Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 283 - Telephone, Gas, Power and Water Companies
Section 16-243. - Jurisdiction of authority over electricity transmission lines.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall have exclusive jurisdiction and direction over the method of construction or reconstruction in whole or in part of each system used for the transmission or distribution of electricity, with the kind, quality and finish of all materials, wires, poles, conductors and fixtures to be used in the construction and operation thereof, and the method of their use, including all plants and apparatus used for generating electricity located upon private property upon which there are conductors capable of transmitting electricity to other premises in such manner as to endanger any person or property. The authority may make any order necessary to the exercise of such power and direction, which order shall be in writing and entered in the records of the authority. Each person or corporation operating any such system or generating plant shall, at its expense, comply with such order. Any person violating any provision of any such order shall be subject to the penalty prescribed in section 16-41.

(1949 Rev., S. 5655; P.A. 75-486, S. 1, 69; P.A. 77-614, S. 162, 610; P.A. 80-482, S. 105, 348; P.A. 98-28, S. 101, 117; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 75-486 replaced public utilities commission with public utilities control authority; P.A. 77-614 replaced public utilities control authority with division of public utility control within the department of business regulation, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-482 made division an independent department and deleted reference to abolished department of business regulation; P.A. 98-28 added the distribution of electricity, effective July 1, 1998; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Department of Public Utility Control” and “department” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority” and “authority”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011.
See Sec. 16-235 re control of placing, erection and maintenance of wires and other fixtures by local authorities.
Cited. 140 C. 650. Exclusive jurisdiction over direction of power line on private land is within the commission. 161 C. 430. Cited. 162 C. 89. Contains constitutionally adequate standards. 165 C. 687. Cited. 168 C. 478.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 16 - Public Service Companies

Chapter 283 - Telephone, Gas, Power and Water Companies

Section 16-228. - Telephone lines.

Section 16-229. - Excavation in highway.

Section 16-230. - Bond requirement.

Section 16-231. - Appeal.

Section 16-231a. - Cuts and permanent patches in highway. Inspections. Repairs. Certification.

Section 16-232. - Rights of companies organized under general law.

Section 16-233. - Use of gain by town, city, borough, fire district or Department of Transportation.

Section 16-234. - Conducting vegetation management; notice to abutting and private property owners. Changing location of, erecting or placing wires, conductors, fixtures, structures or apparatus over, on or under any highway or public ground; rights...

Section 16-235. - Control by local authorities. Orders. Appeals.

Section 16-236. - Appraisal of damages; costs.

Section 16-237. - No prescriptive right.

Section 16-238. - Wires may be cut; notice.

Section 16-239. - Dispatches transmitted in order. Exceptions.

Section 16-240 to 16-242. - Delivery of messages. Mortgage by telegraph company. Telephone service to telegraph companies.

Section 16-243. - Jurisdiction of authority over electricity transmission lines.

Section 16-243a. - Private power producers. Purchase and sale of electricity. Avoided costs. Small renewable power projects. Interconnectivity standards.

Section 16-243aa. - Distribution of electricity across a public highway or street by a municipality or state or federal governmental entity.

Section 16-243b. - Definitions. Jurisdiction.

Section 16-243bb. - Adjustment of electric distribution company residential fixed charge.

Section 16-243c. - Electricity transmission and distribution services for electric cooperatives utilizing cogeneration technology and renewable energy resources.

Section 16-243cc. - Energy storage deployment. Report.

Section 16-243d. - Project by private power producer deemed “industrial project”.

Section 16-243dd. - Energy storage project proposals.

Section 16-243e. - Electric distribution company purchase of electricity generated by municipal resources recovery facilities.

Section 16-243ee. - Electric energy storage resource programs and associated funding mechanisms. Report.

Section 16-243f. - Private power providers. Regulations concerning the purchase and sale of electricity.

Section 16-243g. - Assignment of electricity purchase agreements.

Section 16-243h. - Credit to residential customers who generate electricity; metering.

Section 16-243i. - Awards to retail end use electric customers and electric distribution companies re customer-side distributed resources.

Section 16-243j. - Long-term financing for customer-side distributed resources and advanced power monitoring and metering equipment.

Section 16-243k. - Assessment of customer-side and grid-side distributed resources, effectiveness of award program.

Section 16-243l. - Rebate for customer-side distributed resource projects that use natural gas.

Section 16-243m. - Measures to reduce federally mandated congestion charges.

Section 16-243n. - Time-of-use, mandatory peak, shoulder, off-peak and seasonal rates. Optional interruptible or load response rates.

Section 16-243o. - Waiver of back-up power rates.

Section 16-243p. - Recovery of costs, investments and lost revenues by an electric distribution company.

Section 16-243q. - Class III renewable energy portfolio standards.

Section 16-243r. - Customer-side distributed resources and grid-side distributed resources. Qualifications for applicability of certain provisions.

Section 16-243s. - Awards to electric distribution companies for programs for load curtailment, demand reduction and retrofit conservation.

Section 16-243t. - Class III credits.

Section 16-243u. - Plan to build peaking generation.

Section 16-243v. - Connecticut electric efficiency partner program. Residential furnace or boiler replacement and propane fuel tank purchase program.

Section 16-243w. - Advanced metering system plan and deployment.

Section 16-243x. - Time-of-use meters. Notice of availability.

Section 16-243y. - Microgrid and resilience grant and loan pilot program to support distributed energy generation for critical facilities.

Section 16-243z. - Geographic information systems data sharing. Disclosure of locations of medical hardship accounts in emergencies.

Section 16-244. - Electric deregulation; findings and declarations.

Section 16-244a. - Rate freeze for electric service.

Section 16-244aa. - Performance-based regulation of electric distribution companies.

Section 16-244b. - Electric customers to choose electric suppliers. Phase-in of electric deregulation.

Section 16-244bb. - Sustainable materials management account.

Section 16-244c. - Standard service. Alternative standard service. Supplier of last resort. Back-up generation service. Participating electric suppliers.

Section 16-244cc. - Energy storage systems pilot program.

Section 16-244d. - Program for distribution of information re electric suppliers. Rate board Internet web site.

Section 16-244e. - Ownership or operation of generation assets. Customer bill. Energy storage systems to enhance distribution reliability or resiliency.

Section 16-244f. - Divestiture of nonnuclear electric generation facilities. Plan. Approval of sale by authority.

Section 16-244g. - Divestiture of nuclear electric generation facilities. Plan. Approval of sale by authority.

Section 16-244h. - Code of conduct for electric distribution companies, generation entities or affiliates and electric suppliers. Contents of code. Penalties, damages.

Section 16-244i. - Duties of electric distribution companies.

Section 16-244j. - Electric transmission lines from Bethel to Norwalk. Moratorium. Working group and comprehensive assessment.

Section 16-244k. - Allocation of the proceeds of the retail adder.

Section 16-244l. - Modification of fuel cell electricity purchase agreements.

Section 16-244m. - Procurement Plan re standard service.

Section 16-244n. - Standard service contract buydown.

Section 16-244o. - Generation evaluation and procurement process.

Section 16-244p. - Transmission line project review.

Section 16-244q. - Request for proposal re reliability concerns.

Section 16-244r. - Long-term contracts re zero emission generation projects. Solicitation of Class I generation projects. Renewable energy credits.

Section 16-244s. - Zero emission generation projects solicitation plan. Procurement plan. Noncompliance fee.

Section 16-244t. - Power purchase contracts re low-emission generation projects. Renewable energy credits.

Section 16-244u. - Virtual net metering.

Section 16-244v. - Renewable energy sources generation. Proposals to build, own or operate facilities.

Section 16-244w. - Grid-side system enhancements pilot program.

Section 16-244x. - Shared clean energy facility pilot program.

Section 16-244y. - Fuel cell electricity generation. Soliciation of proposals to aquire new fuel cell electricity generation projects with associated tariffs.

Section 16-244z. - Renewable energy tariffs.

Section 16-245. - Licensing of electric suppliers. Customer assignment or transfer. Procedures. Penalties. Regulation of electric aggregators. Procedures. Penalties.

Section 16-245a. - Renewable portfolio standards.

Section 16-245aa. - Renewable energy and efficient energy finance program.

Section 16-245b. - Municipalities and regional water authorities acting as electric aggregators; registration with Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

Section 16-245bb. - Bond authorization.

Section 16-245c. - Municipal electric utilities participating in deregulated environment. Authority to provide generation services outside service area.

Section 16-245cc. - Demand charge waiver for fuel cells.

Section 16-245d. - Billing of electric service. Standard format. Contents. Bill inserts and mailings. Electronic bill payment confirmation.

Section 16-245dd. - Residential electric space heating tariff.

Section 16-245e. - Stranded costs of electric distribution companies. Definitions. Calculation by authority. Procedures. Adjustments. Mitigation.

Section 16-245ee. - Energy conservation and load management and renewable energy projects in lower income communities. Requirements for approval.

Section 16-245f. - Funding of certain disbursements to the General Fund. Funding of stranded costs through rate reduction bonds. Funding of economic recovery transfer through economic recovery revenue bonds. Assessment.

Section 16-245ff. - Residential solar investment program.

Section 16-245g. - Competitive transition assessment. Determination by authority of amount and how applied to electric customers. Duration.

Section 16-245gg. - Master purchase agreement for solar home renewable energy credits.

Section 16-245h. - Transition property. Surplus competitive transition assessment. Restrictions on use of transition property by electric distribution companies.

Section 16-245hh. - Condominium renewable energy grant program.

Section 16-245i. - Financing orders re the economic recovery transfer, the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund, the Clean Energy Fund and stranded costs.

Section 16-245ii. - Energy consumption data of nonresidential buildings.

Section 16-245j. - Rate reduction bonds and economic recovery revenue bonds; terms.

Section 16-245jj. - Town customer electricity and gas usage information.

Section 16-245k. - Security interest in transition property; creation; perfection. Transferring transition property. Duration of authority to issue financing orders.

Section 16-245kk. - Issuance of bonds, notes and other obligations by the Connecticut Green Bank.

Section 16-245l. - Systems benefits charge. Determination by authority of amount and how applied to customers.

Section 16-245ll. - Clean energy bonds.

Section 16-245m. - Energy Conservation Management Board. Conservation and Load Management Plan.

Section 16-245mm. - Special capital reserve funds.

Section 16-245n. - Connecticut Green Bank. Charge assessed against electric customers. Clean Energy Fund. Environmental Infrastructure Fund.

Section 16-245nn. - Residential solar photovoltaic system permit.

Section 16-245o. - Use of customer information. Promotional inserts in electric bills prohibited. Standard form re contract terms and conditions. Procedures for entering, renewing and terminating service contracts. Rate increase disclosures. Marketin...

Section 16-245p. - Information re electric supplier and electric distribution company to be provided to customers.

Section 16-245q. - Changing electric suppliers.

Section 16-245r. - Discrimination by electric suppliers prohibited.

Section 16-245s. - Switching electric suppliers; procedures; penalties; regulations.

Section 16-245t. - Complaints to authority re electric suppliers; procedures; remedies.

Section 16-245u. - Unfair and discriminatory conduct and unfair trade practices in electric market prohibited. Investigations.

Section 16-245v. - List of displaced electric utility employees to be provided to distribution companies and electric suppliers.

Section 16-245w. - Fee to be paid by self-generation facilities in lieu of certain assessments; study by authority.

Section 16-245x. - Monitoring and reporting by authority of electric rates of each customer class. Action to minimize rate differential.

Section 16-245y. - Annual reporting re status of electric deregulation.

Section 16-245z. - Internet links to Energy Star program.

Section 16-246. - Other companies which may sell electricity.

Section 16-246a. - Definitions.

Section 16-246b to 16-246d. - Area within which domestic company may generate and transmit electric energy. Area within which foreign electric company may generate and transmit electric energy. Joint ownership of facility; waiver of right to petition...

Section 16-246e. - Procurement and sale by authority of electric power capacity and power output from out-of-state producers. Approval by Governor.

Section 16-246f. - Electric company emergency assistance.

Section 16-246g. - Pilot program for electric generation.

Section 16-247. - Foreign telephone companies.

Section 16-247a. - Goals of the state. Definitions.

Section 16-247b. - Unbundling of telephone company's network, services and functions. Access to telephone company's telecommunications services, functions and unbundled network elements. Rates for competitive or emerging competitive service. Subsidiz...

Section 16-247c. - Provision of intrastate telecommunications services. Civil penalty. Competition.

Section 16-247d. - Biennial reports on competition for intrastate interexchange telecommunications service. Plan for implementing competition. General Assembly approval required.

Section 16-247e. - Basic telecommunications services. Lifeline and telecommunications relay service programs. Universal service program.

Section 16-247f. - Regulation of telecommunication services: Initial classifications, reclassifications, tariffs, exemption from filing tariff.

Section 16-247g. - Certificate of public convenience and necessity for intrastate telecommunications services: Application, requirements, suspension, revocation. Fees. Obligation to serve.

Section 16-247h. - Use of public right-of-way for provision of intrastate telecommunications service.

Section 16-247i. - Telecommunications service and regulation status report.

Section 16-247j. - Regulations.

Section 16-247k. - Alternative forms of regulation for telephone companies: Plan requirements, monitoring period, modification.

Section 16-247l. - Access by certified telecommunications providers to occupied buildings: Service, wiring, compensation, regulations, civil penalty.

Section 16-247m. - Withdrawal by telephone company of retail telecommunications service. Applications.

Section 16-247n. - Certification of telephone company's operations support systems interface. Rates. Proceedings.

Section 16-247o. - Consultant to test operations support systems interface.

Section 16-247p. - Quality-of-service standards. Performance standards.

Section 16-247q. - Education outreach program for telecommunications competition, scope. Consumer Education Advisory Council established.

Section 16-247r. - Discrimination by telephone companies and certified telecommunications providers prohibited.

Section 16-247s. - Directory assistance database. Disclosure and distribution of cellular mobile telephone numbers.

Section 16-247t. - Customer inquiries and complaints regarding cellular mobile telephone service.

Section 16-247u. - Unauthorized procurement and sale of telephone records. Definitions. Exclusions. Telephone company protection of records. Penalties. Unfair trade practice.

Section 16-247v. - Performance standards for restoration of intrastate telecommunications service after emergencies. Credit for service outages.

Section 16-248. - Rights of telephone company in operation May 23, 1985.

Section 16-249 to 16-250a. - Authority finding re extension of exchange business of telephone company. Determination of public convenience and necessity for extension. Reselling or sharing of line purchased or leased from telephone company.

Section 16-250b. - Cellular mobile telephone service. Authority jurisdiction. Regulations.

Section 16-251. - Bonds of telephone company.

Section 16-252. - Bonds may be secured by mortgage.

Section 16-253 and 16-254. - Amount of capital to be paid in. Subscriptions for cash. Sections 16-253 and 16-254 are repealed, effective October 1, 2002.

Section 16-255. - General powers.

Section 16-255a to 16-255i. - Acquisition of control of domestic telephone companies limited; statement; expenses of department. Form of statement. Hearing re department approval of acquisition; standard of review. Nonvotable securities; injunctive r...

Section 16-256. - Notice of offense in party line usage in telephone directory.

Section 16-256a. - Directory assistance charge prohibited.

Section 16-256b. - Special telecommunications equipment for deaf and hearing impaired persons. Fund. Amplification controls for coin and coinless telephones installed for public or semipublic use.

Section 16-256c. - Extended local calling criteria. Calling volume. Subscriber survey and vote. Petitions.

Section 16-256d. - Itemized telephone bills for business customers.

Section 16-256e. - Recorded telephone message devices prohibited. Blocking devices or services prohibited: Class A misdemeanor.

Section 16-256f. - Blocking service available to customers.

Section 16-256g. - Proceeding to determine monthly subscriber fee. Assessment of subscribers for enhanced emergency 9-1-1 program.

Section 16-256h. - Business to residential pricing ratio for basic exchange service.

Section 16-256i. - Primary local or intrastate interexchange carrier orders. Unauthorized switching. Penalty.

Section 16-256j. - Billing for telecommunications services. Information re carriers, basic, local service and taxes.

Section 16-256k. - Disclosure for removal or change in telecommunications service. Disclosure for promotional offerings.

Section 16-257. - Recording of agreement of consolidation or merger of electric and gas companies.

Section 16-258. - Standards concerning electricity and gas.

Section 16-258a. - Registration of natural gas sellers. Procedures. Penalties.

Section 16-258b. - Registration of electric generating facilities.

Section 16-258c. - Dual fuel capability requirements for electric generating facilities.

Section 16-258d. - District heating systems incentive program.

Section 16-258e. - Electric distribution company procurement of electricity and renewable energy credits from a combined heat and power system.

Section 16-259. - Inspection of meters.

Section 16-259a. - Inaccurate billing. Financial liability of customer. Payment plan.

Section 16-260. - Water meters may be required.

Section 16-261. - Extension of electric lines to unserved areas. Determination of rates.

Section 16-261a. - Interagency electric and magnetic fields task force; composition; study. Assessment of electric public service companies for specified expenses of task force.

Section 16-262. - Gas companies authorized to deal in natural gas.

Section 16-262a. - Water company to have area resident as director or advisory council of area residents.

Section 16-262b. - Notice of discharge of explosives or highway excavation to gas companies.

Section 16-262c. - Termination of utility service for nonpayment, when prohibited. Amortization agreements. Moneys allowed to be deducted from customers' accounts and moneys to be included in rates as an operating expense. Hardship cases. Notice. Reg...

Section 16-262d. - Termination of residential utility service on account of nonpayment. Notice. Nontermination in event of illness during pendency of customer complaint or investigation. Amortization agreement. Appeal. Notice re credit rating informa...

Section 16-262e. - Notice furnished tenants re intended termination of utility service. Assumption by tenants of liability for future service. Liability of landlords for certain utility services. Deduction from rent. Access to meters.

Section 16-262f. - Action for receivership of rents and common expenses by electric distribution, gas and telephone companies; petition; hearing; appointment; duties; termination.

Section 16-262g. - Penalty.

Section 16-262h. - Nonexclusivity of remedy.

Section 16-262i. - Regulations.

Section 16-262j. - Refusal of residential utility service. Regulations. Refusal of telecommunications service to a candidate or committee. Interest on customer security deposits.

Section 16-262k. - Interconnection of public water supply systems to relieve site-specific water shortages.

Section 16-262l. - Receivership of water companies for failure to provide adequate service. Personal liability of directors, officers and managers.

Section 16-262m. - Construction specifications for water companies.

Section 16-262n. - Definition. Economic viability of water companies. Reviews. Failure to comply with orders. Hearings.

Section 16-262o. - Acquisition of water company ordered by authority. Rates and charges. Recovery of acquisition costs.

Section 16-262p. - Improvements by acquiring entity.

Section 16-262q. - Compensation for acquisition of water company.

Section 16-262r. - Satellite management of water companies. Expedited rate proceedings.

Section 16-262s. - Voluntary acquisition of water company. Surcharges. Rate of return.

Section 16-262t. - Action for receivership of rent and common expenses by water companies; petition; hearing; appointment; duties; termination.

Section 16-262u. - Replacement and repair of water service connections. Granting of exceptions.

Section 16-262v. - Water company infrastructure projects: Definitions.

Section 16-262w. - Water company rate adjustment mechanisms.

Section 16-262x. - Termination of residential utility service. Requirements.

Section 16-262y. - Water company revenue adjustment mechanism.

Section 16-262z. - Properties served by deficient well systems. Extension of service by water company.