Connecticut Electric Rates
The majority of Connecticut is serviced by the utility Eversource (formerly Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P)). Customers who do not shop for competitive rates pay a default rate known as the General Service Rate (GSC). Alternatively, you could be getting your power from United Illuminating company, another (much smaller) electric utility supplying Connecticut.
Connecticut Energy Rates
Thanks to energy deregulation, if you live in Connecticut, you can choose to purchase electricity from whichever electricity provider you think fits your energy needs. Your energy needs may be different from others because you may want: clean energy, a fixed-rate plan or simply to browse variable-rate plans with your new provider. Choosing the right energy plan means paying less and taking back control over your bill, as well as account information.
For this reason, it is essential that homeowners take time when choosing their new supplier. You should always choose a company that works with residential and business customers, delivers reliable service, and provides adequate support during your adjustment period. For Connecticut homeowners, choosing the right plan means working less for the utility company and power provider and more for yourself, as you can save money and time with a good electricity plan. If you decide to not make a choice, you can always stay on the standard service rates offered by your utility Eversource Energy or United Illuminating.
The GSC rate can be found on your CL&P bill under “Supplier Service Detail”. When you choose another electric supplier with a lower rate, you will still get the same bill from Eversource (CL&P), with the lower electricity rate replacing the default rate. The document from Eversource (CL&P) will state your electric supplier underneath “Supplier Service Detail” followed by your KWh consumption and rate.
Compare Eversource Energy Electricity Rates
Providing reliable service to their customers, Eversource Energy’s electricity rates are the best solution for a number of customers. As the company covers the majority of the state, they are an adequate choice for anybody who would like to visit the area or start living here. With General Service Rates, there will be little to no rewards, so some may think other providers (or subsidiaries) be more adequate
If you decide to go with Eversource, you will be able to enjoy a low generation rate. By the Connecticut ruling, every utility serving customer in the area have to provide these plans. In case you make no energy choice, your utility will take care of your energy needs from the first-meter read date to the last.
The price to compare for this utility changes every July 1st and January 1st.
Compare United Illuminating Electricity Rates
Based in Orange, Connecticut, United Illuminating services only a small area. It tries to understand what kind of products its 335,000 customers want and it ensures that the homes and businesses in the area can work around the clock, with no power outages. No interruption means higher quality service.
United Illuminating is a supplementary branch of AVANGRIND, inc. AVANGRID as a parent company owns 8 utilities and serves over 3 million customers.
The price to compare for this utility changes every July 1st and January 1st.
Connecticut Energy Market Data
Last updated January 2023
- The average Connecticut residential electricity rate was $0.1621 / /kWh
- The average Connecticut commercial electricity rate was $0.1621 / /kWh
- PURA is responsible for regulating the rates and services of Connecticut’s investor-owned electricity, natural gas, and water utilities.
- Natural gas is the main energy source for Connecticut. Natural gas-powered plants account for 52.8% of energy in Connecticut.
- According to the US Department of Energy, in 2019 Connecticut electricity cost about $0.187/kWh, while in 2022, it costs $0.1621 per kWh
- The average residential electricity bill in Connecticut is about $203.00/month, ranking 6th in the U.S. and 72% greater than the national average of $117.46.
Residents in the state of Connecticut are fortunate to be able to choose the company that supplies their electricity. Only 13 states in the country give this choice. This allows you to find the most favorable Connecticut electricity rates.
Connecticut residents are able to choose between fixed-rate plans, where the rate you’re charged for your electricity usage stays the same throughout the term of your contract; or variable-rate plans, where the rate you’re charged could change from month to month, based on the current market. You are also able to choose the length of your contract and can also decide to select green energy options.
| . | Main |
|---|---|
| Average Connecticut Residential Energy Rate | $0.1621 / /kWh |
| Average Connecticut Commercial Energy Rate | $0.1621 / /kWh |
| % of Renewable Energy in Connecticut | >3% |
| Connecticut Deregulation Status (Yes/Partial/No) | YES |
| Main Source of State Electricity - Connecticut | Natural Gas - 52.8% |
| Average Connecticut Household Energy Use - Month | 945 kWh |
| Average Connecticut Household Energy Use - Year | 11,340 kWh |
| Average Connecticut Monthly Electric Bill | $203.00 |
Connecticut Energy Market Overview
With an average price of $0.1621, electricity does not come cheap in CT. It takes a lot of browsing and energy plan comparison to find the best deal there is. If you would like to use renewable energy to power your CT home, you are much better off looking elsewhere, as only 2.73% of the state’s total electricity production comes from solar renewable. With an average monthly use of 945 kWh, CT homes consume a lot of energy – most of it during winter, for heating
Energy Plans and Products in Connecticut
When you start to shop for energy plans and products in Connecticut, you will see that there is a variety of plans to choose from. As no two plans are alike, comparing them will ensure that you get the best deal. Make sure to compare them to your current plan as well, as simply switching the energy plans does not mean you will be able to save money
Is Switching Providers Worth It?
Considering the high energy price in CT (in almost every ZIP code area), it is safe to assume that switching providers is worth it. The average residential rate of $0.1621 is high compared to the US average of $0.1372, so being able to choose and make the right choice can save you a significant amount of money every year.
How to Choose the Right Plan for your Home?
When choosing the right plan for your home, you should do several things. Understanding your energy needs, analyzing current costs, finding ways to save (as in a home energy audit), and browsing through the energy plans offered in your area are just some of the ways that you can save on your monthly bill.
Analyze the Current Costs
Have a look at your latest energy bill. What you will find here is the current electricity rate that you are paying, as well as your energy consumption. These two will help you determine your energy needs and will further help in understanding what type of plan you need to purchase. It is even better to have a look at one year’s worth of monthly bills and calculate the average monthly power needs.
Analyze your Current Contract and Plan
Once you understand your energy needs, it is time to analyze your current plan. Maybe you are getting a good power rate, but do not fully utilize its potential. Visit the site of your power provider or utility company and see what you can do to increase the energy efficiency of your home and your energy habits, as well as to see whether there are any freebies offered that you may benefit from. These may include a free energy audit, as well as a free smart thermostat or other tech gadgets.
Compare Energy Plans
Once you are sure that your energy plan has no more benefits, it may be time to look for other plans. Electricrate offers a great overview of plans offered in your ZIP code area, and it allows for an easy way to filter and compare plans. Make sure to know what you are looking for: in general, long-term fixed-rate plans work the best as they protect you from price fluctuations.
Getting to Know your Connecticut Electricity Bill
Your CT energy bill will have an accurate reading of your energy use. With your home being equipped with a modern meter, finding out about your electricity use and being able to learn about your energy habits is a piece of cake. However, once the bill is there, you may find out that there are actually two types of charges being made, and the total bill is the collection of the two. These are the utility delivery charges and the supply charges.
Utility Delivery Charges
When you view your energy bill, you can see utility delivery charges. These charges include all the costs of maintaining and modernizing the grid. A better grid and higher coverage mean that more energy providers can enter the market. Utility delivery charges are charged based on the number of kWh – kilowatt-hours – you use each month.
Supply Charges
Supply charges, on the other hand, are paid to your energy provider. They include the total cost of the electricity you have used in a certain period and they cover the costs of the energy provider (or supplier), as well as the costs of producing electricity. You can easily check the charges if you read the meter at the beginning and end of each billing cycle.
Factors that Affect Electricity Rates
Experts agree that there are many changing factors that affect energy rates. The price you pay to your energy supplier depends on all these factors. Electric suppliers provide rates that are based on these factors but have always managed to ensure a price you can handle. Let’s learn more about the factors that determine your energy rates.
Fuels
The energy charges businesses and residential customers pay mostly depend on the price of fuels, such as coal and natural gas. As the prices of fuels are highly volatile, so is the price of energy at the production site. Predictions say that getting the best rates in the future would mean going with an energy supplier that offers green energy plans. Although intermittent, they are less volatile than fuel-based energy, which suffers political interference in addition to normal fluctuations in the purchase price on the market.
Power Plant Prices
To ensure an adequate power supply that you can enjoy 24/7, power plants charge a bit on top of the energy price. Always remember that choosing to be connected to the grid means a more reliable power supply, especially in areas with energy deregulation. The power plants have to charge extra to be operated in a safe way. Their management, maintenance, and operational costs are all present in the energy price you pay.
Local Transmission and Distribution System
When Connecticut residents and business customers sign contracts with electric suppliers working in the area, the power has to be delivered to the meters somehow. This is done through the transmission and distribution system. This system also called the ‘grid’ or the ‘power grid’ costs to maintain. Maintenance also includes landscaping around poles and wires, such as cutting down trees and branches. This maintenance also includes restoring the network when you experience blackouts.
Area Regulations
Working in the energy marketplace means that everybody, including providers, has to follow strict regulations. All this information can easily be found on the local utility company or city hall website (for example Long Island Sound !LINK!, New Hampshire !LINK!, or Hartford !LINK!). These regulations provide affordable energy offers year-round and define the types of energy plans and charge types customers can choose from.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can influence the price of energy and additional services connected to power delivery that consumers pay for. Your billing rate is influenced by cold or hot weather, as well as overcast skies and the season. In general, when weather extremes occur, they can reduce the efficiency of power plants. Natural gas pipes freezing and knocking power plants offline is a known issue, especially in the south of the USA. Furthermore, hot weather means that power plants cannot cool down fast enough – when overheated, their efficiency decreases.
Renewable energy helps prevent some of these issues. However, overcast skies mean no renewable energy from solar panels. Furthermore, consumers can expect renewable energy price fluctuation even when the rainfall is low or there is no wind. For these reasons, diversifying the energy generation capacities means it is easier to maintain the grid and serve all the customers that live there.
Energy Deregulation in Connecticut
One of the pioneers in energy choice, Connecticut has allowed switching energy providers and choosing electricity plans in 1998. Since then, signing the contract and choosing your own terms has been a piece of cake, as energy choice puts the power in your hands. If you have no choice and are moving to a new address in Connecticut, utility companies are required to provide Standard Charge electricity plans.
Energy Providers vs Utility Companies
Shopping for your perfect energy plan in a deregulated market can be a bit confusing, especially as utility companies used to act both as utility companies and power providers. In deregulated markets, these services are provided by different companies: a utility company and a power provider or a power supplier. A utility company takes care of power lines and is in charge of delivering power to you.
A power provider, on the other hand, is a type of company that started appearing when the market was changed to deregulated. Providers or suppliers act as an important part of power delivery, as they act as a subsidiary of a kind – purchasing power in your name and charging you for it. This division has started an important change – a reduction in electricity prices.
Connecticut might be the third smallest US state by land area, but the energy choices that Connecticuters have are not. Several large and small energy retailers compete for the attention of Connecticut residents with competitive energy rates. There are alternative energy choices, too – go renewable, for example with a solar panel. One thing is for certain, if your current plan is the default, shop around! You will almost definitely end up better off.
Dates of Connecticut Electric Price to Compare Changes
Connecticut Energy Supply Rates
| Rate | Jan. 1 - June 30, 2021 | July 1 - Dec. 31, 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Rate 1 | 8.391 | 7.003 |
| Rate 5 * | 8.391 | 7.003 |
| Rate 7 (On-Peak) | 11.039 | 9.557 |
| Rate 7 (Off-Peak) | 7.539 | 6.057 |
| Rate 30 | 8.192 | 6.918 |
| Rate 35 | 8.192 | 6.918 |
FAQs
Below are answers to some of the burning questions you might have about the energy suppliers in Connecticut.
What is Average Electricity Bill in Connecticut?
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Connecticuters pay the second-highest monthly electricity bill at $203.00 on average, lower only to Hawaii which imports almost all its energy. For this reason, choosing the right plan is important as it can help you save energy. On the other hand, installing solar panels, or going for a solar PPA can also help lower your energy bills.
How much Does Electricity Cost in Connecticut?
Connecticut has always had some of the highest energy rates in the US. With current rates of $0.1762, it is still in the expensive (upper) third, so being careful with how you choose your energy plan is important as it can save some money.
Are the Electricity Rates Going Up in Connecticut?
Yes. Bracing for a tough winter, in January 2019 the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved a proposal submitted by Eversource and United Illuminating tou003cstrongu003e raise electricity rates by 18.8 and 24 percent respectively. u003c/strongu003eHowever, with significant fuel price fluctuations, this is likely to change, especially as more cheap renewables
How do I Find out Who my Electricity Supplier is?
You will find out who your supplier is on your monthly power bill. It should clearly state where you get your energy from. Alternatively, you can enter your zip code into ElectricRate.com and find out who services your area.
Where does Connecticut get its Electricity?
The Connecticut energy generation mix is largely dominated by Nuclear (56%) and Natural Gas (41%), with negligible contributions of renewable and coal-based generation. Under the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, this is about to change, as CT has joined the US in its goals for a carbon-neutral economy.
Conclusion
If you decide to move to one of the beautiful cities or shoreline towns in Connecticut, you should learn a bit about the energy market in the Constitution state. Connecticut’s energy services have been deregulated, so whichever address you choose to live in, you will have access to a deregulated energy plan. Energy services in CT are reliable, with a low downtime and good offer to choose from. Whichever energy you choose to use (you can use renewable, non-renewable or a mix), you will enjoy fair market prices with your fixed-rate contract.
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