It was an interesting and busy year for the Connecticut energy market. Changes in leadership at the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) were sudden and impactful on multiple pending proceedings, leaving some in limbo.
Passage of Public Act 25-173 established a comprehensive energy bill focused on affordability and accountability, mandating reviews of renewable tariffs, establishing funding for nuclear/wind projects, creating solar tax rules, and more to enhance grid efficiency, consumer protection, and the state’s clean energy transition, impacting costs for ratepayers and providers.
Several actions by the General Assembly and the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will have long-lasting effect on the energy market.
Harris Beach Murtha’s Energy Industry Team has boots on the ground throughout Connecticut and is actively engaged on many of these issues. We offer a comprehensive review below of many of the state’s important energy issues from 2025.
Starting at the top, Gov. Ned Lamont nominated four people to serve as commissioners of PURA. The new slate of commissioners will no doubt move to leave their own mark on Connecticut’s energy landscape. In addition to already sitting Vice Chairman David Arconti, the new commissioners will serve in an interim capacity until their nominations are confirmed by the Connecticut General Assembly during the 2026 legislative session. Here’s more about each:
Chairman Thomas Wiehl will serve as chairperson of PURA. Wiehl, who replaced Marissa Gillett after her September 2025 resignation, was previously the legal and regulatory director for the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel. He’s been with that organization in various capacities since 2020. Prior to joining the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), Wiehl worked as vice president of administration and general counsel for Consumers Petroleum of Connecticut, a company that distributed gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products throughout Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.
Commissioner Janice Beecher, professor emeritus (Political Science) and director emeritus (Institute of Public Utilities) at Michigan State University. She’s also served as editor-in-chief of the journal Utilities Policy (Elsevier) since 2014. With four decades of experience in applied research, continuing education and practice in the economic regulation of public utilities, she previously held a staff position at the Illinois Commerce Commission. Her areas of interest include regulatory principles and practices; incentives and accountability for utility performance; infrastructure funding, financing, and governance; rate design and utility affordability; and the structure, economics, and regulation of the water sector.
Commissioner Holly Cheeseman, a former Republican state representative from East Lyme with a background in public service and policy-making. As state representative for the 37th Assembly District of East Lyme, Montville and Salem from 2016 to 2024, she served on the Energy and Technology Committee. She has also served on the East Lyme Board of Selectmen, the East Lyme Board of Assessment Appeals, and on the board of seCTer, a nonprofit economic development organization for the southeastern Connecticut region.
Commissioner Everett Smith, an investor in energy and sustainable infrastructure, who adds a business perspective to the commission. Smith replaces Michael Caron, who served on PURA since 2012. Smith has more than 45 years of experience investing across the capital structure – including debt, project finance, both structured and private equity, and venture capital – and across geographies – having worked in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Most recently, he founded and was CEO of GoldenSet Capital Partners, which has constructed and owned more than 54 distributed solar and wind projects and completed investments in residential solar, energy storage and renewable natural gas. Previously, Smith served as managing director and executive vice president in the GE Capital Structured Finance Group, the unit responsible for GE’s energy and infrastructure investment activities. Prior to joining GE Capital, he was a vice president in the Energy and Minerals Group at Chemical Bank, focused on utility, corporate and project finance, as well as financings for the independent oil and gas industry.
