Electricity choice in Connecticut is clearly working as competition is forcing prices on a downward trend. Just a few short years ago consumers in Connecticut were paying the highest electricity rates in the country, causing state senators to draw up a Energy Bill to end electric choice. The bill was eventually vetoed by the governor, and with time prices have dropped.
Connecticut Light & Power customers have seen electricity deregulation and competition bring down their generation rates by more than 30%. In 2009, the generation default rate for CL&P residential customers was over $0.11 per KWh. Now, in 2012, that default rate has dropped to $0.0828, with competitive electricity rates as low as $0.0769.
Consumers who do not shop for competitive electricity pay the default rate that is offered by CL&P. Though they may not realize it, the drop is a result of increased competition. However, to maximize the benefits of Connecticut electricity choice, consumers should shop for low electricity prices.
Below are some current competitive electricity rates from Connecticut Power Companies offering service in the CL&P territory. Even after a competitive rate is chosen, the customer will still receive their monthly electric bill from CL&P, and CL&P will continue to respond to power failures and emergencies. The only thing that changes is the rate (i.e. you pay less on your monthly electric bill).
Connecticut consumers continue to benefit from the state’s decision to deregulate their electricity market several years ago. Electric choice in Connecticut is providing energy customers with lower prices and more options when buying their electricity.
Almost everyone in Connecticut is serviced by either Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) or the United Illuminating Company. Prior to CT Energy Choice these two utilities were regulated monopolies of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The decision to create an energy choice market changed the role of CL&P and United Illuminating Company for their customers. Now they are only responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity and are no longer in the business of offering generation rates to customers. Consumers can shop for competitive generation electric rates to find the offer that best fits their needs.
Consumers who do not shop for lower electricity prices pay a default rate that is charged by their utility company and regulated by the state. The default charge is determined by a series of auctions that the state holds for competitive energy companies who bid to serve a certain percentage of default paying consumers. While the money for default generation rates are collected by the utilities (CL&P and United Illuminating), the revenues for these charges are passed through to the energy companies who have won the previously held auction. Electricity choice is about customers getting the best deal that they can find, and not settling for a default rate.
While Connecticut has been a very successful energy choice state, the majority of customers are still paying high default electric rates. Less than 40% of CL&P residential customers and only 45% of United Illuminating residential customers have chosen to purchase energy from alternative suppliers. Currently CL&P default paying customers can save 10% on their monthly electric bill by choosing a low cost electric supplier. United Illuminating consumers can save as much as 20% versus their default generation prices.
Connecticut energy customers in the state’s largest electric utility, Connecticut Light & Power (CLP), can reduce their electric bills by shopping for competitive electricity prices. CLP is the regulated electric utility for all of Hartford.
Hartford energy customers who do not choose their electricity supplier pay a generation service default rate through CLP. Even though the default generation rate was reduced 14% from 2010 to 2011, even lower electric rates can be obtained for those consumers who take the time to learn about Connecticut electricity choice and find the lowest prices available in the competitive market. CLP remains the power delivery company for all of their customers including those who select an alternative electricity company. The Connecticut energy choice law has unbundled CLP from a full service electricity generation and delivery company to just a regulated electricity delivery company.
Choosing an alternative energy company in Connecticut does not affect the quality of power that you receive. As the local utility company in Hartford, residences will continue to receive their monthly electric bill from CLP even after thy select a less expensive electricity supplier.
Here are the lowest electricity rates in Hartford, CT (updated daily):
Electric choice is working in Connecticut as competitive electricity prices continue to fall for United Illuminating power customers . It is hard to argue against 15% savings, which is what current (Summer 2011) low electric rates in the United Illuminating (UI) territory are yielding for customers who have switched off of default rates and moved towards competitive electricity prices.
UI customers are still relatively new to the idea of receiving multiple electric rate offers. Though Connecticut electricity has been deregulated for some years now, competitive electricity offers were not offered to residential customers until just a few years ago. Savings were small at first, but with the UI Generation Service Charge (GSV) rates recently increasing and wholesale rates remaining low, competitive electric companies have been able to offer attractive electricity prices.
UI electricity customers can be reassured that selecting a low electric rate from a alternative supplier will not upset UI or end the business relationship. The United Illuminating Company is in the business of delivering power, and they continue to charge regulated rates to all of their customers for this service. They also continue to send their customers the monthly electric bill. The generation default rate that customers pay with UI is passed through to competitive electricity companies who have won auctions for the right to service default paying customers. Believe it or not, even if you haven’t selected a competitive supplier in Connecticut, you are already paying a competitive supplier through default service.
Electricity competition is working in the United Illuminating Company service area because customers can choose from a variety of electric suppliers at electricity prices that are lower than default rates.
Current Low Electric Rate for United Illuminating Customers:
