PURA adopts investigation findings into fatal Aug. 21 electrocution, directs United Illuminating to report follow-up
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Summary
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved staff findings in docket 250902 into a fatal electrocution in New Haven on Aug. 21, 2025, finding the event could not have been prevented by United Illuminating but identifying response shortcomings and ordering UI to submit documentation of follow-up, training and post‑stand‑down lessons learned.
Interim Chairman Tom Wheel and a panel of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Wednesday approved a staff report on docket 250902 investigating a fatal electrocution at 200 Conrad Drive in New Haven on Aug. 21, 2025.
The staff presentation said the authority "found that the occurrence of the accident could not have been prevented by UI," but also "did identify mistakes and poor performances made by some UI employees during the company's response." The report names the victim in the transcript as Luis Alberto Marocha Marc Mercatoma.
The staff presenter told commissioners the line resource leader's arrival at the scene was "unnecessarily delayed" after the employee forgot to load the truck with personal protective equipment and other necessary tools for the response. The presentation also identified shortcomings at the company's energy control center, saying ECC personnel were not aware an immediate, life‑threatening situation existed because a UI dispatcher did not listen to a New Haven fire dispatch report and that ECC staff later discounted the urgency in a subsequent call.
Because the company provided no specific information about how it followed up with employees after an internal safety stand‑down, the decision directs United Illuminating to provide additional information about what corrective actions were taken and how lessons learned were implemented. The panel's written directive also requires UI to document its post‑stand‑down process, relay updated facts and lessons learned, and submit that documentation to the authority.
"The authority recommends the panel approve the decision," the staff presenter said before the motion.
A commissioner moved adoption of the decision and another seconded. Commissioner Everett Smith, who was introduced at the meeting as a newly seated commissioner, said he had "just started on Monday" and had not had time to review the record, so he chose to disqualify himself and abstain from the vote. The clerk's roll call recorded votes of yes from Interim Chairman Tom Wheel, Vice Chairman David Arcanti, Commissioner Jan Beecher and Commissioner Holly Cheeseman, with Smith abstaining. Chair Wheel announced the decision had been adopted.
The docket's outcome imposes no criminal or civil penalties in the meeting record; it directs UI to produce written follow‑up and documentation for regulator review and identifies process and communication shortcomings the authority says should be remedied.
Votes at a glance - Docket 250902 (investigation into fatal accident at 200 Conrad Drive): Motion to adopt staff decision passed; yes — Wheel, Arcanti, Beecher, Cheeseman; abstain — Everett Smith. - Consent calendar part b (final decisions and motion rulings, items 1–20): Adopted unanimously by recorded roll call. - Consent calendar part c (appointments of presiding/hearing officers, items 1–6): Adopted by recorded roll call.
The panel adjourned and said it would reconvene on Jan. 14, 2026, at 9 a.m. by remote teleconference.
