Energize Connecticut Delivers $255,000 Incentive to Regional Water Authority Following Efficiency Improvements at Water Treatment Plant

Heating system upgrades expected to boost efficiency and cut energy costs at RWA facility in North Branford

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - June 4, 2026 - Today, the Regional Water Authority (RWA) received more than $255,000 in incentive checks from Energize Connecticut for completing major heating and cooling system upgrades at its Lake Gaillard Water Treatment Plant in North Branford.

The incentive award marks the culmination of three years' collaboration on the project between the RWA and United Illuminating (UI) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc. and administrators of the state's Energize Connecticut energy efficiency incentive programs in the region. Energize Connecticut offers a range of incentives and rebates to help homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations reduce energy use, lower costs, and support a cleaner energy future.

The project included the installation of a high-efficiency water source heat pump system for heating and cooling at the Lake Gaillard plant, along with upgraded energy-efficient boiler systems for heat and hot water. The improvements are expected to reduce the plant's natural gas consumption by about 13,526 CCF annually, enough to meet the annual heating needs of roughly 14 typical Connecticut homes. The upgrades are also expected to save the RWA approximately $15,000-$20,000 a year on energy costs.

"At the RWA, environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility go hand-in-hand. This initiative allows us to achieve both," said Sunder (Sunny) Lakshminarayanan, the RWA's interim President and CEO. "We are grateful to the teams at UI and SCG for their partnership in driving these energy upgrades. Ultimately, every dollar we save on energy translates directly to more affordable, reliable water service for the people we serve."

Frank Reynolds, president and CEO of UI and SCG, visited the RWA's headquarters in New Haven to deliver the incentive checks, which included $235,790 for the geothermal heat pump system and $19,745 for the high-efficiency boilers.

"This project demonstrates how collaboration and smart energy investments can deliver meaningful savings and environmental benefits," Reynolds said. "By leveraging Energize Connecticut programs, the Regional Water Authority is reducing energy use, helping to keep water service affordable, and strengthening the reliability of critical infrastructure that serves the community every day."

UI and SCG continue to work with the RWA to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce energy costs, with projects currently underway at the RWA's Lake Saltonstall and Lake Whitney water treatment plants. In 2025, they collaborated in an organization-wide efficiency assessment and optimization initiative projected to cut the RWA's energy needs by approximately 500,000 kilowatt-hours annually, roughly equivalent to the energy used by 50 typical homes.

receives funding from utility bill surcharges and the Connecticut Green Bank.