Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) have decided to withdraw their lawsuit against Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), potentially concluding a legal battle that involved allegations against former PURA Chair Marissa Gillett. The lawsuit, initiated in January, accused Gillett of overstepping her authority by appointing herself as the presiding officer in numerous cases involving the utilities over five years.
This legal action was one of two cases brought by the utilities, which also included an appeal of a rate case from two gas utilities that was resolved in the companies’ favor last November. Gillett resigned from her position in October, citing the personal impact of the allegations on her and her family.
Resolution and New Leadership
Following Gillett’s departure, Thomas Wiehl has been appointed as the new chair of PURA, along with three other commissioners appointed by Governor Ned Lamont. In a joint filing, both PURA and the utilities requested the dismissal of the case, agreeing on steps to address the issues raised in the lawsuit. This request awaits approval from Hartford Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Stewart.
Jamie Ratliff, a spokesperson for Eversource, expressed optimism about the resolution, stating, “A constructive, transparent and accountable relationship with our regulators will benefit customers and the State of Connecticut, providing a genuine platform to tackle the difficult issues surrounding energy reliability and affordability for our customers.” Representatives from PURA and the Attorney General’s office declined to comment.
PURA has acknowledged that some practices during Gillett’s tenure were unlawful, including her self-appointment as presiding officer. Additionally, a judge previously referred two PURA attorneys to an ethics committee to investigate potential misconduct related to Gillett’s deletion of personal phone records.
Future Regulatory Practices
The stipulations for dismissal include requirements for a panel of commissioners to issue rulings on substantive motions and appoint a presiding officer for cases. Minor motions decided by a single commissioner or hearing officer can be appealed to a full panel. All votes must be recorded, including the names of the hearing officer, presiding officer, and panel members.
Tensions between the utilities and PURA have eased since the new board members’ appointments, with lawmakers confirming all four appointments earlier this month.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
