What is Changing?

Starting May 1, rates within the Public Benefits portion of your bill will decrease.

With these and other changes to the local delivery and transmission rates, the typical residential customer using 700 kWh per month can expect to see a decrease of $13.50, or 5.87%, per month.

The Amount of Your Bill Is Determined by Your Usage

Even with lower rates, your bill ultimately depends on how much energy you use. Your electricity usage impacts both the supply, and local delivery, transmission and public benefits portions of your bill.

Most people use about 35% more electricity during the summer months to keep cool, which leads to higher bills.

As temperatures rise, your home cooling system has to work harder, so you use more electricity. Even if you’re not cranking up the air conditioner, the outside temperature will affect your usage as more energy is used to maintain the same temperature.

Without touching the thermostat, you will use more energy on a 95-degree day than a 75-degree day.

What are Public Benefits?

The Public Benefits section of your bill covers state-mandated and approved energy programs, policies and initiatives that we do not control or profit from.

Working collaboratively with regulators, state-mandated power purchase agreements, which include Millstone and Seabrook nuclear power plants, are the largest driver of the decrease.

The state’s payments for these agreements have been caught up. This was a significant driver of the increase last year and will lead to a further reduction in the Public Benefits portion of the bill this year.

Change Has Been Proposed

You may have heard about a proposal before the Connecticut General Assembly that could have a significant impact on future electric bills.

Connecticut State Senator John Fonfara of Hartford presented a proposal to reduce electric bills by 40% over the next two years.

This proposal includes eliminating the public benefits charge from your bill.. The proposal also outlines changes to the way power is purchased.

What is securitization?

The proposal also included securitization. This is a financing tool that would help lessen your monthly bill impact by spreading storm response costs out over a longer period.