The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Dec. 17 adopted a staff recommendation to evaluate Connecticut Water Company's inaugural Water Quality and Treatment Assessment Report (WQTAR) and determine which proposed projects may be recovered through a future water quality and treatment adjustment (WQTA).

Mark Benedetti of Authority staff told commissioners the decision "identifies 14 projects as eligible, 6 projects conditionally eligible, subject to final testing, and 15 projects as ineligible for WQTA at this time." He said the evaluation applied criteria in Public Act 25-142 and related guidance to determine whether projects address state or federal drinking-water standards adopted after Dec. 16, 2021, including work tied to PFAS remediation and other contaminants.

Under the decision, projects that were WQTA-eligible may seek recovery of expenses incurred to date through annual final reports (AFRs) filed no less frequently than every 12 months. Projects deemed conditionally eligible must complete monitoring consistent with EPA PFAS monitoring requirements before cost recovery is authorized; projects with monitoring results below EPA thresholds were ruled ineligible for WQTA cost recovery. Benedetti also noted that all WQTA-eligible projects will be subject to a full prudence review at the company's next general rate proceeding.

Commissioners moved and seconded the decision and the clerk conducted a roll call. The recorded votes were: Chairman Tom Wheel — yes; Vice Chairman David Arconti — yes; Commissioner Jan Beecher — yes; Commissioner Michael Karen — yes; Commissioner Holly Cheeseman — yes. The decision was adopted.

What happens next: Connecticut Water Company may submit AFRs to recover eligible costs and must file updated testing results for conditionally eligible projects in future WQTA filings. Any cost recovery ultimately granted will be subject to prudence review in future rate proceedings.