PURA’s draft decision is a missed opportunity to limit gas system spending. Photo: Justin Henry via Creative Commons 2.0
September 24, 2025 (New Haven, CT) – Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has issued a draft decision approving Eversource’s requested gas rate increase. While not as high as Eversource initially requested, the approved increase will hurt customers already struggling to pay their gas bills.
“Increased spending on new pipelines is a major driver of this rate increase,” said Shannon Laun, Conservation Law Foundation’s Vice President for Connecticut. “Unfortunately, regulators are not taking steps to ensure that the gas company considers cost-effective alternatives to new pipelines. This is a missed opportunity to reduce costs and require prudent long-term planning.”
As other states like Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island determine how to cost-effectively transition away from gas heating to zero-emission electric heat pumps, Connecticut is lagging. Some New York utilities, for example, are giving customers electric heat pumps rather than installing costly new gas mains. PURA’s draft decision is a missed opportunity to limit gas system spending and will prolong our and our loved ones’ reliance on price-volatile gas heating.
CLF will continue to press PURA and the utilities to lead the way in making clean energy more accessible and keeping rates affordable for Connecticut families and businesses.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
###