Substitute House Bill No. 5145, also known as Public Act No. 26-123, mandates the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to submit a report by January 15, 2027, detailing the review process for water companies that apply to cease operations. This report, which must be prepared in consultation with the Department of Public Health, will cover instances from the past two calendar years where water companies sought consent to discontinue service. It will include a timeline of docket activities, a list of documents relied upon for decision-making, and any additional relevant details deemed necessary by the authority.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 16-46 of the general statutes by adding a new subsection (c), which requires PURA to initiate a docket by July 1, 2026, to adopt regulations that will provide written instructions in notices of proceedings. These instructions will inform water companies about the process for requesting an expedited review of their applications. This change aims to streamline the review process and enhance communication with water companies regarding their operational requests.

Statutes affected:
Public Act No. 26-123: 16-46