Who controls solar operations? Connecticut fire highlights state oversight loophole

A large solar power plant in East Windsor, Connecticut, has been shut down for nearly a year after a brush fire broke out at the site in March 2025, sparked by utility equipment. Neighbors had also complained for years about noise and repeated repairs at the facility, which is owned by NextEra and connects to the grid through utility Eversource Energy.

Connecticut's utility regulator, PURA, ruled on July 15 that Eversource acted with "reasonable" maintenance practices during the fire response. It ordered Eversource and NextEra to study power quality and inspect equipment at the site, with results due by August 12, 2026. But the ruling also exposed a gap in oversight: NextEra argued that no state agency actually has authority to regulate how a private solar plant is built, run, or kept safe once it is connected to the grid. PURA can only act on the utility, not the solar plant owner directly. A PURA official acknowledged this gap and said only the state legislature could close it. So far, no bill has been proposed to do so.

For homeowners, this case is mostly a reminder of how patchy oversight can be for large solar installations sited near residential areas, separate from oversight of rooftop solar or home battery systems, which fall under different rules. It does not change any rebate, tax credit, or home upgrade program. If you live near a utility-scale solar project, this is a sign that complaints about noise or equipment problems may not have a clear regulatory path yet in Connecticut or possibly your own state.