Hazardville Water Company asked the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Oct. 26, 2025, to increase annual revenue by $2.4 million as part of an application to amend its rate schedule in Docket 25-07-12. The company presented an overview of customer counts, system capacity and capital projects and PURA staff set a schedule for evidentiary hearings and the administrative record.

Company officials Robert Sherwood, president and chief executive officer, and Jennifer Reich, chief financial officer, told PURA the request is driven by rising operating costs, regulatory requirements and planned infrastructure work. "We strive for the highest level of quality service and professionalism, by being receptive to customers' concerns," Sherwood said during the presentation.

The company said it serves more than 7,500 customers in Enfield, Somers and East Windsor, operates about 121 miles of mains and 12 well sites, and can produce up to 4,200,000 gallons of water per day across its treatment plants and wells. Hazardville told PURA it has about $6.6 million in projects it considers eligible for the WICA surcharge and roughly $8 million in other infrastructure capital for which it seeks recovery.

Hazardville said revenue grew at an average of about 3.5% over the past five years while expenses rose about 11% over the same period. The company highlighted specific cost increases: a reported 84.7% rise in utility plant value ($14 million), a 51.9% increase in operations and maintenance costs, and a 90.7% increase in property taxes since the 2009 rate case. Company materials said the last general rate case was 16 years ago.

PURA staff said the hearings schedule will include public comment and evidentiary panels. The authority announced two public comment hearings: Monday, Nov. 3, at 5:30 p.m. at JFK Middle School in Enfield (Raffia Road), and Thursday, Nov. 6, at 12 p.m. via Zoom. The presiding commissioner said PURA will generally convene at 10 a.m. each hearing day with a goal of finishing by about 5 p.m., with scheduled breaks for lunch and mornings/afternoons.

PURA staff also reviewed procedural expectations: parties should submit exhibits on USB drives for display during testimony; a court reporter will transcribe hearings; and the authority expects to issue a notice of hearing and a procedural order coordinating witness panels. PURA staff set an anticipated close of the record on Jan. 12, 2026.

Prabhisha Bhandari of the Office of Consumer Counsel told the authority the OCC does not intend to submit prefiled testimony in the case and therefore will not file rebuttal testimony.

The company said it reached the statutory WICA surcharge limit of 10% in 2023 and described the need for a WICA reset so that infrastructure replacement can continue without a general rate case each time the surcharge limit is reached. The presentation referenced Connecticut General Statutes § 16-262w in connection with WICA procedures as cited by company materials.

No motions or votes were taken during the scheduling conference. The panel closed by thanking participants and adjourning the virtual meeting.

The docket number for this matter is 25-07-12. PURA will publish a notice of hearing and a procedural order with the witness-panel schedule; parties were asked to confer about topic order and exhibit handling prior to finalization.