Bridgeport Electricity Rates
Contents
- 1 Bridgeport Electricity Rates
- 2 Bridgeport Utility Companies
- 3 Contact United Illuminating for Power Outages
- 4 Choosing an Electric Supplier
- 5 Read the Terms and Conditions!
- 6 Short vs. Long-Term Plans
- 7 Are There Early Cancellation Fees?
- 8 What Happens at the End of my Term?
- 9 From What Sources do Energy Suppliers Generate Power?
- 10 View by City
- 11 Clean Energy
- 12 Electricity Rates
Residents living in Bridgeport, Connecticut can take advantage of energy deregulation and shop for a lower energy rate on the electric bill. Bridgeport electricity rates fall under the United Illuminating service area. Thanks to legislation that was adopted back in 1998, known as PA 98-28, the generation component of the utility company became unbundled. This allowed competing electric suppliers to enter the market by the beginning of January 1, 2000, and offer Bridgeport residents choices for the generation charge on the electric bill. Having energy companies compete for your business has the effect of pushing down energy prices.
The city of Bridgeport is the largest seaport in the state of Connecticut. The city is located approximately 60 miles northeast of Manhattan and 40 miles from the Bronx. As of 2019, the population falls just under 150,000. The climate is considered temperate with summers in the low 80’s and cool to cold winters. Once a heavily industrial-based economy, the service industry sector accounts for the majority of the jobs in the city.
Bridgeport Utility Companies
Bridgeport falls in the United Illuminating utility service area. United Illuminating (UI) is responsible for maintaining the lines and wires to safely deliver the electricity to its customers. The delivery charge represents the regulated section of the electric bill, charged by UI, and is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). PA 98-28 also requires the utility companies in Connecticut to provide its customers with the standard offer service to those who do not shop around for a competitive electric supplier. The standard offer service is considered the default rate and changes every six months.
Contact United Illuminating for Power Outages
If you recently changed electric suppliers and experience a power outage, then United Illuminating is still the company you will need to contact to resolve the issue. Thanks to advancements in technology, power outages can usually be detected and fixed right away. However, should you experience a prolonged outage, then you will need to report it to United Illuminating and not the retail electric supplier
- United Illuminating contact information: 1-800-722-5584
Choosing an Electric Supplier
While United Illuminating is responsible for delivering power to its customers, residents in Bridgeport get to choose the electric supplier that generates their power. The generation charge, also known as the supply rate, represents the deregulated section of the electric bill. The generation charge is the cost of the amount of power the customer is estimated to use during the term of the agreement. Thanks to energy choice, customers have more options when it comes to selecting energy plans.
Read the Terms and Conditions!
Most people dread reading long contracts. However, taking a little time out of your day to understand the agreement can save you from headaches down the road. The terms and conditions will list important details of the plan. This will include the energy charge, term length, early cancellation fees, and any other additional charges that might not be included in the supply rate. Knowing the terms will help you make an informed decision before signing into a long-term agreement.
Short vs. Long-Term Plans
The most common length plans come in 12, 24, and 36 months. However, it is also common for an electric supplier to offer a 6-month plan or a plan that extends out to 48 months. Deciding on the length of the term has a lot to do with current energy prices. However, energy prices can be very volatile. Short-term contracts may be more appealing when energy rates are high. No one wants to be stuck with a high rate for 48 months. If you’re conservative, then locking in a mid-term price may not be a bad idea. This will protect you against any swings in the energy market.
Are There Early Cancellation Fees?
Most energy plans will come with an early cancellation fee. The cancellation fee will be listed out in the terms and conditions of the energy plan. If you change energy suppliers before the current plan expires you may be hit with a hefty fee. Early cancellation fees can either come in the form of a flat fee or the energy company can charge you an amount, multiplied by how many months you have left in the agreement.
What Happens at the End of my Term?
It is common for energy suppliers to switch the customer to a variable month-to-month rate after the initial term expires. Once this happens the energy supplier can charge you any amount they want. If you don’t take action after your plan expires don’t be surprised to have the electric bill double or even triple on you in a single billing period. It’s always a good idea to start shopping around for a new energy plan a month before the plan expires.
From What Sources do Energy Suppliers Generate Power?
The two most common sources of power generation in Bridgeport come from natural gas and nuclear power. If you sign up for an energy plan you can expect a large percentage of the electricity you consume will be generated from these two sources. However, more energy suppliers are offering customers 100% renewable energy plans. These energy plans come from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower. Most renewable energy plans come at a high premium. If you’re looking to lock in the lowest rate possible, you may want to consider a conventional plan.
