In a letter to the Commissioners of the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC), State Senator Thomas J. Herlihy, R- Simsbury, today blasted Aquarion Water Company's proposed rate increase that would increase rates by more than 25% in Simsbury, Granby and East Granby and by more than 15% in Torrington and Norfolk. Senator Herlihy, who serves as Ranking Member of the legislature's Energy and Technology Committee, said that he understands the company's argument that additional revenue is needed for improvements, however the increases are beyond proportion.

"I believe that these increases are excessive and that Aquarion's proposal should be denied on that basis alone," said Sen. Herlihy in his letter. "Families and businesses in this region cannot sustain increases of this magnitude, especially when you consider that other utilities like electricity and commodities like gasoline are at an all time high."

Senator Herlihy's correspondence comes one day before a scheduled public hearing arranged by the DPUC. That hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, June 15 th at 6:30 p.m., in the Simsbury High School auditorium. Simsbury High School is located at 34 Farms Village Road.

Also troubling to Sen. Herlihy is the significant disparity between the rate increase in southeastern Connecticut compared to the increase in the northern region of the state. "I hope that Aquarion is not proposing that people in our region subsidize other areas of the state," said Sen. Herlihy. "We will pay our fair share of the necessary improvements in our towns but should not be asked to underwrite the costs in other towns."