Manchester’s electricity rates are deregulated allowing residents to lower their electric bill by shopping for a lower supply rate. Energy deregulation has opened up the market to electric suppliers giving them the chance to offer competitive energy plans to their customers. Eversource is the utility company in Manchester that is responsible for delivering the electricity to its customers. If you live in Manchester and decide not to shop for an electric supplier, then Eversource will be responsible for charging you the generation costs.
Manchester, Connecticut is located just east of Hartford. With a population of over 58,000, Manchester is the leading economic driver in the eastern Greater-Hartford region.
Manchester Utility Companies
If you are planning on moving to Manchester then you will need to set up electric service with Eversource, formerly known as Connecticut Light and Power. Eversource is a utility company that is responsible for delivering electricity to its customers. The delivery charge is the regulated portion of the electric bill and given the logistics involved, Manchester residents will not be able to shop around for another utility company.
Contact Eversource for Power Outages
If you’re living in Manchester and experience a power outage or any disruption of power, then you will need to report the outage to Eversource. Eversource is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure or power lines that deliver the electricity to your home or place of business.
- Contact Information: 1-800-286-2000
Understanding Energy Deregulation
The electric bill is split between two main charges that include the delivery and supply charges. Before energy deregulation, the utility company had a monopoly over both of these charges. If the customer was unhappy with the electric bill there was little they can do to get things changed. Energy choice gives the customer the option to shop around for an electric supplier and save money!
Delivery Charge – The delivery charge is the regulated portion of the electric supplier. This is the cost of delivering the electricity to the point of service and is charged to the customer by the local utility company.
Supply Charge – The supply charge is the deregulated portion of the electric bill. This is the cost of generating the electricity the customer is estimated to use during the term of the energy agreement. Eversource is the supplier of last resort and is responsible for the supply charge if the customer does not switch over to another electric supplier. The supply cost Eversource charges is known as the price to compare.
What is the Price to Compare?
The price to compare is also known as the default rate. This is the supply rate the local utility company will charge its customers who have not switched over to another electric supplier. The price to compare rate changes every six months. This is also the rate customers will use while shopping around. If an electric supplier is offering a rate that is lower than the price to compare, then the customer will be saving money by locking in the new rate.
Energy Plans to Choose From
Energy suppliers have a variety of energy plans they offer to both residential and commercial customers. There are a few energy plans that only large industrial size users will qualify for. However, most residential customers will qualify for fixed and variable rate plans.
Fixed-Rate – A fixed rate will not change on the customer during the term of the agreement. If the energy prices rise, the fixed rate will put a ceiling on the price and protect the customer. Most fixed-rate plans come with a cancellation fee. This means if the customer changes or cancels the energy agreement before the expiration date then they will be hit with a cancellation fee.
Variable Rate – A variable-rate can fluctuate on a month-to-month basis. Most variable-rate plans can change at the sole discretion of the energy supplier. Variable-rate plans tend to be month-to-month allowing the customer to cancel without being charged a cancellation fee.
Index Rate – Index rate plans are reserved for large industrial size users that consume well over a million kilowatt-hours annually. Index plans are tied directly to a commodity such as natural gas. This allows the customer to float the market and maximize savings when commodity prices are low. A customer can change over to a fixed-rate plan anytime during the agreement without penalty.
Green Energy – Green energy plans can be offered in both fixed or variable rate options. More suppliers are offering 100% renewable energy plans to customers. This means 100% of the energy the customer is estimated to use will be generated from renewable energy sources. A few examples of renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydropower, and biofuels. If you’re looking to cut down on your carbon footprint, this plan might be right for you.