When it comes to ownership, combining electricity and water can be a good thing. The state’s largest utility, Eversource, recently announced it has offered to buy Aquarion, the state's largest investor-owned water utility, for well over a billion dollars.

If approved, this would bring together two highly regulated public companies that are committed to providing excellence in customer service. It also could result in synergies in combined purchasing of materials and equipment and sharing of manpower and public utility managerial talent. In addition, it provides the opportunity to offer a further basket of services to the homeowner for energy management and water-related maintenance needs inside and outside the home through a singular, highly experienced and reputable entity.

Electric companies’ infrastructure is mainly above ground while most of a water utility's infrastructure is below ground. Either way, continual investment in this infrastructure will produce a reasonable rate of return to the combined company and its shareholders while providing a high level of maintenance and replacement of essential utility services to many thousands of Connecticut customers.

Marshall Chiaraluce

Mystic