Eversource CEO Joseph "Joe" Nolan repeatedly asked Governor Ned Lamont for assistance resolving a dispute over storm costs, according to text-message records obtained by The New England Voice directly from the governor's office through a Freedom of Information request.
The exchanges combine familiar personal conversation with requests concerning Eversource's financial interests. Nolan discussed golf, family, and friendship while pressing for progress on storm-cost recovery ahead of meetings with his company's board.
The messages document requests for the governor's involvement. They do not, by themselves, establish an ethics violation or show that Lamont directed regulators to favor Eversource.
Requests for help before a board meeting
On June 8, 2025, Nolan told the governor that he needed to demonstrate progress on storm costs during an upcoming board retreat.
"Could you please ask Matt to work with Greg to resolve this so i can show some progress"
Two days later, Nolan wished the governor a safe trip to Paris, expressed hope that "Greg" could resolve the matter that day, and added: "appreciate your friendship."
The replies shown in the records discussed a meeting between "Matt" and "Greg." The messages do not explain the meeting's outcome or establish what instructions, if any, the governor gave.
The New England Voice is seeking confirmation of the identities and roles of the people mentioned and an explanation of what occurred following these exchanges.
"Please don't leave town until we have a deal on storms"
The pressure continued on June 25.
"please don't leave town until we have a deal on storms. pressure is extraordinary with downgrades"
The reply shown in the records said the consumer representative was waiting for documents from "Greg" before returning with a serious proposal.
Nolan disputed that account.
"Not true Gov I swear. Please intervene."
That exchange presents a concrete question for the governor's office: What action, if any, followed Nolan's request, and how were the interests of electricity customers represented?
Storm cost recovery concerns how a utility recovers expenses associated with responding to storms. The messages themselves do not establish the amount ultimately approved, the terms of any agreement, or the resulting effect on customer bills.
A hiring suggestion
The records also show Nolan raising the possibility of employment for someone identified as "Jonny."
On June 6, Nolan wrote that his team had contacted Jonny about working with the company and that he could make a difference.
On June 25, after asking the governor to intervene, Nolan asked whether hiring Jonny could help resolve the matter.
The supplied messages do not establish that person's identity, whether an offer was made, or whether employment resulted. Those questions require additional records and responses from the governor's office and Eversource.
Aquarion is a separate decision
The communications also warrant examination alongside other major utility decisions, including the controversial sale of Aquarion Water Company.
However, the supplied messages do not mention Aquarion, and they do not establish a connection between Nolan's requests about storm costs and approval of the water-company sale.
Eversource, not the governor, sold Aquarion. According to an Eversource announcement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, PURA approved the transaction on March 25, 2026. The company announced completion of the $2.4 billion sale to Aquarion Water Authority on June 30.
Attorney General William Tong opposed the transaction. In his March 25 statement, Tong warned that the proposed financial structure could substantially increase household water bills and weaken oversight of rates and consumer protections.
Those warnings are Tong's assessment of the transaction. They do not establish that the governor's relationship with Nolan caused its approval.
More records remain pending
In an October 13, 2026 email, the governor's General Counsel's Office confirmed that it had expedited documents previously located for another FOI request and uploaded them for The New England Voice.
The office said cellphone numbers belonging to the governor and Nolan were redacted. It also explained that the earlier request covered a shorter period, June 4–25, 2025, and that the remaining portion of The New England Voice's request would enter the existing FOI queue.
The request therefore remains open.
The records provide a basis for examining how the governor's office handled direct requests from a regulated utility's chief executive. Determining what those requests produced requires the surrounding communications, the relevant decisions, and explanations from the officials and company involved.
Sources
- Office of Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont: Text-message records involving Governor Lamont and Joseph Nolan, provided to The New England Voice through FOI request R000082-101226.
- Governor's General Counsel's Office: Email dated October 13, 2026, confirming the partial release of records, cellphone-number redactions, and the pending remainder of the request.
- Eversource Energy: "Eversource Energy Completes the Sale of Aquarion Water Company," June 30, 2026, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Connecticut Attorney General's Office: "Attorney General Tong Statement as PURA Approves New Aquarion Water Authority," March 25, 2026.