Massive Water Bill Hike Sought For Enfield, Somers, and East Windsor

ENFIELD/SOMERS/EAST WINDSOR, CT — The water company that serves Enfield, along with Somers and East Windsor, is asking the state for permission to increase its rates by a whopping 65 percent.

But a public hearing slated for tonight (Monday, Nov. 3) in Enfield and virtually later this week will give water customers the chance to comment on the proposed hike to state regulators, who will have the final say on the rate increase.

The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is hosting a public hearing tonight (Monday, Nov. 3) at 5:30 p.m. at JFK Middle School, 155 Raffia Road, Enfield, to gather testimony.

PURA is also hosting a virtual hearing at noon on Thursday, Nov. 6, to gather testimony via Zoom.

At tonight's hearing, officials with the Enfield-based Hazardville Water Co. will lay out before regulators why it is seeking a rate hike, which requires state approval for a regulated utility.

Hazardville Water has customers in Enfield, Somers, and East Windsor.

According to Hazardville Water's application to raise its rates, the company is looking to raise an additional $2,46 million in revenue from the rate hike.

If approved, the rate hike would be the first since 2010, according to the Hazardville Water application.

According to a notice sent to customers, Hazardville Water wants to increase its overall revenues by about 72 percent.

This means, according to the notice, the standard residential customer who pays $101.65 per quarter would have to pay $167.89 or an additional $22.08 per month.

That calculates to a 65 percent increase on a residential customer's quarterly water bill.

The water company cites several reasons for the rate hike proposal:

• 16 years since it last sought a rate hike.

• "Significant increases: to operate and maintain the water system, including maintenance of equipment and buildings that operate the flow of water.

• Expense increases in labor, chemical treatments, and "other expenses" in response to state and federal regulatory changes over the years.

• Company capital investments the past 16 years in water installations, new pumps/motors and increased monitoring equipment.

For more information on the two PURA public hearings on the rate hikes this week, click on this link.

For more information on the Hazardville Water Co.'s rate hike proposal, click on this link.