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PURA, DPH approve transfer of Oakdale Heights water system to Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority
Summary
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and the Connecticut Department of Public Health voted to consent to Oakdale Heights Association ceasing operation of its water system and to the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority acquiring and operating the system, subject to conditions in a final decision (Docket No. 240510).
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Wednesday adopted a joint decision with the Connecticut Department of Public Health consenting to the transfer of the Oakdale Heights Association water system in Montville to the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority, the panel said during its remote meeting May 7.
Authority staff attorney Jay Don Francisco summarized the agencies' findings on the record, saying the record showed that "Southeastern Connecticut Water is well suited to acquire the Oakdale system" and recommending adoption of the decision.
The agencies' written decision, filed in Docket No. 240510, finds that the acquiring entity meets statutory suitability factors the agencies applied to the joint proceeding. Those factors include geographical proximity, financial, managerial and technical resources, current rates charged by the acquiring entity, and public-health concerns identified by the Department of Public Health.
According to the presentation to the panel, the Oakdale Heights Water System serves approximately 219 individual residences in the Oakdale Heights subdivision of the town of Montville. The agencies said Southeastern currently operates 14 distinct community water systems across southeastern Connecticut and was created by the Connecticut legislature to acquire and operate small water systems.
The record in the joint investigation included an evidentiary hearing held Feb. 10, 2025; counsel and witnesses for both Oakdale and Southeastern testified and were cross-examined by staff from PURA, DPH and the Office of Consumer Counsel. The agencies issued a proposed final decision on April 15, 2025, and the transcript notes no person testified in opposition and no written exceptions or comments were filed to the proposed decision.
The adopted decision consents to Oakdale Heights Association ceasing operations as a water company and to the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority acquiring the Oakdale system, "subject to the conditions and orders included in the final decision," the staff summary said. The agencies also found that Southeastern can ensure a continuous supply of potable water at adequate volumes and pressures to the former Oakdale customers.
Panel members voted by roll call on the adoption of the decision; the transcript records affirmative votes from Commissioner Karen, Commissioner Conte, Chairman Marissa Gillette and Attorney Carrie Colson of the Department of Public Health. The decision was recorded as adopted. The meeting then moved to and adopted a three-item consent calendar and adjourned; the panel said it will reconvene May 14 at 9 a.m. by remote teleconference.
The record of the joint investigation and the final decision will contain the specific conditions the agencies attached to the consent; the meeting transcript notes those conditions but does not state them verbatim on the public hearing record presented at the May 7 meeting.
