The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority said today in its final decision on Connecticut Light & Power Co.'s preparation for and response to two major storms last year that the company will have to pay for its poor performance by facing possible financial penalties when it next tries to raise its rates for electricity.

CL&P was "deficient and inadequate" preparing employees for service restoration as well as communication to customers, the agency said in its decision.

"The authority concludes that CL&P’s performance in the areas regarding communication to customers, other service providers and municipalities was so deficient as to be less than adequate and suitable and to warrant regulatory sanction," the decision said.

The agency said the sanction would likely take the form of a reduction in the company's allowed return on equity "as a penalty for poor management performance and to provide incentives for improvement."

The agency also said it plans to consider CL&P's deficient response when it seeks recovery costs for damage caused last year by Tropical Irene and an October Nor'easter. It ordered CL&P to develop a plan to improve the company's response to future storms, including issues ranging from tree trimming to lining up mutual assistance.

CL&P did not have an immediate response to the agency's decision.

The utility regulator did not outline sanctions for United Illuminating Co., but said it reserves the right to take the company's performance into account when it reviews future requests to recover storm-related costs.

The agency also outlined steps that other utilities can take -- including the telecommunications, cable service, gas and water companies -- to improve storm responsiveness. Among the orders were that several of these companies set up websites devoted specifically to communicating information about storm-related issues.