Saud Anwar

Senator Anwar Releases Statement Regarding PURA Levying $30 Million Punishment Against Eversource for Tropical Storm Isaias Response

State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) today released the following statement in response to the civil penalties levied against Eversource Energy by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority last week, which total $30 million, the maximum allowable penalty. The penalty was due to Eversource’s improper response during and after Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020; thousands of Senator Anwar’s constituents were without power for several days after the storm, with response widely considered unacceptably slow.

“The decision made by PURA is the correct one, considering the extreme hardships levied on the population in dealing with days-long power outages in the peak of the summer’s heat during the increased stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sen. Anwar. “The unacceptably slow response to Tropical Storm Isaias by Eversource contributed to significant difficulties for countless residents statewide. The General Assembly last fall passed legislation in response to this and other ineffective storm responses by Eversource, and I am encouraged to see this further action by PURA in ensuring such inefficiencies are rectified.”

After Tropical Storm Isaias struck Connecticut in early August 2020, as many as 1.1 million Connecticut residents lost power, with tens of thousands losing power for days before repairs were made. Among changes made by legislation passed by the General Assembly in response: electric utility companies must now pay up to $250 for spoiled food and medication if a power outage lasts more than four days; outages lasting more than four days will see customers credited an additional $25 per day.