NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) State regulators have cut nearly $50 million from a request by Connecticut's largest utility for ratepayers to pay for recovery from five destructive storms.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority issued a preliminary decision Monday for Connecticut Light Power to recover $365 million for preparation and response to Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011, a Nor'easter two months later, Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 and two major storms in June 2011 and September 2012.

CL&P may recover the costs over six years. It asked for permission to bill ratepayers for $414 million.

The Berlin-based utility said it was still reviewing the decision.

Regulators said an agreement allowing parent company Northeast Utilities to purchase NStar in Boston required CL&P to freeze distribution rates until at least Dec. 1 and absorb the first $40 million in storm costs.