Lasting show of support

After Eversource threat, Lamont backs PURA chair for another term

The day began with Eversource’s chief executive condemning the leadership of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority under Marissa P. Gillett. It ended with Gov. Ned Lamont giving her a vote of confidence and four years of job security.

Lamont’s commitment Thursday came eight hours after Eversource’s president and chief executive, Joseph R. Nolan, told analysts on an earnings call the company will cut spending on capital projects by $500 million over the next five years.

Nolan said the regulatory environment in Connecticut was hostile to investment, a statement interpreted at the state Capitol as an effort to nudge Lamont to jettison an adversarial PURA chair.

If so, it backfired.

In a brief interview Thursday, Lamont cut off questioning about the status of Gillett, whose term expired on March 1. He said flatly, “I’m reappointing Marissa.”

Lamont had expressed support for Gillett, especially when discussing what he saw as the desire of Eversource and Avangrid leaders to see new leadership at the authority. But he typically left wiggle room.

“It’s been generally clear,” Lamont said. “Now, it’s crystal clear.”

That clarity does not extend to Gillett’s longer-serving colleagues, John W. Betkoski III and Michael A. Caron, both former members of the state House.

Their terms expired before Gillett’s, and Lamont made no similar commitment. He offered a contradictory take on keeping or replacing them.

“I don’t anticipate making any changes, but I do think change on a regular basis is a good thing,” Lamont said. “Let me leave it at that.”

Neither Eversource nor Avangrid, the owner of United Illuminating, had publicly asked Lamont to fire Gillett. But the governor, who has periodically taken calls from chief executives of the two companies, said their desires were made clear to him.