HB07220 Summary

• Water companies serving 25-1,000 residents must prepare fiscal and asset management plans for capital assets by January 1, 2020, with hydropneumatic pressure tank assessments due by May 1, 2018.

• Commissioner of Public Health may impose civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation per day for violations of water quality and adequacy standards, with penalty schedules published on the Department of Public Health website rather than adopted through formal rulemaking.

• Commissioner may appoint a receiver for small water companies that have abandoned operations or failed to comply with orders addressing immediate threats to water quality, with court approval required within 5-10 days of motion filing.

• Receivers appointed to manage troubled water companies have broad operational powers, may increase consumer rates with court approval, and must file detailed quarterly reports with the Superior Court.

• Commissioner may appoint temporary managers for small water companies in crisis situations for one-year terms, with compensation paid from water service revenues collected from consumers.