Bridgeport, CT – Mayor Ganim announced to Bridgeport residents that UI customers can expect to see a line item credit on their monthly statement.   If UI does not appeal, this credit will be returned to the rate payers over the period of  August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022.  



Mayor Ganim, stated, “I want to thank the oversight board and the Public Utility Regulatory Authority for forcing the UI Company in Bridgeport to pay back the residents and ratepayers after the way they mis-handled the storm.  It was a terrible tragedy; I can remember being with seniors and people with disabilities who did not have access to elevators for two or three days and experienced loss of power which caused, among other things, food going bad. This is a victory for our residents.   I’m happy for the ratepayers that will finally get some money back in their pocket.”



On August 4, 2020, Tropical Storm Isaias caused extensive damage in Bridgeport and the State of Connecticut. After delayed response by UI to restore power and address downed wires and trees, causing further delay in emergency assistance, Mayor Ganim stood at 2400 North Avenue with some of the City’s most vulnerable senior residents, and demanded an improved response by United Illuminating.   Ganim also requested United Illuminating Company (UI) to develop a plan to improve their response and communications during significant weather events.  



As requested by Governor Lamont, PURA conducted an investigation and concluded that UI and Eversource were both ill-prepared and unresponsive in their managing of power outages due to Storm Isaias.  The investigation resulted in penalties in the amount $2,141,470 to UI and $30,025,022 to Eversource.



In addition, UI and Eversource were also ordered to develop a process to identify and track life support customers, which are customers that require electricity for life-maintaining conditions. In the future, Connecticut power companies will incorporate a formal process to contact life support customers before, during, and after storms.  The process must include updates to each municipality for the life support customers and provide daily communications during the storm event.

LINK: https://bit.ly/33wAmu0