Hartford, Conn./WTIC Radio - Governor Lamont is reappointing Marissa Gillet as chair of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
In a statement, Lamont said he's sticking with Gillet despite several controversies surrounding her in recent months.
They include deleted text messages that were being sought in a lawsuit by a pair of gas companies suggesting Gillet may have collaborated on a news opinion piece attacking utilities.
“Marissa is the most experienced, qualified person to ever serve on PURA,” Governor Lamont said. “Her breadth of knowledge and experience in energy policy, combined with her collaborative approach, commitment to fairness, and her ability to navigate complex cases will benefit the state and its ratepayers. She is exactly the kind of qualified person we need serving in this leadership position.”
State senate Republican leaders in a statement said "In making his decision, surely Gov. Lamont asked her about her deleted government text messages. In making this decision, surely the governor asked her, ‘What did you know and when did you know it?’ So now, the governor must provide overburdened ratepayers with those much-needed answers."