Residential and commercial customers living in Milford, CT can lower their electric bills by shopping around for a competitive electric supplier. Milford electricity rates fall under United Illuminating (UI) utility service area. Legislation known as PA 98-28 unbundled the responsibilities of the utility company and allowed electric suppliers to provide generation services to Milford residents. Opening the door to competing energy companies will push down prices. When energy suppliers compete, the consumer wins.

The city of Milford is located 10 miles southwest of New Haven and has a population of just over 55,000. The city has over 14 miles of shoreline along the Long Island Sound. The largest employer is the City of Milford, Board of Education.

Milford Utility Companies

United Illuminating

The United Illuminating Company (UI) is the utility company that is responsible for maintaining the lines and wires to safely deliver electricity to its customers. This charge is the delivery charge and represents the regulated section on the electric bill. PA 98-28 requires UI to provide generation services to customers who have not switched over to an electric supplier. This charge is the default rate known in Connecticut as the standard offer service (SOS). The SOS rate changes every six months.

Contact United Illuminating (UI) for Power Outages

If you change energy providers and experience a power outage, then you will need to contact UI and not the energy provider. Thanks to advancements in technology, power outages can be detected and fixed within hours. However, if you experience a prolonged outage then you will need to report the issue to UI.

  • United Illuminating contact information: 1-800-722-5584

Choosing an Electric Supplier

As mentioned above, UI is responsible for the delivery charge on the electric bill. This charge is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of Connecticut. Although customers can’t change utility companies, they can shop around for their generation charges. The generation charge is the cost of the power that the consumer is estimated to use during the term of the agreement. The generation charge on the electric bill is known as the supply rate. Lowering the supply rate can help you save a tremendous amount of money on the electric bill.

When shopping for an electric supplier there are a few things to keep in mind. Below are a few suggestions to consider that will help you pick the right provider.

Read the Terms and Conditions!

Understanding the terms and conditions can save you from future headaches. The terms and conditions will lay out the details of the plan including the energy rate, term length, and any other charges that will not be included in the supply rate. This will also help you compare apples-to-apples while comparing different energy plans.

Is There an Early Cancellation Fee?

Most energy plans will come with an early cancellation fee. Some of these fees can cost the customer up to $300. If you change electric suppliers before the agreement expires, be sure to read the early cancellation fee provisions carefully or you might be hit with a high bill. Cancellation fees can come in the form of flat fees or a fixed dollar amount multiplied by how many months are left in the agreement.

What is the Standard Offer Service (SOS)?

The standard offer service (SOS) is the default rate charged by the utility company to those who have not switched over to a competing electric supplier. This rate can be used while comparing energy plans. If a provider offers a rate lower than the SOS, then the customer will be saving money on the electric bill.

Can I be Charged Twice by Two Separate Electric Suppliers?

It will be impossible to be charged twice by two separate electric suppliers for the same billing period. If you recently switched over to a new provider and received a bill from your old provider then the chances are pretty good, it will be from your last billing period. United Illuminating will notify the old provider and is responsible for overseeing the switch.

What Happens at the End of my Term?

If you do nothing at the end of your term, then most energy suppliers will switch their customers to a month-to-month variable rate. Once this happens don’t be surprised to have the electric bill double or even triple on you in a single billing period. It’s a good idea to start shopping around for a new energy plan a month before the agreement expires. 

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