Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Public Utilities Regulatory Authority

Electric and gas utilities have begun notifying residential customers with unpaid and/or past-due balances that if they do not take action and contact their utility to enroll in a payment plan, they are at risk of having their gas services terminated on Thursday, May 2, 2024. If your household has received a notification from your utility company, please contact them directly to set up a payment plan to keep your services on. These plans charge no interest, and all customers qualify at least once for one or more of these plans. After engaging with utility providers, customers may also contact PURA’s customer affairs unit for specific questions regarding payment arrangements. View eligibility, utility contact information

Press Releases

05/19/2022

Revised Electric Standard Service Generation Rates to Take Effect July 1

Payment programs, energy assistance available for eligible customers

(New Britain, CT – May 19, 2022) – The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is advising Eversource Energy (Eversource) and United Illuminating (UI) residential and business customers of revised standard service generation rates that become effective July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.

The following electric supply rates will be in effect for residential electric standard service customers:

  • Eversource standard service rate: 12.050 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)

  • United Illuminating standard service rate: 10.620 cents per kWh

Standard service generation rates – or the “supply” portion of a customer’s bill – are adjusted twice a year in January and July, based on a competitive bidding process, to reflect wholesale electricity market prices. While PURA oversees the competitive process during which the electricity is procured to supply standard service customers, PURA does not regulate the wholesale electricity market or its pricing.

As a result of continued supply chain restraints and other geopolitical tensions, natural gas prices remain at historically high levels not seen in over a decade. As the primary fuel source for New England’s electricity generation fleet, natural gas prices drive electric generation (i.e., supply) costs paid by customers. This has led to higher-than-normal July 1 standard service rates.

 

It is important to prepare now for increased temperatures and cooling demand, particularly as supply rates will be higher this summer than in previous years. There are several ways customers can take more direct control over their energy expenses, including:

  • Ensuring efficient cooling systems and proper insulation. Programs to help offset the upfront costs of energy efficient upgrades can be found through EnergizeCT.

  • Both Eversource and UI offer various payment plans to both smooth out the monthly fluctuations in utility expenses and to assist with past due payments:

  • COVID-19 Payment Plans are available through June 30 to any customer requesting financial assistance, to facilitate the repayment of past due balances in addition to the customer’s current monthly bill. These Plans require no initial or down payment or demonstration of financial need; can be up to 24 months in length; and waive any fees or interest in the calculation of the monthly payment amount.

  • Budget billing smooths out monthly variations in a customer’s electric utility bills by charging a fixed price per month based on historical usage. Budget billing is available from both Eversource and UI.

  • Additional financial assistance and payment plans exist. More information and contact information for your utility can be found on PURA’s website.

  • Both Eversource and UI offer time varying rates that provide customers with lower charges for use during “off-peak” time periods before noon and after 8 p.m. 

  • Eligible low-income customers may still be able to receive heating assistance benefits through the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program. The application deadline has been extended through June 30.

Electric Bill Information and Resources

Customers can find a summary of delivery and standard service generation costs on the first page of their electric utility bill. PURA also created the following narrated tutorials for residential ratepayers to better understand their electric bill from Eversource or UI. Additionally, PURA staff are overseeing an effort to improve bill design and presentment to Eversource and UI customers as part of Docket No. 14-07-19RE06.

Ratepayers can compare Eversource and UI standard service generation rates to licensed electric suppliers' current offers on Connecticut's official generation rate board at EnergizeCT. PURA also urges all customers to review the supply summary on the first page of their electric bill each month.

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For Immediate Release: May 19, 2022
Contact: Taren O’Connor
Taren.Oconnor@ct.gov
860-999-3498

Joe Cooper
Joe.Cooper@ct.gov
860-944-9459

ct.gov/PURA