability of Secs. 1-69 to 1-78 with new provisions re employment by public service company after serving as commissioner; P.A. 82-150 updated
provisions re appointment of members and election of officers transferred the provisions of Sec. 16-50 to Subsec. (f) and
made other technical changes; P.A. 84-342 established position of executive director in Subsec. (f) and replaced "staff"
of the authority with "employee of the department" in Subsecs. (g), (h), (i) and (j); P.A. 85-552 amended Subsec. (k) to
prohibit any commissioner from accepting employment with entity engaged in lobbying with regard to regulation of public
service companies; P.A. 86-187 replaced power facility evaluation council with Connecticut siting council in Subsec. (j);
P.A. 89-291 updated salary group references for commissioners in Subsec. (d) and for the chairpersons in Subsec. (f); P.A.
94-74 amended Subsec. (k) by adding provision restricting commissioner's employment by persons, firms or corporations
certified to provide intrastate telecommunication services, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 94-77 amended Subsec. (e) by
adding "prior to July 1, 1997," in Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re standards for commissioners on and after July 1,
1997; P.A. 98-28 amended Subsec. (k) by rearranging language, deleting obsolete provisions and adding electric suppliers,
effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-248 amended Subsec. (d) to increase the salary of commissioners from group seventy-four
to group seventy-five, to increase the salary of the chairman from group seventy-six to group seventy-seven and to make
a technical change, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 99-286 amended Subsec. (k)(2) by changing reference to person, firm or
corporation certified by the department to "certified telecommunications provider", effective July 19, 1999; P.A. 00-112
amended Subsec. (d) to make a technical change, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 02-89 amended Subsec. (e) to delete as
obsolete former Subdiv. (1) re qualifications for commissioners prior to July 1, 1997, and to delete Subdiv. (2) designator;
P.A. 07-242 amended Subsec. (e) to change qualifications from applying on and after July 1, 1997, to at least three
commissioners, to on and after October 1, 2007, to any newly appointed commissioner and to provide that any time a
commissioner is newly appointed, at least one commissioner shall have experience in utility customer advocacy; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsec. (a) to change "Public Utilities Control Authority" to "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority within
the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection", reduce number of electors from 5 to 3 and number of members
from same political party from 3 to 2, replace former member appointment criteria with requirements re staggered terms
for initial appointments and 4-year terms thereafter and end term for any commissioner serving on June 30, 2011, amended
Subsec. (c) to reduce panel size from 3 to "one or more", delete provisions re appointment of examiner and referral to
entire authority and add provisions re request for hearing officer appointment and approval by majority vote, amended
Subsec. (f) to delete provisions re executive director appointment and duties and add provisions re chairperson duties re
authority staff with approval of Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, amended Subsecs. (g) to (j) to
add references to department employees "assigned to work with the authority", changed "commissioner" and "commissioners" to "director" and "directors" throughout and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-2a. Office of Consumer Counsel. (a) There shall be an independent Office
of Consumer Counsel, within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection,
for administrative purposes only, to act as the advocate for consumer interests in all
matters which may affect Connecticut consumers with respect to public service companies, electric suppliers and certified telecommunications providers. The Office of Consumer Counsel is authorized to appear in and participate in any regulatory or judicial
proceedings, federal or state, in which such interests of Connecticut consumers may be
involved, or in which matters affecting utility services rendered or to be rendered in this
state may be involved. The Office of Consumer Counsel shall be a party to each contested
case before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and shall participate in such proceedings to the extent it deems necessary. Said Office of Consumer Counsel may appeal
from a decision, order or authorization in any such state regulatory proceeding notwithstanding its failure to appear or participate in said proceeding.
(b) Except as prohibited by the provisions of section 4-181, the Office of Consumer
Counsel shall have access to the records of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
and shall be entitled to call upon the assistance of the authority's and the department's
experts, and shall have the benefit of all other facilities or information of the authority
or department in carrying out the duties of the Office of Consumer Counsel, except
for such internal documents, information or data as are not available to parties to the
authority's proceedings. The department shall provide such space as necessary within
the department's quarters for the operation of the Office of Consumer Counsel, and the
department shall be empowered to set regulations providing for adequate compensation
for the provision of such office space.
(c) The Office of Consumer Counsel shall be under the direction of a Consumer
Counsel, who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of either
house of the General Assembly. The Consumer Counsel shall be an elector of this state
and shall have demonstrated a strong commitment and involvement in efforts to safeguard the rights of the public. The Consumer Counsel shall serve for a term of five years
unless removed pursuant to section 16-5. The salary of the Consumer Counsel shall be
equal to that established for management pay plan salary group seventy-one by the
Commissioner of Administrative Services. No Consumer Counsel shall, for a period of
one year following the termination of service as Consumer Counsel, accept employment
by a public service company, a certified telecommunications provider or an electric
supplier. No Consumer Counsel who is also an attorney shall in any capacity, appear
or participate in any matter, or accept any compensation regarding a matter, before the
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, for a period of one year following the termination
of service as Consumer Counsel.
(d) The Consumer Counsel shall hire such staff as necessary to perform the duties of
said Office of Consumer Counsel and may employ from time to time outside consultants
knowledgeable in the utility regulation field including, but not limited to, economists,
capital cost experts and rate design experts. The salaries and qualifications of the individuals so hired shall be determined by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to section 4-40.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any party interested in such
proceeding or action from appearing in person or from being represented by counsel
therein.
(f) As used in this section, "consumer" means any person, city, borough or town
that receives service from any public service company, electric supplier or from any
certified telecommunications provider in this state whether or not such person, city,
borough or town is financially responsible for such service.
(g) The Office of Consumer Counsel shall not be required to post a bond as a condition to presenting an appeal from any state regulatory decision, order or authorization.
(h) The expenses of the Office of Consumer Counsel shall be assessed in accordance
with the provisions of section 16-49.
(P.A. 74-216, S. 6, 8; P.A. 75-486, S. 11, 69; P.A. 76-180, S. 1; 76-335, S. 2; P.A. 77-614, S. 67, 162, 164, 587, 610;
P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 80-462, S. 2; 80-482, S. 340, 348; P.A. 84-342, S. 5, 13; P.A. 88-22, S. 2; P.A. 89-291, S.
2, 8; P.A. 94-74, S. 2, 11; P.A. 95-79, S. 48, 189; P.A. 98-28, S. 79, 117; P.A. 99-248, S. 2, 3; 99-286, S. 4, 19; P.A. 00-53, S. 1; P.A. 01-49, S. 2; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 16.)
History: P.A. 75-486 greatly expanded provisions re office of consumer counsel and made office an independent agency,
previously it had been "within the public utilities commission"; P.A. 76-180 added appeal provision in Subsec. (a) and
added Subsec. (g) re exemption from bond requirement; P.A. 76-335 added Subsec. (h) re expenses; P.A. 77-614 and P.A.
78-303 replaced personnel policy board with commissioner of administrative services and, effective January 1, 1979,
replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation
and made office of consumer counsel a division within that department; P.A. 80-462 added provisions in Subsec. (c) re
employment of consumer counsel by public service company after termination of service; P.A. 80-482 made division of
consumer counsel a division within department of public utility control (formerly division of public utility control) rather
than within department of business regulation which was abolished; P.A. 84-342 added references to department of public
utility control, in the process transferring certain duties formerly held by authority to the department in Subsec. (b); P.A.
88-22 substituted the office of consumer counsel for the division of consumer counsel; P.A. 89-291 added provision in
Subsec. (a) providing consumer counsel with automatic party status in each contested case before the department and
updated the salary group reference for the consumer counsel in Subsec. (c); P.A. 94-74 amended Subsecs. (a), (c) and (f)
by adding provisions re persons, firms or corporations certified to provide intrastate telecommunication services, effective
July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-79 amended Subsec. (f) to redefine "consumer" to include a limited liability company, effective May
31, 1995; P.A. 98-28 amended Subsecs. (a), (c) and (f) by adding electric suppliers and made technical changes in Subsec.
(c), effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-248 amended Subsec. (c) to increase the salary of the Consumer Counsel from group
seventy to group seventy-one and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 99-286 amended Subsec. (a) by
changing reference to persons, firms and corporations certified or seeking to be certified to provide intrastate telecommunications service to "certified telecommunications providers" and amended Subsecs.(c) and (f) by changing references to
person, firm or corporation certified to provide intrastate telecommunications service to "certified telecommunications
provider" and deleting Subdiv. designators in Subsec. (c), effective July 19, 1999; P.A. 00-53 made technical changes in
Subsec. (f); P.A. 01-49 amended Subsec. (f) to make a technical change; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsec. (a) to change
"Department of Public Utility Control" to "Department of Energy and Environmental Protection" or "Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority", amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to Department of Public Utility Control and change "Public
Utilities Control Authority" to "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and amended Subsec. (d) to delete "he deems" re
hiring staff as necessary, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-2c. Division of Adjudication. There is established a Division of Adjudication within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The staff of the
division shall include, but not be limited to, hearing officers appointed pursuant to subsection (c) of section 16-2. The responsibilities of the division shall include, but not be
limited to, hearing matters assigned under said subsection and advising the commissioner and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority concerning legal issues. The commissioner shall appoint such hearing officers pursuant to section 16-2, and assign such
other staff as are necessary to advise the chairperson of the authority.
(P.A. 84-342, S. 8, 13; P.A. 11-80, S. 17.)
History: P.A. 11-80 changed "Department of Public Utility Control" to "Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection", changed "chairperson of the Public Utilities Control Authority" to "commissioner and the Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority", changed "hearing examiners" to "hearing officers", and required commissioner to appoint hearing
officers and assign such other staff as necessary, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-2d. Office of energy efficient businesses. There is established within the
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, within available appropriations,
an office of energy efficient businesses. The office shall provide in-state businesses (1)
a single point of contact for any state business interested in energy efficiency, renewable
energy or conservation projects, (2) information on loans and grants for energy efficiency, renewable energy projects and conservation, (3) audit and assessment services,
including, but not limited to, on-site outreach to businesses by qualified entities without
a commercial interest in the outcome of the audit, and (4) any other service deemed
relevant by said office.
(P.A. 11-80, S. 119.)
History: P.A. 11-80 effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-3. Vacancy. If any vacancy occurs in said Public Utilities Regulatory Authority at any time when the General Assembly is not in session, the Governor shall
appoint a director to fill such vacancy until such vacancy is filled at the next session of
the General Assembly. Any other vacancy shall be filled, for the unexpired portion of
the term, in the manner provided in section 16-2.
(1949 Rev., S. 5392; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 79, 136; P.A. 11-80, S. 18.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 would
have replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business
regulation, effective January 1, 1979, except for action of P.A. 78-303 which retained reference to authority in this section;
P.A. 11-80 changed "Public Utilities Control Authority" to "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and "commissioner"
to "director", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-4. Employees of public service companies, certified telecommunications providers and electric suppliers ineligible to serve on authority or in department. No officer, employee, attorney or agent of any public service company, of any
certified telecommunications provider or of any electric supplier shall be a member of
the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority or an employee of the Department of Energy
and Environmental Protection.
(1949 Rev., S. 5393; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 79, 136; P.A. 84-342, S. 6, 13;
P.A. 94-74, S. 3, 11; P.A. 98-28, S. 80, 117; P.A. 99-286, S. 5, 19; P.A. 11-80, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 would
have replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business
regulation, effective January 1, 1979, except for action of P.A. 78-303 which retained reference to authority in this section;
P.A. 84-342 added reference to the department of public utility control; P.A. 94-74 added provision re persons, firms or
corporations certified to provide intrastate telecommunication services, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 98-28 rearranged
language, deleted an obsolete provision and added electric suppliers, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-286 changed reference
to person, firm or corporation certified by the department to "certified telecommunications provider", effective July 19,
1999; P.A. 11-80 changed "Public Utilities Control Authority" to "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and "Department
of Public Utility Control" to "Department of Energy and Environmental Protection", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-6b. Regulations. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, in consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, may, in accordance
with chapter 54, adopt such regulations with respect to rates and charges, services,
accounting practices, safety and the conduct of operations generally of public service
companies subject to its jurisdiction as it deems reasonable and necessary. The department in consultation with the authority may, in accordance with chapter 54, adopt such
regulations with respect to services, accounting practices, safety and the conduct of
operations generally of electric suppliers subject to its jurisdiction as it deems reasonable
and necessary. After consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the department may also adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, establishing standards for systems utilizing cogeneration technology and renewable fuel resources.
(P.A. 73-342, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 43, 348; P.A. 81-439, S. 3, 14;
P.A. 98-28, S. 81, 117; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 20.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 replaced
public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective
January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made division an independent department and deleted reference to abolished department of
business regulation; P.A. 81-439 authorized department to adopt regulations establishing standards for systems utilizing
cogeneration technology and renewable fuel resources; P.A. 98-28 added provision authorizing the adoption of regulations
with respect to electric suppliers, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 11-80 replaced "Department of Public Utility Control" with
"Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, in consultation with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection",
specified that department may adopt regulations in consultation with the authority and made a technical change, effective
July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-7. Right of entry. Penalty. The directors and any employees of the department assigned to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority while engaged in the performance of their duties may, at all reasonable times, enter any premises, buildings, cars
or other places belonging to or controlled by any public service company or electric
supplier, and any person obstructing or in any way causing to be obstructed or hindered
any member or employee of the department in the performance of his or her duties shall
be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months
or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 5397; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 80-482, S. 44,
348; P.A. 98-28, S. 82, 117; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 21.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 and P.A.
78-303 replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business
regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made division an independent department and deleted reference to
abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 98-28 added electric suppliers, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 11-80 replaced
"commissioners and any employees of the Department of Public Utility Control" with "directors and any employees of
the department assigned to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2011.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) | (Return to List of Chapters) | (Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 16-8. Examination of witnesses and documents. Hearing officers. Management audits. (a) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may, in its discretion,
delegate its powers, in specific cases, to one or more of its directors or to a hearing
officer to ascertain the facts and report thereon to the authority. The authority, or any
director thereof, in the performance of its duties or in connection with any hearing, or
at the request of any person, corporation, company, town, borough or association, may
summon and examine, under oath, such witnesses, and may direct the production of,
and examine or cause to be produced and examined, such books, records, vouchers,
memoranda, documents, letters, contracts or other papers in relation to the affairs of
any public service company as it may find advisable, and shall have the same powers
in reference thereto as are vested in magistrates taking depositions. If any witness objects
to testifying or to producing any book or paper on the ground that such testimony, book
or paper may tend to incriminate him, and the authority directs such witness to testify
or to produce such book or paper, and he complies, or if he is compelled so to do by
order of court, he shall not be prosecuted for any matter concerning which he or she has
so testified. The fees of witnesses summoned by the department to appear before it under
the provisions of this section, and the fees for summoning witnesses shall be the same
as in the Superior Court. All such fees, together with any other expenses authorized by
statute, the method of payment of which is not otherwise provided, shall, when taxed
by the authority, be paid by the state, through the business office of the authority, in the
same manner as court expenses. The authority may designate in specific cases a hearing
officer who may be a member of its technical staff or a member of the Connecticut Bar
engaged for that purpose under a contract approved by the Secretary of the Office of
Policy and Management to hold a hearing and make report thereon to the authority. A
hearing officer so designated shall have the same powers as the authority, or any director
thereof, to conduct a hearing, except that only a director of the authority shall have the
power to grant immunity from prosecution to any witness who objects to testifying or
to producing any book or paper on the ground that such testimony, book or paper may
tend to incriminate him or her.
(b) (1) The authority may, within available appropriations, employ professional
personnel to perform management audits. The authority shall promptly establish such
procedures as it deems necessary or desirable to provide for management audits to be
performed on a regular or irregular schedule on all or any portion of the operating procedures and any other internal workings of any public service company, including the
relationship between any public service company and a related holding company or
subsidiary, consistent with the provisions of section 16-8c, provided no such audit shall
be performed on a community antenna television company, except with regard to any
noncable communications services which the company may provide, or when (A) such
an audit is necessary for the authority to perform its regulatory functions under the
Communications Act of 1934, 47 USC 151, et seq., as amended from time to time, other
federal law or state law, (B) the cost of such an audit is warranted by a reasonably
foreseeable financial, safety or service benefit to subscribers of the company which is
the subject of such an audit, and (C) such an audit is restricted to examination of the
operating procedures that affect operations within the state.
(2) In any case where the authority determines that an audit is necessary or desirable,
it may (A) order the audit to be performed by one of the management audit teams, (B)
require the affected company to perform the audit utilizing the company's own internal
management audit staff as supervised by designated members of the authority's staff,
or (C) require that the audit be performed under the supervision of designated members
of the authority's staff by an independent management consulting firm selected by the
authority, in consultation with the affected company. If the affected company has more
than seventy-five thousand customers, such independent management consulting firm
shall be of nationally recognized stature. All reasonable and proper expenses of the
audits, including, but not limited to, the costs associated with the audit firm's testimony
at a public hearing or other proceeding, shall be borne by the affected companies and
shall be paid by such companies at such times and in such manner as the authority
directs.
(3) For purposes of this section, a complete audit shall consist of (A) a diagnostic
review of all functions of the audited company, which shall include, but not be limited to,
documentation of the operations of the company, assessment of the company's system of
internal controls, and identification of any areas of the company which may require
subsequent audits, and (B) the performance of subsequent focused audits identified in
the diagnostic review and determined necessary by the authority. All audits performed
pursuant to this section shall be performed in accordance with generally accepted management audit standards. The department shall adopt regulations in accordance with
the provisions of chapter 54 setting forth such generally accepted management audit
standards. Each audit of a community antenna television company shall be consistent
with the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 USC 151, et seq., as amended
from time to time, and of any other applicable federal law. The authority shall certify
whether a portion of an audit conforms to the provisions of this section and constitutes
a portion of a complete audit.
(4) A complete audit of each portion of each gas, electric or electric distribution
company having more than seventy-five thousand customers shall begin no less frequently than every six years, so that a complete audit of such a company's operations
shall be performed every six years. Such an audit of each such company having more
than seventy-five thousand customers shall be updated as required by the authority.
(5) The results of an audit performed pursuant to this section shall be filed with the
authority and shall be open to public inspection. Upon completion and review of the
audit, if the person or firm performing or supervising the audit determines that any of
the operating procedures or any other internal workings of the affected public service
company are inefficient, improvident, unreasonable, negligent or in abuse of discretion,
the authority may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, order the affected public
service company to adopt such new or altered practices and procedures as the authority
shall find necessary to promote efficient and adequate service to meet the public convenience and necessity. The authority shall annually submit a report of audits performed
pursuant to this section to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having
cognizance of matters relating to public utilities which report shall include the status of
audits begun but not yet completed and a summary of the results of audits completed.
(6) All reasonable and proper costs and expenses, as determined by the authority,
of complying with any order of the authority pursuant to this subsection shall be recognized by the authority for all purposes as proper business expenses of the affected
company.
(7) After notice and hearing, the authority may modify the scope and schedule of
a management audit of a telephone company which is subject to an alternative form of
regulation so that such audit is consistent with that alternative form of regulation.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to interfere or conflict with any powers
of the authority or its staff provided elsewhere in the general statutes, including, but not
limited to, the provisions of this section and sections 16-7, 16-28 and 16-32, to conduct
an audit, investigation or review of the books, records, plant and equipment of any
regulated public service company.
(1949 Rev., S. 5398; P.A. 73-355, S. 2; P.A. 75-486, S. 6, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 19, 162, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85,
136; P.A. 80-168; 80-482, S. 4, 40, 45, 345, 348; P.A. 81-348, S. 1; P.A. 82-472, S. 50, 183; P.A. 85-509, S. 2, 11; 85-552, S. 4, 8; P.A. 90-221, S. 2, 15; P.A. 94-229, S. 1; P.A. 97-23; P.A. 98-28, S. 83, 117; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 5,
121; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 23.)
History: P.A. 73-355 specified that hearing examiners may be staff member or member of Connecticut bar; P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority, allowed authority to act at request of person,
corporation, company, town, borough or association and added Subsec. (b) re audits; P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced
commissioner of finance and control with secretary of the office of policy and management and, effective January 1, 1979,
replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation;
P.A. 80-168 replaced "member(s)" with "commissioner(s)", and "secretary" with "business office", allowed delegation
of powers to hearing examiners and replaced provision whereby hearing examiner had power only to administer oaths
with provision granting examiners same powers as division except power to grant immunity from prosecution; P.A. 80-482 made division an independent department with public utilities control authority as its head; P.A. 81-348 reduced
number of consulting firms required to be included in list provided to company by department in Subsec. (b), from five
to three; P.A. 82-472 made technical corrections; P.A. 85-509 divided Subsec. (b) into Subsecs. (b) and (c) and, in Subsec.
(b), prohibited management audits of community antenna television companies except with regard to noncable communications services; P.A. 85-552 amended Subsec. (b) to require department, instead of affected company, to select consulting
firm for management audit, to require consulting firm to be of nationally-recognized stature if affected company has more
than 75,000 customers and to require periodic audits only of gas, electric and telephone companies having more than
75,000 customers; P.A. 90-221 in Subsec. (b) added provision that the affected companies shall pay all reasonable and
proper costs of an audit, including the costs of the audit firm's testimony at a public hearing and a provision that such costs
shall be paid as directed by the department; P.A. 94-229 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. designations, adding
provision re relationship between public service company and related holding company or subsidiary in Subdiv. (1), adding
Subparas. (A) to (C) re audits of community antenna television companies in Subdiv. (1), changing subdivision designations
to subparagraph designations in Subdiv. (2), deleting provision re audits of gas, electric or telephone companies having
more than 75,000 customers from Subdiv. (2), adding Subdiv. (3) re complete audits, adding Subdiv. (4) re audits of gas,
electric and telephone companies having more than 75,000 customers, changing "any such audits" to "an audit performed
pursuant to this section" in Subdiv. (5), adding provision re report of audits in Subdiv. (5), and adding Subdiv. (7) re audits
of telephone companies subject to an alternative form of regulation; P.A. 97-23 amended Subsec. (b)(4) to delete references
to telephone companies and delete provision requiring department to schedule complete audits; P.A. 98-28 amended
Subsec. (b)(4) by adding electric distribution companies, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical
change to Subsec. (b)(5), effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to replace "Department of
Public Utility Control" with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority", "department" with "authority" and "hearing examiner"
with "hearing officer" and amended Subsec. (b)(1) to replace provision allowing Department of Public Utility Control to
establish management audit teams with provision allowing authority, within available appropriations, to employ personnel
to perform management audits, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "department" was changed editorially by
the Revisors to "authority" in Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-8a. Protection of employee of public service company, contractor or
Nuclear Regulatory Commission from retaliation. Procedures. Regulations. (a) No
public service company, as defined in section 16-1, holding company, as defined in
section 16-47, or Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee operating a nuclear power
generating facility in this state, or person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor
directly or indirectly providing goods or services to such public service company, holding company or licensee, may take or threaten to take any retaliatory action against
an employee for the employee's disclosure of (1) any matter involving the substantial
misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in the management of such public service
company, holding company or licensee, or (2) information pursuant to section 31-51m.
Any employee found to have knowingly made a false disclosure shall be subject to
disciplinary action by the employee's employer, up to and including dismissal.
(b) Any employee of such a public service company, holding company or licensee,
or of any person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor directly or indirectly
providing goods or services to such a public service company, holding company or
licensee, having knowledge of any of the following may transmit all facts and information in the employee's possession to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority: (1) Any
matter involving substantial misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in the management of such public service company, holding company or licensee; or (2) any matter
involving retaliatory action or the threat of retaliatory action taken against an employee
who has reported the misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, in the management of
such public service company, holding company or licensee. With regard to any matter
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the authority shall investigate such matter
in accordance with the provisions of section 16-8 and shall not disclose the identity of
such employee without the employee's consent unless it determines that such disclosure
is unavoidable during the course of the investigation. With regard to any matter described
in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the matter shall be handled in accordance with the
procedures set forth in subsections (c) and (d) of this section.
(c) (1) Not more than thirty business days after receipt of a written complaint, in
a form prescribed by the authority, by an employee alleging the employee's employer
has retaliated against an employee in violation of subsection (a) of this section, the
authority shall make a preliminary finding in accordance with this subsection.
(2) Not more than five business days after receiving a written complaint, in a form
prescribed by the authority, the authority shall notify the employer by certified mail.
Such notification shall include a description of the nature of the charges and the substance
of any relevant supporting evidence. The employer may submit a written response and
both the employer and the employee may present rebuttal statements in the form of
affidavits from witnesses and supporting documents and may meet with the authority
informally to respond verbally about the nature of the employee's charges. The authority
shall consider in making its preliminary finding as provided in subdivision (3) of this
subsection any such written and verbal responses, including affidavits and supporting
documents, received by the authority not more than twenty business days after the employer receives such notice. Any such response received after twenty business days shall
be considered by the authority only upon a showing of good cause and at the discretion
of the authority. The authority shall make its preliminary finding as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection based on information described in this subdivision, without
a public hearing.
(3) Unless the authority finds by clear and convincing evidence that the adverse
employment action was taken for a reason unconnected with the employee's report of
substantial misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that an employee was retaliated against in violation of subsection (a) of this
section if the authority finds that: (A) The employee had reported substantial misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in the management of the public service company,
holding company or licensee; (B) the employee was subsequently discharged, suspended, demoted or otherwise penalized by having the employee's status of employment
changed by the employee's employer; and (C) the subsequent discharge, suspension,
demotion or other penalty followed the employee's report closely in time.
(4) If such findings are made, the authority shall issue an order requiring the employer to immediately return the employee to the employee's previous position of employment or an equivalent position pending the completion of the authority's full investigatory proceeding pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
(d) Not later than thirty days after making a preliminary finding in accordance with
the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, the authority shall initiate a full investigatory proceeding in accordance with the provisions of section 16-8, at which time the
employer shall have the opportunity to rebut the presumption. The authority may issue
orders or impose civil penalties in a manner that conforms with the notice and hearing
provisions in section 16-41 against a public service company, holding company or licensee or a person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor directly or indirectly
providing goods or services to such public service company, holding company or licensee, in order to enforce the provisions of this section.
(e) If an employee or former employee of such a public service company, holding
company or licensee, or of a person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor directly or indirectly providing goods or services to such a public service company, holding
company or licensee, having knowledge of any matter involving the substantial misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in the management of such public service company,
holding company or licensee, enters into an agreement with the employee's employer
that contains a provision directly or indirectly discouraging the employee from presenting a written complaint or testimony concerning such misfeasance, malfeasance or
nonfeasance in any legislative, administrative or judicial proceeding, such provision
shall be void as against public policy.
(f) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall adopt regulations, in accordance
with chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall include
the following: (1) The procedures by which a complaint may be brought pursuant to
subsection (a) of this section; (2) the time period in which such a complaint may be
brought; (3) the time period by which the authority shall render a decision pursuant to
subsection (d) of this section; (4) the form on which written complaints shall be submitted
to the authority by an employee pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; and (5) the
requirement that a notice be posted in the workplace informing all employees of any
public service company, holding company and licensee and of any person, firm, corporation, contractor or subcontractor directly or indirectly providing goods or services to a
company or licensee, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, of their rights under
this section, including the right to be reinstated in accordance with subsection (c) of this
section.
(P.A. 85-245, S. 1; P.A. 89-88; P.A. 91-247, S. 1; P.A. 96-22, S. 1, 2; P.A. 97-60, S. 1, 2; P.A. 99-46, S. 1, 2; P.A. 11-80, S. 24.)
History: P.A. 89-88 included provisions re employees of a holding company, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensee, a contractor or a subcontractor and added new Subsec. (c) re department orders to enforce provisions of section;
P.A. 91-247 added provision in Subsec. (a) authorizing persons having knowledge of "the discharge, discipline or penalizing
of a person reporting the misfeasance, or nonfeasance of the company" to report the same to the department, in Subsec.
(c) authorized the department to issue cease and desist orders and added a new Subsec. (d) requiring the department to
adopt regulations to provide employees with information re rights relating to complaints against a company; P.A. 96-22
imposed January 1, 1997, deadline for the department to adopt regulations as provided for in Subsec. (d), effective April
29, 1996; P.A. 97-60 inserted new Subsec. (a) prohibiting retaliation against employees, relettered former Subsec. (a) as
Subsec. (b) and restructured the language, deleted former Subsecs. (b) and (c), inserted new Subsec. (c) creating procedures
for preliminary findings of retaliation and establishing presumptions, inserted new Subsec. (d) describing procedures for
full investigatory proceedings, inserted new Subsec. (e) rendering certain agreements as void, and relettered former Subsec.
(d) as Subsec. (f) and restructured language, effective May 27, 1997; P.A. 99-46 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provisions
re complaints pending on May 27, 1997, and requiring department to make finding based on sworn affidavits and verified
documents without a public hearing in Subdiv. (1), by rewording language re notice to employer and preliminary findings
in Subdiv. (2), authorizing employee to present rebuttal statements and respond verbally and changing to 20 the number
of days a party can respond to department, by adding provision re adverse employment action taken for reason unconnected
to misfeasance and changing Subpara. (c) criteria in Subdiv. (3), and by adding provision re pending completion of department's full investigatory proceeding in Subdiv. (4), amended Subsec. (d) by adding "Not later than thirty days", and making
technical changes, effective May 27, 1999; P.A. 11-80 replaced "Department of Public Utility Control" with "Public
Utilities Regulatory Authority" and replaced "department" with "authority", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-9. Orders. All decisions, orders and authorizations of the Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority shall be in writing and shall specify the reasons therefor, shall be
filed and kept in the office of the authority and recorded in a book kept by it for that
purpose and shall be public records. Said authority may, at any time, for cause shown,
upon hearing had after notice to all parties in interest, rescind, reverse or alter any decision, order or authorization by it made. Written notice of all orders, decisions or authorizations issued by the authority shall be given to the company or person affected thereby,
by personal service upon such company or person or by registered or certified mail, as
the authority determines. Any final decision, order or authorization of the Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority in a contested case shall constitute a final decision for the purposes
of chapter 54.
(1949 Rev., S. 5399; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 80-482, S. 46,
348; P.A. 88-297, S. 14; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 22.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 and P.A.
78-303 replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business
regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made division an independent department and deleted reference to
abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 88-297 substituted "records" for "documents"; P.A. 11-80 replaced
"Department of Public Utility Control" with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and added provision re final decision
of authority in a contested case to constitute a final decision for purposes of chapter 54, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant
to P.A. 11-80, "department" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "authority", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-18a. Consultants: Retention, expenses, findings and recommendations. (a) In the performance of their duties the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
and the Office of Consumer Counsel may retain consultants to assist their staffs in
proceedings before the authority by providing expertise in areas in which staff expertise
does not currently exist or when necessary to supplement existing staff expertise. In any
case where the authority or Office of Consumer Counsel determines that the services
of a consultant are necessary or desirable, the authority shall (1) allow opportunity for
the parties and participants to the proceeding for which the services of a consultant are
being considered to comment regarding the necessity or desirability of such services,
(2) upon the request of a party or participant to the proceeding for which the services
of a consultant are being considered, hold a hearing, and (3) limit the reasonable and
proper expenses for such services to not more than two hundred thousand dollars for
each agency per proceeding involving a public service company, telecommunications
company, electric supplier or person seeking certification to provide telecommunications services pursuant to chapter 283, with more than fifteen thousand customers, and
to not more than fifty thousand dollars for each agency per proceeding involving such
a company, electric supplier or person with less than fifteen thousand customers, provided the authority or the Office of Consumer Counsel may exceed such limits for good
cause. In the case of multiple proceedings conducted to implement the provisions of
this section and sections 16-1, 16-19, 16-19e, 16-22, 16-247a to 16-247c, inclusive, 16-247e to 16-247i, inclusive, 16-247k and subsection (e) of 16-331, the authority or the
Office of Consumer Counsel may exceed such limits, but the total amount for all such
proceedings shall not exceed the aggregate amount which would be available pursuant
to this section. All reasonable and proper expenses, as defined in subdivision (3) of this
section, shall be borne by the affected company, electric supplier or person and shall
be paid by such company, electric supplier or person at such times and in such manner
as the authority or the Office of Consumer Counsel directs. All reasonable and proper
costs and expenses, as defined in subdivision (3) of this section, shall be recognized by
the authority for all purposes as proper business expenses of the affected company,
electric supplier or person. The providers of consultant services shall be selected by the
authority or the Office of Consumer Counsel and shall submit written findings and
recommendations to the authority or the Office of Consumer Counsel, as the case may
be, which shall be made part of the public record.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the authority and the
Office of Consumer Counsel shall not retain any consultant under subsection (a) of
this section in connection with any proceeding involving telecommunications if such
consultant, at the time the consultant would be retained, is serving as a consultant to a
certified telecommunications provider or a telephone company that would be affected by
such proceeding, unless each party and intervenor to such proceeding agrees in writing to
waive the provisions of this subsection.
(P.A. 92-25, S. 1; P.A. 94-83, S. 11, 16; P.A. 98-28, S. 34, 117; P.A. 99-286, S. 7, 19; P.A. 00-53, S. 2; P.A. 00-107,
S. 2, 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 17, 131; P.A. 11-80, S. 25.)
History: P.A. 94-83 added "or when necessary to supplement existing staff expertise", made technical changes, amended
Subdiv. (1) by replacing hearing with opportunity for comment, added new Subdiv. (2) re hearing, renumbered Subdiv.
(2) as (3) and changed references to Subdiv. (2) to Subdiv. (3), added provisions re telecommunications companies and
persons, firms or corporations seeking certification, added provision re multiple proceedings and deleted "The provisions
of this section shall terminate on January 1, 1997", effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 98-28 designated existing provisions as
Subsec. (a), making technical changes and adding references to electric suppliers, and added new Subsec. (b) authorizing
the department to retain consultants for implementing the public education outreach program, effective July 1, 1998; P.A.
99-286 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes, effective July 19, 1999; P.A. 00-53 made a technical change
in Subsec. (a); P.A. 00-107 added new Subsec. (c) prohibiting the use of certain consultants, effective May 26, 2000; June
Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 extended the authority of the department to retain consultants for implementing the public education
outreach program from December 31, 2000, to December 31, 2005, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 11-80 replaced "Department
of Public Utility Control" with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority", replaced "department" with "authority", deleted
former Subsec. (b) re retaining consultants to assist in developing and implementing public education outreach program,
and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-19. Amendment of rate schedule; investigations and findings by authority; hearings; deferral of municipal rate increases; refunds; notice of application for rate amendment, interim rate amendment and reopening of rate proceeding. (a) No public service company may charge rates in excess of those previously
approved by the Public Utilities Control Authority or the Public Utilities Regulatory
Authority, except that any rate approved by the Public Utilities Commission or the
Public Utilities Control Authority shall be permitted until amended by the Public Utilities Control Authority or the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, that rates not approved by the Public Utilities Control Authority or the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may be charged pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and that the hearing
requirements with respect to adjustment clauses are as set forth in section 16-19b. For
water companies, existing rates shall include the amount of any adjustments approved
pursuant to section 16-262w since the company's most recent general rate case, provided
any adjustment amount shall be separately identified in any customer bill. Each public
service company shall file any proposed amendment of its existing rates with the authority in such form and in accordance with such reasonable regulations as the authority
may prescribe. Each electric, electric distribution, gas or telephone company filing a
proposed amendment shall also file with the authority an estimate of the effects of the
amendment, for various levels of consumption, on the household budgets of high and
moderate income customers and customers having household incomes not more than one
hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty level. Each electric and electric distribution
company shall also file such an estimate for space heating customers. Each water company, except a water company that provides water to its customers less than six consecutive months in a calendar year, filing a proposed amendment, shall also file with the
authority a plan for promoting water conservation by customers in such form and in
accordance with a memorandum of understanding entered into by the authority pursuant
to section 4-67e. Each public service company shall notify each customer who would
be affected by the proposed amendment, by mail, at least one week prior to the public
hearing thereon, that an amendment has been or will be requested. Such notice shall also
indicate (1) the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority telephone number for obtaining
information concerning the schedule for public hearings on the proposed amendment,
and (2) whether the proposed amendment would, in the company's best estimate, increase any rate or charge by twenty per cent or more, and, if so, describe in general
terms any such rate or charge and the amount of the proposed increase, provided no
such company shall be required to provide more than one form of the notice to each
class of its customers. In the case of a proposed amendment to the rates of any public
service company, the authority shall hold a public hearing thereon, except as permitted
with respect to interim rate amendments by subsections (d) and (g) of this section, and
shall make such investigation of such proposed amendment of rates as is necessary to
determine whether such rates conform to the principles and guidelines set forth in section
16-19e, or are unreasonably discriminatory or more or less than just, reasonable and
adequate, or that the service furnished by such company is inadequate to or in excess
of public necessity and convenience. The authority, if in its opinion such action appears
necessary or suitable in the public interest may, and, upon written petition or complaint
of the state, under direction of the Governor, shall, make the aforesaid investigation of
any such proposed amendment which does not involve an alteration in rates. If the
authority finds any proposed amendment of rates to not conform to the principles and
guidelines set forth in section 16-19e, or to be unreasonably discriminatory or more or
less than just, reasonable and adequate to enable such company to provide properly
for the public convenience, necessity and welfare, or the service to be inadequate or
excessive, it shall determine and prescribe, as appropriate, an adequate service to be
furnished or just and reasonable maximum rates and charges to be made by such company. In the case of a proposed amendment filed by an electric, electric distribution,
gas or telephone company, the authority shall also adjust the estimate filed under this
subsection of the effects of the amendment on the household budgets of the company's
customers, in accordance with the rates and charges approved by the authority. The
authority shall issue a final decision on each rate filing within one hundred fifty days
from the proposed effective date thereof, provided it may, before the end of such period
and upon notifying all parties and intervenors to the proceedings, extend the period by
thirty days.
(b) If the authority has not made its finding respecting an amendment of any rate
within one hundred fifty days from the proposed effective date of such amendment
thereof, or within one hundred eighty days if the authority extends the period in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, such amendment may become
effective pending the authority's finding with respect to such amendment upon the filing
by the company with the authority of assurance satisfactory to the authority, which may
include a bond with surety, of the company's ability and willingness to refund to its
customers with interest such amounts as the company may collect from them in excess
of the rates fixed by the authority in its finding or fixed at the conclusion of any appeal
taken as a result of a finding by the authority.
(c) Upon conclusion of its investigation of the reasonableness of any proposed increase of rates, the authority shall order the company to refund to its customers with
interest any amounts the company may have collected from them during the period that
any amendment permitted by subsection (b) of this section was in force, which amounts
the authority may find to have been in excess of the rates fixed by the authority in its
finding or fixed at the conclusion of any appeal taken as a result of a finding by the
authority. Any such refund ordered by the authority shall be paid by the company, under
direction of the authority, to its customers in such amounts as are determined by the
authority.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the authority from approving
an interim rate increase, if the authority finds that such an interim rate increase is necessary to prevent substantial and material deterioration of the financial condition of a public
service company, to prevent substantial deterioration of the adequacy and reliability of
service to its customers or to conform to the applicable principles and guidelines set
forth in section 16-19e, provided the authority shall first hold a special public hearing
on the need for such interim rate increase and the company, at least one week prior to
such hearing, notifies each customer who would be affected by the interim rate increase
that such an increase is being requested. The company shall include the notice in a
mailing of customer bills, unless such a mailing would not provide timely notice, in
which case the authority shall authorize an alternative manner of providing such notice.
Any such interim rate increase shall only be permitted if the public service company
submits an assurance satisfactory to the authority, which may include a bond with surety,
of the company's ability and willingness to refund to its customers with interest such
amounts as the company may collect from such interim rates in excess of the rates
approved by the authority in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. The authority
shall order a refund in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the amount collected
pursuant to the interim rates over the amount which would have been collected pursuant
to the rates finally approved by the authority in accordance with subsection (a) of this
section or fixed at the conclusion of any appeal taken as a result of any finding by the
authority. Such refund ordered by the authority shall be paid by the company to its
customers in such amounts and by such procedure as ordered by the authority.
(e) If the authority finds that the imposition of any increase in rates would create a
hardship for a municipality, because such increase is not reflected in its then current
budget, or cannot be included in the budget of its fiscal year which begins less than five
months after the effective date of such increase, the authority may defer the applicability
of such increase with respect to services furnished to such municipality until the fiscal
year of such municipality beginning not less than five months following the effective
date of such increase; provided the revenues lost to the public service company through
such deferral shall be paid to the public service company by the municipality in its first
fiscal year following the period of such deferral.
(f) Any public service company, as defined in section 16-1, filing an application
with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to reopen a rate proceeding under this
section, which application proposes to increase the company's revenues or any rate or
charge of the company by five per cent or more, shall, not later than one week prior to
the hearing under the reopened proceeding, notify each customer who would be affected
thereby that such an application is being filed. Such notice shall indicate the rate increases proposed in the application. The company shall include the notice in a mailing
of customer bills, unless such a mailing would not provide timely notice to customers of
the reopening of the proceeding, in which case the authority shall authorize an alternative
manner of providing such notice.
(g) The authority shall hold either a special public hearing or combine an investigation with an ongoing four-year review conducted in accordance with section 16-19a or
with a general rate hearing conducted in accordance with subsection (a) of this section
on the need for an interim rate decrease (1) when a public service company has, for six
consecutive months, earned a return on equity which exceeds the return authorized by
the authority by at least one percentage point, (2) if it finds that any change in municipal,
state or federal tax law creates a significant increase in a company's rate of return, or
(3) if it finds that a public service company may be collecting rates which are more than
just, reasonable and adequate, as determined by the authority, provided the authority
shall require appropriate notice of hearing to the company and its customers who would
be affected by an interim rate decrease in such form as the authority deems reasonable.
The company shall be required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the authority that
earning such a return on equity or collecting rates which are more than just, reasonable
and adequate is directly beneficial to its customers. At the completion of the proceeding,
the authority may order an interim rate decrease if it finds that such return on equity or
rates exceeds a reasonable rate of return or is more than just, reasonable and adequate
as determined by the authority. Any such interim rate decrease shall be subject to a
customer surcharge if the interim rates collected by the company are less than the rates
finally approved by the authority or fixed at the conclusion of any appeal taken as a
result of any finding by the authority. Such surcharge shall be assessed against customers
in such amounts and by such procedure as ordered by the authority.
(h) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the regulation of a telecommunications service which is a competitive service, as defined in section 16-247a, or to a
telecommunications service to which an approved plan for an alternative form of regulation applies, pursuant to section 16-247k.
(1949 Rev., S. 5409; 1969, P.A. 217; 1972, P.A. 192, S. 1; P.A. 74-216, S. 2, 8; P.A. 75-486, S. 8, 69; P.A. 77-121;
77-614, S. 162, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 80-482, S. 55, 348; P.A. 83-190, S. 1-3; P.A. 84-113, S. 1, 2, 4;
84-342, S. 9, 13; 84-546, S. 49, 173; P.A. 85-33, S. 1; P.A. 87-202, S. 1; 87-331, S. 1, 4; P.A. 89-327, S. 5, 7; P.A. 94-83,
S. 12, 16; 94-242, S. 2, 9; P.A. 98-28, S. 89, 117; P.A. 00-17, S. 1; P.A. 01-49, S. 4; P.A. 11-61, S. 6; 11-80, S. 1.)
History: 1969 act allowed suspension of effective date of increase for 150 days rather than 120 days; 1972 act added
provisions re deferment of increase to municipalities if increase would cause budget difficulties; P.A. 74-216 added special
provisions re rate increases for gas and electric companies; P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public
utilities control authority, clarified and rearranged provisions, allowed company to charge rates higher than those previously
approved under certain circumstances and made interim rate provisions applicable to all public service companies rather
than to gas and electric companies only; P.A. 77-121 required that companies notify customers of rate amendment request
by mail before public hearing in Subsec. (a); P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced authority with division of public utility
control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made division an independent
department and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 83-190 amended Subsec. (a) to
require notice of proposed amendment one week prior to hearing and indication whether amendment would increase any
rate or charge by at least 20%, amended Subsec. (d) to establish notice requirement for proposed interim rate amendments
and added Subsec. (f) to establish notice requirement for any application to reopen a rate proceeding, which application
proposes to increase company's revenues or any rate or charge by at least 5%; P.A. 84-113 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b)
to authorize department to extend deadline for issuing a final decision on a rate filing by 30 days, to 180 days; P.A. 84-342 amended Subsec. (a) to require filing of estimate of effects of amendment and adjustment of estimate by department;
P.A. 84-546 confirmed action of the Revisors in adding P.A. 83-190, S. 1 as Subsec. (f); P.A. 85-33 amended Subsec. (a)
to require each public service company to include, in notice of proposed amendment, department telephone number for
information on hearing schedule; P.A. 87-202 amended Subsec. (a) to require water companies filing proposed rate amendments to submit water conservation plans; P.A. 87-331 added Subsec. (g) re interim rate decrease and Subsec. (h) re effects
of Tax Reform Act of 1986; P.A. 89-327 amended Subsec. (a) requiring that water conservation plan be in accordance
with the memorandum of understanding; P.A. 94-83 added new Subsec. (i) re applicability to telecommunications service
which is competitive or to which an approved plan for an alternative form of regulation applies, effective July 1, 1994;
P.A. 94-242 deleted former Subsec. (h) re review of the effects of the federal Tax Reform Act of 1986, necessitating
relettering of new Subsec. (i) added by P.A. 94-83 as (h), effective June 2, 1994; P.A. 98-28 amended Subsec. (a) by adding
electric distribution companies, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-17 amended Subsec. (g) by authorizing the department to
combine investigation with ongoing four-year review or with general rate hearing as an alternative to a special public
hearing and by making conforming technical changes; P.A. 01-49 amended Subsec. (g) to make technical changes; P.A.
11-61 amended Subsec. (a) to specify that adjustments approved under Sec. 16-262w are included in water companies'
existing rates, effective June 21, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "Department of Public Utility Control" and "department"
were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and "authority", respectively, effective
July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-19a. Periodic review re gas, electric and electric distribution companies' rates, services and performance. Approval of performance-based incentives.
(a)(1) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall, at intervals of not more than
four years from the last previous general rate hearing of each gas, electric and electric
distribution company having more than seventy-five thousand customers, conduct a
complete review and investigation of the financial and operating records of each such
company and hold a public hearing to determine whether the rates of each such company
are unreasonably discriminatory or more or less than just, reasonable and adequate, or
that the service furnished by such company is inadequate to or in excess of public necessity and convenience or that the rates do not conform to the principles and guidelines
set forth in section 16-19e. In making such determination, the authority shall consider
the gross and net earnings of such company since its last previous general rate hearing,
its retained earnings, its actual and proposed capital expenditures, its advertising expenses, the dividends paid to its stockholders, the rate of return paid on its preferred
stock, bonds, debentures and other obligations, its credit rating, and such other financial
and operating information as the authority may deem pertinent.
(2) The authority may conduct a general rate hearing in accordance with subsection
(a) of section 16-19, in lieu of the periodic review and investigation proceedings required
under subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(b) In the proceeding required under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section,
the authority may approve performance-based incentives to encourage a gas or electric
company to operate efficiently and provide high quality service at fair and reasonable
prices. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if the authority approves such
performance-based incentives for a particular company, the authority shall include in
such approval a framework for periodic monitoring and review of the company's performance in regard to criteria specified by the authority, which shall include, but not be
limited to, the company's return on equity, reliability and quality of service. The authority's periodic monitoring and review shall be used in lieu of the periodic review and
investigation proceedings required under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.
If the authority determines in the periodic monitoring and review that a more extensive
review of company performance is necessary, the authority may institute a further proceeding in accordance with the purposes of this chapter, including a complete review
and investigation described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section.
(P.A. 74-216, S. 3, 8; P.A. 75-486, S. 9, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 56, 348; P.A. 85-30, S. 1, 2; P.A.
96-42, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-28, S. 90, 117; P.A. 00-17, S. 2; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 26.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority, required review not
more than two years after last rate hearing, rather than not less than two years after hearing, included operating records in
review and required review to see whether rates conform to guidelines in Sec. 16-19e; P.A. 77-614 replaced authority with
division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made
division an independent department and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 85-30
required department to conduct reviews and investigations at intervals of not more than four years, instead of not more
than two years, from last rate hearing and limited applicability of provisions of section to companies having more than
75,000 customers; P.A. 96-42 lettered existing section as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re performance-based incentives
and periodic monitoring and review by the Department of Public Utility Control in lieu of a rate proceeding described in
Subsec. (a), effective May 2, 1996; P.A. 98-28 amended Subsec. (a) by adding electric distribution companies, effective
July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-17 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing language as Subdiv. (1) and inserting new Subdiv.
(2) authorizing department to conduct general rate hearing in lieu of periodic review and investigation proceedings, and
amended Subsec. (b) by making conforming technical changes; P.A. 11-80 replaced "Department of Public Utility Control"
with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and replaced "department" with "authority", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-19e. Guidelines for transfer of assets and franchises, plant expansion,
internal utility management and rate structures. Public hearing. Policy coordination among state agencies. Parties to rate proceeding. (a) In the exercise of its powers
under the provisions of this title, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall examine
and regulate the transfer of existing assets and franchises, the expansion of the plant and
equipment of existing public service companies, the operations and internal workings of
public service companies and the establishment of the level and structure of rates in
accordance with the following principles: (1) That there is a clear public need for the
service being proposed or provided; (2) that the public service company shall be fully
competent to provide efficient and adequate service to the public in that such company
is technically, financially and managerially expert and efficient; (3) that the authority
and all public service companies shall perform all of their respective public responsibilities with economy, efficiency and care for public safety and energy security, and so as
to promote economic development within the state with consideration for energy and
water conservation, energy efficiency and the development and utilization of renewable
sources of energy and for the prudent management of the natural environment; (4) that
the level and structure of rates be sufficient, but no more than sufficient, to allow public
service companies to cover their operating costs including, but not limited to, appropriate
staffing levels, and capital costs, to attract needed capital and to maintain their financial
integrity, and yet provide appropriate protection to the relevant public interests, both
existing and foreseeable which shall include, but not be limited to, reasonable costs of
security of assets, facilities and equipment that are incurred solely for the purpose of
responding to security needs associated with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
and the continuing war on terrorism; (5) that the level and structure of rates charged
customers shall reflect prudent and efficient management of the franchise operation;
and (6) that the rates, charges, conditions of service and categories of service of the
companies not discriminate against customers which utilize renewable energy sources
or cogeneration technology to meet a portion of their energy requirements.
(b) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall promptly undertake a separate,
general investigation of, and shall hold at least one public hearing on new pricing principles and rate structures for electric companies and for gas companies to consider, without
limitation, long run incremental cost of marginal cost pricing, peak load or time of day
pricing and proposals for optimizing the utilization of energy and restraining its wasteful
use and encouraging energy conservation, and any other matter with respect to pricing
principles and rate structures as the authority shall deem appropriate. The authority shall
determine whether existing or future rate structures place an undue burden upon those
persons of poverty status and shall make such adjustment in the rate structure as is
necessary or desirable to take account of their indigency. The authority shall require the
utilization of such new principles and structures to the extent that the authority determines that their implementation is in the public interest and necessary or desirable to
accomplish the purposes of this provision without being unfair or discriminatory or
unduly burdensome or disruptive to any group or class of customers, and determines that
such principles and structures are capable of yielding required revenues. In reviewing the
rates and rate structures of electric and gas companies, the authority shall take into
consideration appropriate energy policies, including those of the state as expressed in
subsection (c) of this section. The authority shall issue its initial findings on such investigation by December 1, 1976, and its final findings and order by June 1, 1977; provided
that after such final findings and order are issued, the authority shall at least once every
two years undertake such further investigations as it deems appropriate with respect to
new developments or desirable modifications in pricing principles and rate structures
and, after holding at least one public hearing thereon, shall issue its findings and order
thereon.
(c) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall coordinate and
integrate its actions, decisions and policies pertaining to gas and electric companies, so
far as possible, with the actions, decisions and policies of other agencies and instrumentalities in order to further the development and optimum use of the state's energy resources and conform to the greatest practicable extent with the state energy policy as
stated in section 16a-35k, taking into account prudent management of the natural environment and continued promotion of economic development within the state. The department shall defer, as appropriate, to any actions taken by other agencies and instrumentalities on matters within their respective jurisdictions.
(d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Commissioner
of Economic and Community Development, and the Connecticut Siting Council may
be made parties to each proceeding on a rate amendment proposed by a gas, electric or
electric distribution company based upon an alleged need for increased revenues to
finance an expansion of capital equipment and facilities, and shall participate in such
proceedings to the extent necessary.
(e) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, in a proceeding on a rate amendment
proposed by an electric distribution company based upon an alleged need for increased
revenues to finance an expansion of the capacity of its electric distribution system, shall
determine whether demand-side management would be more cost-effective in meeting
any demand for electricity for which the increase in capacity is proposed.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the regulation of a telecommunications service which is a competitive service, as defined in section 16-247a, or to a
telecommunications service to which an approved plan for an alternative form of regulation applies, pursuant to section 16-247k.
(g) The authority may, upon application of any gas or electric public service company, which has, as part of its existing rate plan, an earnings sharing mechanism, modify
such rate plan to allow the gas or electric public service company, after a hearing that
is conducted as a contested case, in accordance with chapter 54, to include in its rates
the reasonable costs of security of assets, facilities, and equipment, both existing and
foreseeable, that are incurred solely for the purpose of responding to security needs
associated with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continuing war on
terrorism.
(P.A. 75-486, S. 5, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 19, 162, 284, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 79-449, S. 4, 7; P.A. 80-482, S. 59, 348; P.A. 81-439, S. 7, 14; P.A. 86-187, S. 5, 10; P.A. 87-202, S. 2; P.A. 94-83, S. 13, 16; P.A. 95-250, S. 1;
P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 98-28, S. 52, 117; P.A. 02-94, S. 1, 2; P.A. 07-242, S. 7; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 27.)
History: P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 replaced "Connecticut energy agency", i.e. department of planning and energy
policy, with office of policy and management and, effective January 1, 1979, replaced public utilities control authority
with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation and commissioner of commerce with
commissioner of economic development; P.A. 79-449 required conformity "to the greatest practicable extent with the state
energy policy" in Subsec. (c); P.A. 80-482 made division an independent department and deleted reference to abolished
department of business regulation; P.A. 81-439 amended principles to include energy efficiency and development and
utilization of renewable energy and to prohibit discrimination against users of renewable energy sources or cogeneration
technology; P.A. 86-187 replaced power facility evaluation council with Connecticut siting council in Subsecs. (c) and
(d); P.A. 87-202 amended Subsec. (a) principles to include water conservation; P.A. 94-83 added new Subsec. (e) re
applicability to telecommunications service which is competitive or to which an approved plan for an alternative form of
regulation applies, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 98-28 amended
Subsec. (d) by adding electric distribution companies, added new Subsec. (e) requiring consideration of demand-side
management for electric distribution companies and redesignated former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), effective July 1, 1998;
P.A. 02-94 amended Subsec. (a)(4) by adding provisions to include reasonable costs of security associated with the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continuing war on terrorism, made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(5) and added
Subsec. (g) to allow the department to modify a rate plan with an earnings sharing mechanism to include such security
costs; P.A. 07-242 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to add care for energy security and Subsec. (a)(4) to include appropriate staffing
levels as part of operating costs; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsecs. (a), (b), (e) and (g) by replacing "Department of Public Utility
Control" with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and replacing "department" with "authority", amended Subsec. (c)
by replacing "Department of Public Utility Control" with "Department of Energy and Environmental Protection", deleting
requirement for department to consult with Commissioner of Environmental Protection, Connecticut Siting Council and
Office of Policy and Management to coordinate and integrate its actions and deleting requirement that department consider
the energy policies of the state, and amended Subsec. (d) by replacing "Commissioner of Environmental Protection" with
"Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection", changing "shall" to "may" re commissioner and Connecticut
Siting Council being parties to each proceeding and removing Office of Policy and Management from list of parties,
effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-19f. Rate design standards for electric utilities. Determination of appropriateness. Implementation. (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Cost of service" means an electric utility rate for a class of consumer which is
designed, to the maximum extent practicable, to reflect the cost to the utility in providing
electric service to such class;
(2) "Declining block rate" means an electric utility rate for a class of consumer
which prices successive blocks of electricity consumed by such consumer at lower per-unit prices;
(3) "Time of day rate" means an electric utility rate for a class of consumer which
is designed to reflect the cost to the utility of providing electricity to such consumer at
different times of the day;
(4) "Seasonal rate" means an electric utility rate for a class of consumer designed
to reflect the cost to the utility in providing electricity to such consumer during different
seasons of the year;
(5) "Interruptible rate" means an electric utility rate designed to reflect the cost to
the utility in providing service to a consumer where such consumer permits his service
to be interrupted during periods of peak electrical demand;
(6) "Load management techniques" means cost-effective techniques used by an
electric utility to reduce the maximum kilowatt demand on the utility.
(b) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, with respect to each electric public
service company and each municipal electric company, shall, within two years, consider
and determine whether it is appropriate to implement any of the following rate design
standards: (1) Cost of service; (2) prohibition of declining block rates; (3) time of day
rates; (4) seasonal rates; (5) interruptible rates; and (6) load management techniques.
The consideration of said standards by the authority and each municipal electric company shall be made after public notice and hearing. Such hearing may be held concurrently with a hearing required pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16-19e. The authority
and each municipal company shall make a determination on whether it is appropriate
to implement any of said standards. Said determination shall be in writing, shall take
into consideration the evidence presented at the hearing and shall be available to the
public. A standard shall be deemed to be appropriate for implementation if such implementation would encourage energy conservation, optimal and efficient use of facilities
and resources by an electric public service company or municipal electric company and
equitable rates for electric consumers.
(c) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, with respect to each electric public
service company, and each municipal electric company may implement any standard
determined under subsection (b) of this section to be appropriate or decline to implement
any such standard. If the authority or a municipal electric company declines to implement
any standard determined to be appropriate, it shall state in writing its reasons for doing
so and make such statement available to the public.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any municipal electric company
which has total annual sales of electricity for purposes other than resale of five hundred
million kilowatt-hours or less.
(P.A. 79-554, S. 1-5; P.A. 80-482, S. 4, 40, 345, 348; P.A. 88-220, S. 1, 11; P.A. 05-288, S. 65; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 28.)
History: P.A. 80-482 made division of public utility control an independent department and abolished department of
business regulation; P.A. 88-220 deleted Subsec. (e) containing obsolete 1980 reporting requirement; P.A. 05-288 made
a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 11-80 replaced "Department of Public Utility Control"
with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and replaced "department" with "authority", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-19h. Reopening of water company rate proceedings. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may reopen proceedings on a proposed rate amendment filed
under section 16-19 and amend its final decision on such filing to adjust the rates of a
water company, as defined in section 16-1, to include in the rate base the construction
costs associated with additions to a plant that are required by order of the authority, the
Department of Public Health or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The adjustment and approval of any rate under this section shall be based on the
criteria set forth in section 16-19e.
(P.A. 82-252, S. 5, 6; P.A. 85-259, S. 2; P.A. 96-153, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1, 29.)
History: P.A. 85-259 authorized rate adjustments to reflect increased costs of purchased electricity and taxes assessed
under Sec. 12-75 or 12-76, applied provisions of section to municipal utilities and established a maximum size for water
companies subject to section's provisions; P.A. 96-153 deleted the requirement that a water company supply water to "not
more than two hundred fifty service connections or one thousand persons on a regular basis" to reopen a rate proceeding,
and redefined the circumstances under which a rate proceeding may be reopened; P.A. 11-80 replaced "Department of Public
Utility Control" with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" or "authority" and replaced "Department of Environmental
Protection" with "Department of Energy and Environmental Protection", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-19j. Portion of authority staff to be made party to certain rate proceedings. (a) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may require a portion of the staff of
the authority to be made a party to any proceeding.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the authority shall require a portion of the staff to be made a party to proceedings relating to (1) a rate amendment
proposed pursuant to section 16-19 by a public service company having more than
seventy-five thousand customers, (2) the approval of performance-based incentives pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16-19a, or (3) the approval of any alternative form of
regulation pursuant to section 16-247k, provided the authority shall not require a portion
of the staff to be made a party to any proceeding described in this subsection if the
authority issues a notice of its intent not to do so in writing. The notice shall include the
reasons for not requiring a portion of the staff to be made a party. Upon petition of any
party so noticed, the authority shall require a portion of the staff to be made a party.
(c) The provisions of section 4-181 shall apply to any proceeding in which a portion
of authority staff is made a party.
(d) The authority staff assigned to participate as a party to any rate proceedings
described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall review the proposed
rate amendment filed by the company and shall file with the directors of the authority
proposed modifications of the rate amendment. Such modifications shall carry out the
purposes of subsection (a) of section 16-19e and section 16a-35k. Such staff shall appear
and participate in the proceedings in support of its proposed modifications and may
employ outside consultants knowledgeable in the utility regulation field.
(P.A. 84-342, S. 1, 13; P.A. 95-217, S. 1; P.A. 99-15; P.A. 11-80, S. 31.)
History: P.A. 95-217 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting obsolete references to 1984 and 1985 and made a technical
change; P.A. 99-15 amended Subsec. (a) by allowing the assignment of staff as party to any department proceeding, moved
language re mandatory assignment of staff in Subsec. (a) to Subsec. (b), designated a portion of existing Subsec. (a) as
Subsec. (b) and amended same by designating existing provisions re a rate amendment proposed by a public service
company having more than 75,000 customers as Subdiv. (1), making technical changes thereto, by adding new Subdivs.
(2) and (3) and by adding language re proviso of when assignment of staff is not mandatory, added new Subsec. (c) re
applicability of Sec. 4-181, relettered former Subsec. (b) as (d), and deleted former Subsecs. (c) and (d); P.A. 11-80 amended
Subsec. (a) by replacing "Public Utilities Control Authority" with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority", replaced "department" with "authority" throughout, and amended Subsec. (d) by replacing "commissioners of the department" with "directors of the authority", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-19ss. Solicitations for the provision of temporary electric generation
facilities. (a) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may, from July 1, 2003, to
January 1, 2008, inclusive, determine, by an affirmative vote of four directors of the
authority, that (1) safe, adequate and reasonably priced electricity is not available on
the wholesale market; (2) additional temporary electric generation facilities will result
in reductions in federally mandated congestion costs for which the ratepayers of the
state are responsible; and (3) the prices and costs specified in subdivision (2) of this
subsection will exceed the cost of investment in temporary electric generation facilities.
Such determination shall be in writing and shall state the reasons supporting the determination.
(b) Upon issuing a determination pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the
authority shall hold a contested case proceeding, in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54, to develop a request for proposal to solicit the provision of such additional
temporary electric generation facilities, containing such terms and conditions that will
best serve the interests of the public. The request for proposal process shall be designed
to ensure fairness and full participation by all qualified responders.
(c) The authority may negotiate for terms and conditions necessary to conclude a
transaction with one or more entities responding to a request for proposal, after notice
to all entities that responded. The authority shall base its decision to conclude a transaction on the best interest of the public and ratepayers.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow an electric distribution company to own, operate, lease or control any facility or asset that generates electricity, or
retain any interest in such facility or asset as part of any transaction concluded pursuant
to this section, except as provided in subsection (e) of section 16-244e and sections 16-43d, 16-243m, 16-243u, 16a-3b and 16a-3c.
(P.A. 03-135, S. 17; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-1, S. 3; P.A. 07-242, S. 64; P.A. 11-80, S. 38.)
History: P.A. 03-135 effective June 26, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-1 amended Subsec. (d) to add exception re
generation of electricity by an electric distribution company, effective July 21, 2005; P.A. 07-242 amended Subsec. (d) to
add exceptions re generation of electricity by electric distribution company, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 11-80 replaced
"Department of Public Utility Control" with "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority", replaced "commissioners" with
"directors" and replaced "department" and "Public Utilities Control Authority" with "authority", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-24a. Low-income discounted rates for electric and gas service. (a) On
or before June 30, 2012, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall
conduct a proceeding regarding development of low-income discounted rates for service
provided by electric distribution and gas companies, as defined in section 16-1, to low-income customers with an annual income that does not exceed sixty per cent of median
income. Such proceeding shall include, but not be limited to, a review, for individuals
who receive means-tested assistance administered by the state or federal governments, of
the current and future availability of rate discounts through the department's electricity
purchasing pool operated pursuant to section 16a-14e, energy assistance benefits available through any plan adopted pursuant to section 16a-41a, state funded or administered
programs, conservation assistance available pursuant to section 16-245m, assistance
funded or administered by said department or the Department of Social Services, or
matching payment program benefits available pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16-262c. The department shall (1) coordinate resources and programs, to the extent practicable; (2) develop rates that take into account the indigency of persons of poverty status
and allow such persons' households to meet the costs of essential energy needs; (3)
require the households to have a home energy audit paid from the Energy Efficiency
Fund as a prerequisite to qualification; (4) prepare an analysis of the benefits and anticipated costs of such low-income discounted rates; and (5) review utility rate discount
policies or programs in other states.
(b) The department shall determine which, if any, of its programs shall be modified,
terminated or have their funding reduced because such program beneficiaries would
benefit more by the establishment of a low-income or discount rate. The department
shall establish a rate reduction that is equal to the anticipated funds transferred from the
programs modified, terminated or reduced by the department pursuant to this section
and the reduced cost of providing service to those eligible for such discounted or low-income rates, any available energy assistance and other sources of coverage for such
rates, including, but not limited to, generation available through the electricity purchasing pool operated by the department. The department may issue recommendations regarding programs administered by the Department of Social Services.
(c) The department shall order (1) filing by each electric distribution company of
proposed rates consistent with the department's decision pursuant to subsection (a) of
this section not later than sixty days after its issuance; and (2) appropriate modification
of existing low-income programs.
(d) The cost of low-income and discounted rates and related outreach activities
pursuant to this section shall be paid (1) through the normal rate-making procedures of
the department, (2) on a semiannual basis through the systems benefits charge for an
electric distribution company, and (3) solely from the funds of the programs modified,
terminated or reduced by the department pursuant to this section and the reduced cost
of providing service to those eligible for such discounted or low-income rates, any
available energy assistance and other sources of coverage for such rates, including, but
not limited to, generation available through the electricity purchasing pool operated by
the department.
(e) On or before February 1, 2012, the department shall report, in accordance with
section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy regarding the benefits and costs of the low-income
or discounted rates established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, including, but
not limited to, possible impacts on existing customers who qualify for state assistance,
and any recommended modifications. If the low-income rate is not less than ninety per
cent of the standard service rate, the department shall include in its report steps to achieve
that goal.
(P.A. 11-80, S. 112.)
History: P.A. 11-80 effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-32f. Gas company supply and demand forecast reports and conservation plans. (a) On or before October first of each even-numbered year, a gas company, as
defined in section 16-1, shall furnish a report to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
containing a five-year forecast of loads and resources. The report shall describe the
facilities and supply sources that, in the judgment of such gas company, will be required
to meet gas demands during the forecast period. The report shall be made available to
the public and shall be furnished to the chief executive officer of each municipality in
the service area of such gas company, the regional planning agency which encompasses
each such municipality, the Attorney General, the president pro tempore of the Senate,
the speaker of the House of Representatives, the joint standing committee of the General
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public utilities, any other member
of the General Assembly making a request to the authority for the report and such other
state and municipal entities as the authority may designate by regulation. The report
shall include: (1) A tabulation of estimated peak loads and resources for each year; (2)
data on gas use and peak loads for the five preceding calendar years; (3) a list of present
and projected gas supply sources; (4) specific measures to control load growth and
promote conservation; and (5) such other information as the authority may require by
regulation. A full description of the methodology used to arrive at the forecast of loads
and resources shall also be furnished to the authority. The authority shall hold a public
hearing on such reports upon the request of any person. On or before August first of
each odd-numbered year, the authority may request a gas company to furnish to the
authority an updated report. A gas company shall furnish any such updated report not
later than sixty days following the request of the authority.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, a gas company, as defined in section 16-1, shall submit to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority a gas
conservation plan, in accordance with the provisions of this section, to implement cost-effective energy conservation programs and market transformation initiatives. All supply and conservation and load management options shall be evaluated and selected
within an integrated supply and demand planning framework. Services provided under
the plan shall be available to all gas company customers. Each gas company shall apply
to the Energy Conservation Management Board for reimbursement for expenditures
pursuant to the plan. The authority shall, in an uncontested proceeding during which
the authority may hold a public hearing, approve, modify or reject the plan.
(c) (1) The Energy Conservation Management Board shall advise and assist each
such gas company in the development and implementation of the plan submitted under
subsection (b) of this section. Each program contained in the plan shall be reviewed by
each such gas company and shall be either accepted, modified or rejected by the Energy
Conservation Management Board before submission of the plan to the authority for
approval. The Energy Conservation Management Board shall, as part of its review,
examine opportunities to offer joint programs providing similar efficiency measures
that save more than one fuel resource or to otherwise coordinate programs targeted at
saving more than one fuel resource. Any costs for joint programs shall be allocated
equitably among the conservation programs.
(2) Programs included in the plan shall be screened through cost-effectiveness testing that compares the value and payback period of program benefits to program costs
to ensure that the programs are designed to obtain gas savings whose value is greater
than the costs of the program. Program cost-effectiveness shall be reviewed annually
by the authority, or otherwise as is practicable. If the authority determines that a program
fails the cost-effectiveness test as part of the review process, the program shall either
be modified to meet the test or be terminated. On or before January 1, 2007, and annually
thereafter, the board shall provide a report, in accordance with the provisions of section
11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of
matters relating to energy and the environment, that documents expenditures and funding for such programs and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of such programs conducted
in the preceding year, including any increased cost-effectiveness owing to offering programs that save more than one fuel resource.
(3) Programs included in the plan may include, but are not limited to: (A) Conservation and load management programs, including programs that benefit low-income individuals; (B) research, development and commercialization of products or processes that
are more energy-efficient than those generally available; (C) development of markets
for such products and processes; (D) support for energy use assessment, engineering
studies and services related to new construction or major building renovations; (E) the
design, manufacture, commercialization and purchase of energy-efficient appliances,
air conditioning and heating devices; (F) program planning and evaluation; (G) joint fuel
conservation initiatives and programs targeted at saving more than one fuel resource; and
(H) public education regarding conservation. Such support may be by direct funding,
manufacturers' rebates, sale price and loan subsidies, leases and promotional and educational activities. The plan shall also provide for expenditures by the Energy Conservation
Management Board for the retention of expert consultants and reasonable administrative
costs, provided such consultants shall not be employed by, or have any contractual
relationship with, a gas company. Such costs shall not exceed five per cent of the total
cost of the plan.
(P.A. 87-32; P.A. 89-50; 89-291, S. 5, 8; P.A. 94-1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 6, 121; P.A. 02-16, S. 1; June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 05-1, S. 22; P.A. 06-196, S. 230; P.A. 07-242, S. 115; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-1, S. 130; P.A. 11-6, S. 125; 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 89-50 added new Subsec. (b) re submission of gas conservation plans; P.A. 89-291 changed submission
date of 10-year forecast report; P.A. 94-1 changed annual reports to biennial reports and added provisions re updated
reports and plans and supply and load management; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a),
effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 02-16 changed the forecast period from 10 years to 5 years throughout, amended Subsec.
(a) to add "upon the request of any person" and made a technical change in Subsec. (b); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-1 amended
Subsec. (b) to make technical changes, to delete provisions re the content of the plan and substitute broader language re
compliance with section, to delete language re public hearings and submission of updated plans and substitute language
re an uncontested proceeding, added Subsec. (c) re assistance from and review by the Energy Conservation Management
Board, cost-effectiveness testing, contents of the programs included in the plan, source of funding, and authority for
expenditures, and added Subsec. (d) re the lack of requirement for conservation charge, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (c)(2), effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-242 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that
tax imposed by Sec. 12-264 shall fund the plan, that services shall be available to all gas company customers, and that
each company shall apply to board for expense reimbursement, made a technical change in Subsec. (c)(1) and deleted
former Subsec. (d) re conservation charge, effective July 1, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-1 amended Subsec. (b) to specify
that Comptroller shall deposit excess revenue before accounts for the General Fund have been closed for each fiscal year,
effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 11-6 amended Subsec. (b) to remove provision re funding of plan by revenue from tax imposed
by Sec. 12-264, effective May 4, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, "Department of Public Utility Control" and "department"
were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Public Utilities Regulatory Authority" and "authority", respectively, effective
July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 16-49. Expenses of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Bureau of Energy, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the operations of
the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Assessment of regulated companies. (a)
As used in this section:
(1) "Company" means (A) any public service company other than a telephone company, that had more than one hundred thousand dollars of gross revenues in the state in
the calendar year preceding the assessment year under this section, except any such
company not providing service to retail customers in the state, (B) any telephone company that had more than one hundred thousand dollars of gross revenues in the state
from telecommunications services in the calendar year preceding the assessment year
under this section, except any such company not providing service to retail customers in
the state, (C) any certified telecommunications provider that had more than one hundred
thousand dollars of gross revenues in the state from telecommunications services in the
calendar year preceding the assessment year under this section, except any such certified
telecommunications provider not providing service to retail customers in the state, (D)
any electric supplier that had more than one hundred thousand dollars of gross revenues
in the state in the calendar year preceding the assessment year under this section, except
any such supplier not providing electric generation services to retail customers in the
state, or (E) any certified competitive video service provider issued a certificate of video
franchise authority by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in accordance with section 16-331e that had more than one hundred thousand dollars of gross
revenues in the state in the calendar year preceding the assessment year under this section, except any such certified competitive video service provider not providing service
to retail customers in the state;
(2) "Telecommunications services" means (A) in the case of telecommunications
services provided by a telephone company, any service provided pursuant to a tariff
approved by the authority other than wholesale services and resold access and interconnections services, and (B) in the case of telecommunications services provided by a
certified telecommunications provider other than a telephone company, any service
provided pursuant to a tariff approved by the authority and pursuant to a certificate of
public convenience and necessity; and
(3) "Fiscal year" means the period beginning July first and ending June thirtieth.
(b) On or before July 15, 1999, and on or before May first, annually thereafter, each
company shall report its intrastate gross revenues of the preceding calendar year to the
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, which amount shall be subject to audit by the
authority. For each fiscal year, each company shall pay the authority the company's
share of all expenses of the department's Bureau of Energy, the Office of Consumer
Counsel, and the operations of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for such fiscal
year. On or before September first, annually, the authority shall give to each company
a statement which shall include: (1) The amount appropriated to the department's Bureau
of Energy, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the operations of the Public Utilities
Regulatory Authority for the fiscal year beginning July first of the same year; (2) the
total gross revenues of all companies; and (3) the proposed assessment against the company for the fiscal year beginning on July first of the same year, adjusted to reflect the
estimated payment required under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section. Such
proposed assessment shall be calculated by multiplying the company's percentage share
of the total gross revenues as specified in subdivision (2) of this subsection by the total
revenue appropriated to the department's Bureau of Energy, the Office of Consumer
Counsel and the operations of the Public Utility Regulatory Authority, as specified in
subdivision (1) of this subsection.
(c) Each company shall pay the authority: (1) On or before June thirtieth, annually,
an estimated payment for the expenses of the following year equal to twenty-five per
cent of its assessment for the fiscal year ending on such June thirtieth, (2) on or before
September thirtieth, annually, twenty-five per cent of its proposed assessment, adjusted
to reflect any credit or amount due under the recalculated assessment for the preceding
fiscal year, as determined by the authority under subsection (d) of this section, provided
if the company files an objection in accordance with subsection (e) of this section, it
may withhold the amount stated in its objection, and (3) on or before the following
December thirty-first and March thirty-first, annually, the remaining fifty per cent of
its proposed assessment in two equal installments.
(d) Immediately following the close of each fiscal year, the authority shall recalculate the proposed assessment of each company, based on the expenses, as determined
by the Comptroller, of the department's Bureau of Energy, the Office of Consumer
Counsel and the operations of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for such fiscal
year. On or before September first, annually, the authority shall give to each company
a statement showing the difference between its recalculated assessment and the amount
previously paid by the company.
(e) Any company may object to a proposed or recalculated assessment by filing
with the authority, not later than September fifteenth of the year of said assessment, a
petition stating the amount of the proposed or recalculated assessment to which it objects
and the grounds upon which it claims such assessment is excessive, erroneous, unlawful
or invalid. After a company has filed a petition, the authority shall hold a hearing. After
reviewing the company's petition and testimony, if any, the authority shall issue an
order in accordance with its findings. The company shall pay the authority the amount
indicated in the order not later than thirty days after the date of the order.
(f) The authority shall remit all payments received under this section to the State
Treasurer for deposit in the Consumer Counsel and Public Utility Control Fund established under section 16-48a. Such funds shall be accounted for as expenses recovered
from public service companies and certified telecommunications providers. All payments made under this section shall be in addition to any taxes payable to the state under
chapters 211, 212, 212a and 219.
(g) Any assessment unpaid on the due date or any portion of an assessment withheld
after the due date under subsection (c) of this section shall be subject to interest at the rate
of one and one-fourth per cent per month or fraction thereof, or fifty dollars, whichever is
greater.
(h) Any company that fails to report in accordance with this section shall be subject
to civil penalties in accordance with section 16-41.
(1953, S. 2610d; 1959, P.A. 48, S. 1; 354, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 611, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 138, S. 2; P.A. 74-179, S. 1, 2; P.A.
75-486, S. 4, 69; P.A. 76-335, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 164, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 82, 348; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-8, S.
1, 4; P.A. 83-55, S. 1, 3; 83-587, S. 31, 96; P.A. 84-296, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-246, S. 10; 85-552, S. 1, 8; P.A. 88-17; 88-22, S.
4; P.A. 90-148, S. 24, 34; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-14, S. 16, 30; P.A. 94-74, S. 5, 11; P.A. 98-28, S. 36, 117; P.A. 99-105,
S. 2, 4; P.A. 11-80, S. 30.)
History: 1959 acts increased the assessment under Subsec. (a) from 45% to 50%, provided for certification of assessments
under Subsec. (b) to be on or before first day of September rather than first day of August and deleted provision that deposit
of assessments in general fund be accounted for as expenses recovered from public service companies; 1969 act increased
limit on amount of assessment from $250,000 to $450,000; 1972 act increased percentage of expenses assessed to 56%
and limit on assessment amount to $600,000; P.A. 74-179 deleted provision re limit on dollar amount of assessment and
exempted companies with gross earnings not exceeding $100,000 rather than $300,000; P.A. 75-486 replaced public
utilities commission with public utilities control authority, raised percentage of expenses assessed to 70% in Subsec. (a)
and added exception re Subsec. (c) and replaced 6% interest with rate established by authority in Subsec. (b); P.A. 76-335
included expenses of office of consumer counsel under Subsec. (a); P.A. 77-614 replaced authority with division of public
utility control within the department of business regulation and office of consumer counsel with division of consumer
counsel within the same department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made division of public utility control an
independent department, placed division of consumer counsel within it and deleted references to abolished department of
business regulation; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-8 redefined "public service company" to exempt any company not providing
service at retail directly to consumers in the state, deleted most of Subsec. (a) and all of Subsecs. (b) and (c), and added
new Subsecs. (b) to (h), providing for assessment on current basis of public service companies for all expenses of department
of public utility control and division of consumer counsel for fiscal years beginning July 1, 1981, to July 1, 1983, and for
70% of such expenses for following fiscal years; P.A. 83-55 extended assessment of public service companies for all
expenses of department and division through fiscal year beginning July 1, 1984; P.A. 83-587 made technical change in
Subsec. (c); P.A. 84-296 extended assessment of public service companies for all expenses of department and division
through fiscal year beginning July 1, 1986; P.A. 85-246 deleted reference to street railway companies in Subsec. (a); P.A.
85-552 repealed Subsec. (b) re assessments for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1981, and relettered the remaining Subsecs.
accordingly, repealed provision assessing public service companies for 70%, instead of for all, expenses of department
for fiscal years beginning on and after July 1, 1987, and added Subsec. (h) re report to general assembly; P.A. 88-17
defined the term "certified competitive telecommunications provider" and applied provisions to such providers; P.A. 88-22 substituted office of consumer counsel for the division of consumer counsel; P.A. 90-148 amended Subsec. (a) to
distinguish between telephone companies with less than $100,000 of gross revenue and those with more than said amount
for purposes of assessment under this section, amended Subsec. (b) to make the assessment thereunder for department
expenses applicable with respect to state fiscal years ending prior to July 1, 1990, and inserted a new Subsec. (c), with
appropriate changes in lettering for succeeding Subsecs., providing assessment procedures for department expenses virtually identical to those in Subsec. (b), except as described in Subdiv. (3), applicable in the case of state fiscal years ending
after July 1, 1990, with such changes in procedure occurring in the reference to gross revenues of telecommunications
providers because of the change in state taxes imposed on such providers commencing January 1, 1990, and in the provision
for an estimated payment of expenses for the following year, first payable on or before June 30, 1990; June Sp. Sess. P.A.
91-14 amended Subsec. (f) to provide that on and after July 1, 1991, moneys deposited with state treasurer shall be credited
to consumer counsel and public utility control fund, rather than general fund; P.A. 94-74 changed applicability from public
service companies and certified competitive telecommunications providers to public service companies and persons, firms
and corporations certified to provide intrastate telecommunications services, collectively referred to as "companies",
deleted references to chapter 210a and provisions re fiscal years ending prior to July 1, 1990, and calendar years ending
on or before December 31, 1989, divided Subsec. (c) into Subsecs. (b) and (c), corrected reference in Subsec. (b) to source
of estimated payment requirement and made technical corrections to Subsecs. (e), (f) and (g), effective July 1, 1994;
(Revisor's note: In 1997 in Subsecs. (a) and (b) references to "subdivision (24)" and "subsection (24)" of Sec. 12-407 were
changed editorially by the Revisors to "subdivision (26)" in all cases to conform section with Sec. 12-407 and customary
statutory usage); P.A. 98-28 added Subsec. (a)(3) concerning certain electric suppliers and making technical changes,
effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-105 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting former Subdivs. (1) and (2), adding new Subdiv. (1)
defining "company", incorporating therein former Subdiv. (3) as Subpara. (D), and by adding new Subdivs. (2) and (3)
defining "telecommunications services" and "fiscal year", amended Subsec. (b) by inserting provision subjecting companies to audits, by deleting references to personnel fringe benefits and expenses for central state services and by referring
to the defined term "company" in lieu of existing references to various entities, amended Subsec. (c) to require a hearing
after a company has filed a petition in lieu of upon the request of the company filing a petition, added reference in Subsec.
(g) to "fifty dollars, whichever is greater", deleted former Subsec. (h) and inserted new Subsec. (h) re penalties, and made
numerous technical changes, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding Subpara. (E) re certified
competitive video service providers, amended Subsec. (a)(2) by replacing "department" with "authority", amended Subsec.
(b) by requiring companies to send revenues to Public Utilities Regulatory Authority rather than department, replacing
"department" with "authority" and changing entities for which expenses are covered from Department of Public Utility
Control and Office of Consumer Counsel to Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Bureau of Energy,
Office of Consumer Counsel and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing "department"
with "authority", amended Subsec. (d) by replacing "department" with "authority" and changing the entities for which
expenses are covered from department and Office of Consumer Counsel to department's Bureau of Energy, Office of
Consumer Counsel and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, and amended Subsecs. (e) and (f) by replacing "department"
with "authority", effective July 1, 2011.
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