SB 325 — AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN CHARGES AND REQUIRING APPROVAL FOR THE INSTALLATION OF HYDRANTS BY WATER COMPANIES.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

325426 February Session, 2022 LCOSubstitute Senate Bill No.

1944325 ReferredSenate, toApril 12, 2022 The Committee on PLANNINGPlanning ANDand DEVELOPMENTDevelopment Introducedreported by:through SEN.

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AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN CHARGES AND REQUIRING APPROVAL FOR THE INSTALLATION OF HYDRANTS BY WATER COMPANIES.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2022) (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, no water company shall assess to a municipality (1) a fire protection charge for a (A) water line that is not connected to a hydrant,hydrant on the street where such water line is located or that does not have a hydrant connected to it within the municipality, or (B) water line or hydrant that is not owned and maintained by such company, or (2) a linear foot charge or hydrant charge for a water line located on private property.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, no water company shall install a water line or hydrant without first obtaining approvalforapproval suchinstallationfromthechiefadministrativefor such installation from the chief administrative officer oftheof the municipality and local fire marshal of the municipality or jurisdiction in whichsSB325 such/ lineFile orNo. hydrant is to be located.

426 1 sSB325 File No.

426 which such hydrant is to be located.

LCOSection No.1 July 1, 2022 New section PD Joint Favorable Subst.

1944sSB325 1/ ofFile 2 Raised Bill No.

325426 Section2 1sSB325 JulyFile 1,No. 2022 New section Statement of Purpose:

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1944OFA 2Fiscal ofNote 2State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill prohibits water companies from including certain water lines and fire hydrants in the calculation of a municipality's fire protection charge.

This has no fiscal impact, as it is not anticipated to reduce the overall charges a water company levies on a municipality.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sSB325 / File No.

426 3 sSB325 File No.

426 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 325 AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN CHARGES AND REQUIRING APPROVAL FOR THE INSTALLATION OF HYDRANTS BY WATER COMPANIES.

SUMMARY This bill prohibits water companies from charging municipalities a fire protection charge for a water line that:

1.

is not connected to a fire hydrant on the same street;

2.

does not have a fire hydrant connected to it in the same municipality;

or 3.

the company does not own and maintain, or a hydrant that the company does not own and maintain.

It also prohibits water companies from:

1.

charging municipalities a linear foot charge or fire hydrant charge for a water line located on private property or 2.

installing a hydrant without first obtaining permission from the chief administrative officer and local fire marshal of the municipality or jurisdiction in which the hydrant will be located.

The bill’s prohibitions apply regardless of conflicting state statutes.

The bill does not define water company or municipality.

Generally, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority regulates the rates of investor- owned water companies and the Department of Public Health regulates other types of water systems.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2022 sSB325 / File No.