Connecticut advisers, advocates push PURA to simplify stakeholder compensation and lower barriers to participation

Consultants and community advocates outlined problems and proposed fixes for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) stakeholder group compensation program at a technical meeting held as part of the EASE docket on equity, accessibility and stakeholder engagement.

The consulting team leading the EASE effort said the program — created by legislation in June 2023 and launched by PURA in January 2024 under docket number 230934 — is designed to use ratepayer funds to help eligible residential, environmental justice and small‑business groups participate in PURA dockets. The program authorizes up to $1,200,000 annually, with limits of $100,000 per party per case and up to $300,000 per case, and requires an independent evaluation after three years, due in January 2027.

Why this matters: PURA decides utility rates and other rules that affect electricity, gas, water and telecommunications across Connecticut. Consulting team member Tanya, speaking for the EASE consultants, said the program is meant to “bring more voices into their decision making spaces” but that outreach and process barriers have limited takeup.

The meeting laid out how the compensation program currently works and where participants say it fails to deliver. Lauren McNutt, a member of the consulting team, described the statutory constraints and the program workflow: eligible groups file a notice of intent, submit an application with an itemized budget (typically in a roughly two‑week window), sign an agreement committing to provide evidence of “substantial contribution,” participate in the docket, then submit documentation and receive payment at…