Howard Opposes PURA Chair Appointment

HARTFORD— State Representative Greg Howard (R-43) on Wednesday voted against the re-appointment of Marissa Gillett as chairman of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

Rep. Howard said, “The people of Southeastern Connecticut, in my district — have carried the burden of some of the highest electric rates in the country, with little confidence that their concerns are being heard at the regulatory level. I could NOT support the reappointment of Chairwoman Gillett, whose tenure at PURA has been marked by top-down decision-making and a lack of transparency. Our communities and my constituents deserve a regulator who listens, collaborates, and puts ratepayers first — not one who governs in isolation with a particular ideology. For that reason, I voted no.”

The House of the Representatives reappointed Gillett by a 91-52 tally, with 7 Democrats joining 45 House Republicans in opposition.