Penalty Amount
$3,000,000
Connecticut Attorney General and Consumer Counsel announced a $3 million settlement with electric supplier Public Power for failing to publish required 'next cycle rate' information, which denied consumers the opportunity to switch suppliers to avoid rate increases. As part of the settlement, Public Power and its sister companies must permanently exit the Connecticut market, and the funds will be used to pay down unpaid electric bills for hardship customers.
Public Power must pay a $3 million monetary penalty, permanently cease operations in Connecticut (a market ban), and the settlement funds will be used to provide debt relief for customers with unpaid electric bills.
In-house legal teams should review all electric supply agreements (both customer-facing supplier contracts and any intermediary/utility partnership agreements) for clauses governing rate disclosure, notice requirements for rate changes, and customer switching rights. Specific attention is needed on whether contracts mandate compliance with the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority's (PURA) 'next cycle rate' publication rules. Teams should assess if existing clauses provide adequate remedies (e.g., termination rights, penalties) for failures to disclose required rate information. Agreements may need amendments to explicitly incorporate PURA's transparency requirements, establish clear audit rights, and include provisions addressing forced market exit and customer hardship fund contributions as seen in this settlement.
Entity
Public Power
Industry
OtherConnecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of states and local governments in filing suit against NHTSA over its rule weakening fuel economy standards for new passenger cars and light trucks. The lawsuit alleges the rule violates the agency’s statutory mandate and the Administrative Procedure Act; no penalty or final remedy is reported.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition suing the EPA over its repeal of greenhouse gas pollution limits for power plants and separately filed a notice of intent to sue over regulation of existing gas plants. The coalition asks the court to overturn the repeal and restore the protections; the release reports no monetary penalty or final order.
$400.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers conspired to inflate prices, limit competition, and restrain trade. The settlement includes consumer restitution and injunctive reforms; court approval was being sought.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing a DHS rule that allows certain affirmative asylum applications to be referred to removal proceedings without an asylum officer interview. The coalition argues the rule violates federal law and harms asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children; this was a policy opposition letter, not a privacy enforcement action.
Connecticut and Massachusetts co-led a coalition protest urging FERC to reject the proposed NextEra Energy-Dominion Energy merger. The coalition argued that the merger could increase market power and threaten energy affordability, reliability, and competition; the release does not report a final enforcement decision or penalty.
Connecticut officials warned residents about potential home improvement scams before an approaching nor’easter, including unlicensed contractors, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for full payment upfront. The release provides consumer guidance on checking contractors and contract requirements; it does not announce an enforcement action or penalty against a named entity.