Attorney General Tong Statement Regarding Eversource Appeal of PURA Storm Cost Decision that Rejected Over $300 Million in Unjustified Carrying Costs

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10/15/2026

Attorney General Tong Statement Regarding Eversource Appeal of PURA Storm Cost Decision that Rejected Over $300 Million in Unjustified Carrying Costs

(Hartford, CT) - Attorney General William Tong today said he will aggressively defend a decision by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to reject over $300 million in accumulated interest against an Eversource appeal filed today.

On December 15, 2025, Eversource sought PURA approval to recover almost $1 billion in projected storm costs for a series of catastrophic storms occurring between 2018 and 2023, as well as over $300 million in interest payments associated with those costs. Attorney General Tong argued that Eversource's demand for unvetted and unapproved carrying costs was premature, unprecedented and should be rejected.

On June 30, PURA agreed with the Office of the Attorney General, approving $933 million in accumulated Eversource storm costs, while rejecting the carrying costs in full.

"The workers who restore our power following catastrophic storms deserve compensation and gratitude-that is without doubt. PURA was right to approve those costs. But that wasn't enough for Eversource. This fight is about hundreds of millions of dollars in unjustified interest payments for years where they had never even asked for recovery. In the real world, when kids hand in late homework, they don't get bonus points. We're going to fight this appeal with everything we've got to ensure Connecticut families aren't stuck paying this outrageous, unaffordable, and unjustified demand," said Attorney General Tong.

Eversource's demand breaks from longstanding PURA precedent, which has long held that storm cost interest payments are not authorized until costs have been vetted and deemed prudent. Eversource repeatedly chose to delay that scrutiny over many years. The Office of Consumer Counsel and others had raised a series of questions regarding costs associated with external contractors, improper storms included for recovery, pre-staging costs, inadequate documentation, misapplication of mileage standards, among other concerns. Rather than promptly addressing those questions, Eversource expressed outrage at the process and filed 74 motions for extensions of time to respond to discovery requests-- totaling more than 1,000 days of delay.

Since taking office, Attorney General Tong has fought on behalf of Connecticut consumers at every major proceeding before PURA, blocking upwards of $1 billion dollars in requested rate hikes from gas, electric and water companies owned by both Eversource and United Illuminating.

Assistant Attorneys General Caroline McCormack and John Wright and Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer are assisting the Attorney General in this matter.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Benton
[email protected]

Consumer Inquiries:

860-808-5318
[email protected]

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