Pursuant to Section 12c of Public Act 05-01, An Act Concerning Energy Independence, the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) issued a competitive bid solicitation for new or incremental electric generating capacity to reduce Federally Mandated Congestion Charges (FMCCs) for the benefit of Connecticut ratepayers. The Waterbury Generation Project was announced in April 2007 as one of four projects chosen in that competitive solicitation. The Project is owned by Waterbury Generation, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company. As a selected bidder, Waterbury Generation LLC has signed a 10 year contract with The United Illuminating Company (UI) to provide its generating capacity to the State.

The Waterbury Generation Project consists of an approximately 96 megawatt (MW) generator to be built on a Brownfield site on Washington Avenue in the City of Waterbury. This generator is a state-of-the-art combustion turbine manufactured by the General Electric Company that will, during periods of high electric loads, primarily burn natural gas with ultra low sulfur distillate (similar to kerosene) used as backup fuel.

Following approvals by the Waterbury Planning and Zoning Commission, the Connecticut Siting Council, the DPUC, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), construction will begin in early 2008 and is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2009. The Waterbury Generation Project is estimated to cost $120 million.

Project Benefits

The Waterbury Generation Project will:

• Provide much-needed clean, flexible, and efficient electric generation in Southwest Connecticut.
• Save Connecticut ratepayers more than $50 million during the first 10 years of its operation alone. These savings will be multiplied by the impact they will have in allowing Connecticut businesses to be more competitive.
• Pay more than $110 million in property taxes to the City of Waterbury during the 40 year life of the plant.
• Pay more than $40 million in corporate taxes to the state of Connecticut during the 40 year life of the plant.
• Pay over $3 million in sales and use tax during the construction period.
• Create more than 40 construction jobs and four full time positions, in addition to part time effort for 8-10 employees at FirstLight’s corporate headquarters.

Project Q&A

For more information, please click on the following link(s):

• Questions and Answers from Public Meeting on 09/12/2007 (131KB)