CT HB05509

Municipalities with populations of at least 100,000 served by private regulated water companies must adopt ordinances to protect seniors, veterans, and low-income families from water pollution control authority foreclosures by restricting accelerated foreclosure proceedings for unpaid sewer fees.

Municipalities must lower interest rates on delinquent sewer assessments and restrict assignees of water pollution control authorities from purchasing foreclosed properties, with financial guidelines established to trigger foreclosures.

Water pollution control authorities must wait one year after filing a foreclosure action before instituting legal proceedings to foreclose a lien.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall establish a regulatory program by January 1, 2019 to regulate charges, assessments, and lien processes of water pollution control authorities in qualifying municipalities, with a status report due two years after establishment.

Water pollution control authorities and private water companies regulated under this program must assess customers a $4 annual surcharge per customer, with proceeds remitted to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to offset program administration costs.