The formal Public Utilities Regulatory Authority investigation of Eversource and their response to the August tropical storm has started.  It will run through the first week of January. 

Bethel First Selectman Knickerbocker was the first person to testify.  Bethel had joined with New Fairfield, Newtown and Ridgefield in potential legal action.  The other three municipal leaders also testified about their towns experiences with the utility post-storm during the first hearing. 

Knickerbocker was on the Zoom hearing for about 5 hours.  That included 60 minutes of cross examination by lawyers for Eversource.  He was also questioned by DEEP staff, Office of Consumer Counsel, Office of the Attorney General and members of PURA. 

Knickerbocker heard that his testimony was well received, the cross examination did not poke holes in positions that the municipalities took.  He watched testimony from the towns of Westport, Monroe and Weston.  They had identical concerns.  More than a dozen other towns have also provided testimony.

Knickerbocker says PURA appears to be predisposed to give them regulatory relief and making sure there's a better response from utilities in the future.