Press Releases
11/10/2020
Revised Electric Standard Service Generation Rates
New Electric Rates Take Effect January 1, 2021
(New Britain, CT – November 06, 2020) – The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is advising Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) residential and business customers of revised standard service generation rates that become effective January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
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.
Traditionally, standard service rates increase in the first half of the year due to higher regional winter prices for natural gas, which is the fuel used to generate the majority ofthe region’s wholesale power. Conversely, standard service rates traditionally decrease in the second half of the year. Ultimately, ratepayers benefit from this split as electric usage is typically higher in the summer months when standard service rates are lower.
Customers can find the new standard service generation rates listed under the generation portion of their electric utility bill starting with any bill received after January 1. The changes announced today will have no impact on the delivery portion of the bill.
The following rates will be in effect beginning on January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 for residential electric standard service customers:
• Eversource standard service rate: 8.391 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
• United Illuminating standard service rate: 9.369 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
The rates taking effect January 1, 2021 represent a decrease compared to others issued in the first half of 2018, 2019 and 2020. By comparison, Eversource rates averaged 9.545 cents per kWh in the first half of the prior three years, and UI rates averaged 10.482 cents per kWh in that period.
Approximately 75% of Connecticut’s residential customers receive standard servicegeneration from Eversource and UI. The remaining residential customers have chosento receive their electricity from one of the state’s licensed electric suppliers, whose ratesvary depending upon contract terms and the energy source.
Ratepayers can compare Eversource and UI standard service generation rates to licensed electric suppliers' current offers on Connecticut's official generation rate board at www.energizect.com.
About the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority:
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is statutorily-charged with regulating the rates and services of Connecticut's investor owned electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunication companies and is the franchising authority for the state’s cable television companies. In the industries that are still wholly regulated, PURA balances the public’s right to safe, adequate and reliable utility service at reasonable rates with the provider’s right to a reasonable return on its investment. PURA also keeps watch over competitive utility services to promote equity among the competitors while customers reap the price and quality benefits of competition and are protected from unfair business practices. Visit PURA's website at https://portal.ct.gov/pura.
Contact
Taren O'Connor
Director of Legislation, Regulation and Communication
860-827-2689
Taren.Oconnor@ct.gov