DeStefano, Bysiewicz and Blumenthal to Hold News Conference to Oppose UI Rate Increase and their Costly Headquarters Move to the Suburbs

** High Priority **



John DeStefano, Jr.
City Of New Haven
Mayor

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 8, 2009


-MEDIA ADVISORY-

DeStefano, Bysiewicz and Blumenthal to Hold News Conference to Oppose UI Rate Increase and their Costly Headquarters Move to the Suburbs

At a Time When Families can Least Afford to Pay More, UI Seeks to Raise Rates, Abandon Needed Safety Repairs and Spend Millions on a New Headquarters Site in Orange


WHO: Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz Attorney General Richard Blumenthal Senator Majority Leader Martin Looney (D-New Haven) Senator Anthony Musto (D-Bridgeport) Local Merchants Impacted by UI’s Plans to Leave the City Members of the New Haven Board of Aldermen

WHERE: Outside of 157 Church Street, New Haven

WHEN: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 11 a.m.

WHAT: Mayor DeStefano and Attorney General Blumenthal will hold a news
conference in front of the United Illuminating headquarters in New Haven to express opposition to the company’s request to reopen the rate case. The DPUC will hear public comment and argument on Monday about reopening the rate case, which could result in a rate increase to residential and commercial customers. DeStefano and Blumenthal will speak about the impact of a rate increase on UI customers and UI’s plans to scale back on needed repairs and improvements to its system which it promised that it would make over the next 5-10 years. UI’s request and its planned deferral of necessary infrastructure projects come at a time when UI is funding its multi-million dollar new headquarters facility at ratepayer’s expense.
[END]


Jessica A. Mayorga
Director of Communications
City of New Haven
203.946.7660
203.627.4224 (mobile)
jmayorga@newhavenct.net
www.cityofnewhaven.net