Compare Connecticut Electricity Rates
Contents
- 1 Compare Connecticut Electricity Rates
- 2 Connecticut Standard Offer Service
- 3 Connecticut Utility Companies
- 4 Eversource: Connecticut Light and Power
- 5 The United Illuminating Company
- 6 Energy-Efficient Products for Your Home
- 7 Smart Thermostat
- 8 Heating and Cooling
- 9 Lighting
- 10 Protect Your Home From Power Outages With The United Illuminating Shield&Connect Plan
- 11 Connecticut Implements a Renewable Portfolio Standard
- 12 Renewable Portfolio Standard Requirements
- 13 Electricity Generation in Connecticut
- 14 Energy Choice in Connecticut
- 15 Connecticut Electricity Rates vs. U.S. Average
- 16 Connecticut Utility Companies
- 17 Electric Suppliers
- 18 Utility Companies
Connecticut electricity rates are deregulated allowing residents to shop for an alternate energy supplier and save money on the electric bill. Thanks to legislation known in Connecticut as PA 98-28, the responsibilities of the utility companies became unbundled, opening the door to energy suppliers that now have to compete to earn the customer’s business. Allowing energy suppliers to compete has helped push down energy prices in the state and created more options for customers when it comes to choosing an energy plan.
Connecticut Standard Offer Service
The utility companies in Connecticut are required to act as the default supplier for customers who do not change energy companies. The supply rate charged by the utility companies is known as the Standard Offer Service (SOS). The SOS changes twice per year and is not considered a long-term fixed rate. This rate is often referred to as the price to compare. Connecticut residents shopping for an electric supplier will use the price to compare while comparing energy plans. If a supplier is offering a supply rate lower than the price to compare then the customer will be saving money by switching.
Connecticut Utility Companies
Eversource Energy formerly known as Connecticut Light and Power and The United Illuminating Company are two investor-owned electric distribution companies (LDC) that operate in the state of Connecticut. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority of Connecticut (PURA) is responsible for regulating the rates and services for these two utility companies. Connecticut residents living in either utility area are free to shop for a competing energy supplier.
Eversource: Connecticut Light and Power
Eversource (CL&P) is New England’s largest local distribution company, effectively delivering power to over 3.7 million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The combined electric and natural gas services cover a territory of over 625 towns and nearly 17,000 square miles. In Connecticut alone, this includes 1.2 million electric and 237,000 natural gas customers.
The United Illuminating Company
United Illuminating (UI) is a local distribution company engaged in the purchase, transmission, and distribution of electricity to over 335,000 residential and commercial customers in Connecticut. Established in 1899, United Illuminating (UI) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. UI has a service territory that includes 17 towns and 335 square miles. The territory includes the area of New Haven and Bridgeport.
Energy-Efficient Products for Your Home
Maximize your energy savings by participating in Eversource’s Home Energy Solutions for your home. Energy-efficient products for your home will help reduce your electric bill by cutting down the amount of energy these products require to operate. Combining a lower electric rate with less energy consumption will be happy news for your wallet.
Smart Thermostat
Install a smart thermostat in your home and take control of your energy costs. A smart thermostat can be remotely controlled from your tablet or smartphone. This allows you to be able to adjust the temperature no matter where you are. Smart thermostats can be programmed to detect weather conditions and will automatically adjust the inside temperature to your comfort preference.
Heating and Cooling
Receive instant discounts with Energize Connecticut for essential items such as central air conditioning and heat pumps. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, heating and cooling account for over 50% of the energy used in a home. With cooling and heating your home being the highest energy expense, installing an Energy Star-certified air condition will save you money over the life of the product.
Lighting
LED lights only use 2-17 watts of electricity, about one-third compared to incandescent lights. Energy Star rated products can use 75% less energy while lasting 25 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. Most major shopping centers throughout Connecticut will carry Energy Star certified light bulbs. This simple switch will save you money that will add up over time.
Protect Your Home From Power Outages With The United Illuminating Shield&Connect Plan
Connecticut is no stranger to severe weather. In 2013, a powerful blizzard rolled through the state knocking out power to tens of thousands of residents. The storm brought the state to a complete standstill. If you have ever lived in a place that has experienced a pro-long power outage you can understand how frustrating it can be. Now you can protect yourself and your family with The United Illuminating Shield&Connect Plan.
The Shield&Connect Plan protects your home by minimizing any power surges that may occur. Depending on the plan selected, you may also receive a power generator to protect against pro-long outages so you can maintain your standard of living. The plan comes in three packages; basic, premium, and ultimate.
Starting at $3.75 per month, protect your home appliances with the internal and external power surge protection plan. This package includes 6 surge suppressors along with a circuit tester. The plan helps divert power surges away from your home, protecting expensive plugin devices you may have.
Upgrade to the Premium plan starting at $8 per month and receive a portable generator that includes a plug-and-play connection installed right behind your meter box. The United Illuminating will be responsible for the installation process. This plan does not include the 6 surge suppressors received in the Basic.
At $9 per month, receive both the benefits of the Basic and Premium plans. This plan gives maximum protection so you can face Connecticut’s harsh winters knowing any power outage will not disrupt your standard of living.
Connecticut Implements a Renewable Portfolio Standard
Connecticut’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a state policy requiring energy suppliers to produce a specific percentage of power generated or sold from renewable energy resources. This policy creates a market for companies to get involved in renewable energy projects that otherwise would not have existed without state intervention.
The companies involved in renewable energy projects will receive a renewable energy certificate (REC) for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity produced. RECs can be traded on the market and purchased by energy suppliers to meet the RPS requirements. Connecticut RPS classifies renewable energy into one of three classes. Each class is defined by §16-1(a)(20) of the General Statutes of Connecticut which separates the energy by the source, it was derived.
| Classification | Power Source |
|---|---|
Class I |
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Class II |
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Class III |
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Renewable Portfolio Standard Requirements
| Year | Class I | Class II or Class I (add'I) | Class III | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 17% | 4% | 4% | 25% |
2019 | 19.5% | 4% | 4% | 27.5% |
2020 | 21% | 4% | 4% | 29% |
2021 | 22.5% | 4% | 4% | 30.5% |
2022 | 24% | 4% | 4% | 32% |
2023 | 26% | 4% | 4% | 34% |
2024 | 28% | 4% | 4% | 36% |
2025 | 30% | 4% | 4% | 38% |
2026 | 32% | 4% | 4% | 40% |
2027 | 34% | 4% | 4% | 42% |
2028 | 36% | 4% | 4% | 44% |
2029 | 38% | 4% | 4% | 46% |
2030 | 40% | 4% | 4% | 48% |
Electricity Generation in Connecticut
As of 2018, over 90% of electricity generated in the state of Connecticut comes from natural gas and nuclear power. Natural gas alone accounts for half of the state’s net generation while other methods such as coal make up just over 10%. However, coal-fired generation is expected to fade out as the state’s last remaining plant is scheduled to close in 2021. Biomass, along with other methods of renewable energy generation is expected to increase per the RPS requirements.
Energy Choice in Connecticut
Whether you are a customer of Eversource or United Illuminating, energy choice has opened up the market to energy suppliers allowing customers the opportunity to pay a lower generation rate on their electric bill. PURA provides a full list of electricity aggregators and suppliers that are licensed with the state to provide energy services to residential and commercial customers. Finding the right rate product can significantly reduce your energy costs so you can start spending money on things that matter most.
Connecticut Electricity Rates vs. U.S. Average
| Electricity | Connecticut | U.S. Average | Time Period |
|---|---|---|---|
Residential | 22.69 cents/kWh | 13.34 cents/kWh | February 2021 |
Commercial | 17.21 cents/kWh | 11.93 cents/kWh | February 2021 |
Industrial | 13.86 cents/kWh | 8.15 cents/kWh | February 2021 |