Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16 § 16-262j
Refusal of residential utility service. Regulations. Refusal of telecommunications service to a candidate or committee. Interest on customer security deposits.
Operative Text
(a) No public service company and no electric supplier shall refuse to provide electric, gas or water service to a residential customer based on the financial inability of such customer to pay a security deposit for such service. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of this subsection. (b) No telephone company and no certified telecommunications provider shall refuse to provide telecommunications service to a candidate or a committee, as defined in section 9-601, on the grounds that such candidate, such committee or the person acting on behalf of such committee has offered to pay the security deposit for such service with a credit card. (c) Each public service company, certified telecommunications provider and electric supplier shall pay interest on any security deposit it receives from a customer at the average rate paid, as of December 30, 1992, on savings deposits by insured commercial banks as published in the Federal Reserve Board bulletin and rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percentage point, except in no event shall the rate be less than one and one-half per cent. On and after January 1, 1994, the rate for each calendar year shall be not less than the deposit index, as determined under section 36a-26, for such year and rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percentage point, except in no event shall the rate be less than one and one-half per cent.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-262j, public service companies and electric suppliers are prohibited from denying residential electric, gas, or water service solely because a customer cannot afford to pay a security deposit. The law also bars telephone and certified telecommunications providers from refusing service to political candidates or committees simply because they offer to pay a deposit by credit card. Additionally, any company that collects a security deposit from a customer must pay interest on that deposit at a rate tied to a published savings-deposit index, with a floor of one and one-half percent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who arrange utility service for tenants or operate in contexts where Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-262j applies should be aware that the utilities serving their properties are legally required to accept residential customers regardless of their ability to pay a security deposit upfront. Compliant utility operators maintain interest-bearing accounts for customer security deposits and apply the rate determined annually under the deposit index, never falling below the statutory minimum. Understanding these obligations can help property managers set accurate expectations when guiding tenants through utility enrollment.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-262j gives residential customers the right to receive electric, gas, or water service even if they cannot pay a security deposit, meaning a utility generally cannot turn you away on that basis alone. If a utility has collected a deposit from you, it is required to pay interest on that amount at a rate no lower than one and one-half percent per year. Tenants who believe a utility has violated these protections may consider filing a complaint with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 24, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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