Updated October 5, 2026 · Written by the AMSY Editorial Team · Reading time: 9 min
CT energy rates are lower this fall than a year ago. Since July 1, 2026, the standard electricity supply rate is 11.58¢ per kWh for Eversource customers and 11.95¢ per kWh for United Illuminating (UI) customers, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) put the average Connecticut residential price at 24.16¢ per kWh in July 2026, down from 27.60¢ in July 2025.
This guide explains what is in a Connecticut electric bill, who sets each part, how to compare suppliers, five ways to pay less and where to find help if a bill is hard to pay. The figures come from the state’s Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), the EIA and the Department of Social Services, all read on October 5, 2026. Standard service rates change again on January 1, 2027.
Key takeaways
- CT energy rates for standard service since July 1, 2026: 11.58¢ per kWh for Eversource and 11.95¢ for UI. They change every January 1 and July 1.
- Your bill has four parts (supply, transmission, local delivery and public benefits). Only the supply part can be shopped, either by staying on standard service or by choosing a licensed supplier.
- The EIA’s all-in average residential price in July 2026 was 24.16¢ per kWh in Connecticut against 18.31¢ for the U.S., about 32% higher.
- Lower public benefits charges on May 1, 2026 cut residential rates by 4.3¢ per kWh (Eversource) and 4.9¢ (UI). The OCC estimates that the May and July changes together lowered an average monthly bill by about $38 for Eversource and $50 for UI customers.
- The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program pays $355 to $705 toward heating costs in 2026–27. The last day to apply is May 31, 2027.
Table of Contents
CT energy rates: the short answer
In this guide, CT energy rates means electricity prices for Connecticut homes served by Eversource or UI. Your bill has two kinds of charges. The supply charge pays for the electricity itself, and you can shop for it. The delivery charges pay for moving that electricity to your home and for state programs, and you pay them whichever supplier you choose. Gas and heating oil prices are not covered here.
If you have never picked a supplier, you are on Standard Service. This is the default supply that Eversource or UI buys through a competitive procurement overseen by PURA and the OCC, according to the OCC’s bill guide. Its rates change every January 1 and July 1:
| Rate in effect from | Eversource | United Illuminating |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | 9.75¢ per kWh | 11.68¢ per kWh |
| January 1, 2026 | 12.64¢ per kWh | 13.70¢ per kWh |
| July 1, 2026 | 11.58¢ per kWh | 11.95¢ per kWh |
The OCC says the July 2026 drop is roughly 8% for Eversource and 13% for UI. In its May 22, 2026 consumer alert it adds that this summer’s supply rate reflects higher prices linked to the war with Iran and the colder 2025–26 winter. Rates reset on January 1, so today’s supply rate is not a forecast for the winter.
What is in your bill: the four parts of CT energy rates
The OCC splits a Connecticut electric bill into four parts:
- Supply. The cost of the electricity you use, charged per kWh. It is the only part you can change by choosing a third-party supplier.
- Transmission. Moving power over high-voltage lines. These charges are reviewed and approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
- Local delivery. The cost of building and running the local grid, plus a fixed monthly customer charge.
- Public benefits. Charges for hardship programs, energy efficiency and renewable energy, plus congestion and reliability costs set by law.
These are the residential rates the OCC lists, in cents per kWh unless noted. Delivery-side rates run from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, and supply is the July 2026 rate. A minus sign means a credit on your bill.
| Charge | Eversource (Rate 1) | UI (Rate R) |
|---|---|---|
| Supply (generation) | 11.58¢ | 11.95¢ |
| Transmission | 5.050¢ | 4.8722¢ |
| Local delivery (distribution) | 5.844¢ | 11.3469¢ |
| Electric System Improvements | 2.031¢ | None |
| Competitive Transition Assessment | 0.496¢ | None |
| Systems Benefit Charge | −0.103¢ (credit) | −1.3147¢ (credit) |
| Non-bypassable federally mandated congestion charge | −2.061¢ (credit) | −2.8278¢ (credit) |
| Fixed monthly charge | $9.62 | $13.02 |
The OCC also lists a 0.1¢ per kWh renewable energy charge and conservation charges of 0.3¢ plus up to another 0.3¢ per kWh. Adding the published figures gives roughly 23 to 25 cents per kWh before the fixed monthly charge, which is in the same range as the EIA’s 24.16¢ average. That is our arithmetic, not a bill quote: your own bill is the authority.
How CT energy rates are set, and why they fell in 2026
Supply rates reset twice a year. Delivery-side charges are reviewed once a year. On April 22, 2026, PURA conditionally approved lower rates effective May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Residential rates fall by a total of 4.3¢ per kWh for Eversource, about $30 on an average monthly bill, and by 4.9¢ for UI, about $34. PURA says lower public benefits charges drive the decrease, particularly those tied to the Millstone and Seabrook nuclear contracts, along with lower hardship protection costs. PURA may adjust these rates again from September 1 after a prudence review.
The OCC estimates that the May and July changes together lower an average monthly bill by about $38, or 18%, for Eversource customers and about $50, or 18%, for UI customers. Even so, Connecticut remains an expensive state: the EIA’s July 2026 table shows a 24.16¢ average residential price in Connecticut against 18.31¢ for the U.S. as a whole, and 28.00¢ for New England.
5 easy ways to pay less on CT energy rates
- 1. Check which service you are on. Look at the first page of your bill for “Your Electric Supplier Is” or “Your Supplier Information.” If the next line says Eversource or United Illuminating, you are on Standard Service.
- 2. Compare offers on the official rate board. PURA runs Connecticut’s official Generation Supply Rate Board at EnergizeCT.com. The OCC reported that on May 21, 2026 some offers were lower than both the current and the upcoming standard service rates. Offers change often, so check again before you sign. The rate board blocks automated tools, so we cannot quote today’s offers.
- 3. Read the contract terms. If your supplier contract ends and you are re-enrolled automatically, your rate can change. The OCC advises you to monitor how your rate compares with Standard Service each January and July.
- 4. Use less when demand peaks. The OCC says energy use rises roughly 35% in summer because of cooling and urges conservation and efficiency measures. A home energy audit shows where you lose energy: see our guide to home energy audit cost.
- 5. Ask for help before you fall behind. The state’s energy assistance and winter shutoff protection are described below.
Should you switch to a third-party supplier?
Connecticut limits what residential electricity suppliers can do. According to the OCC, they cannot:
- charge sign-up fees
- charge monthly fees on top of the contracted supply price
- advertise a teaser rate and then raise it
- charge an early termination fee
Their rates must last at least four months, and they are not affiliated with Eversource, UI, PURA or any government agency. If you switch, only the supply part of your bill changes. Eversource or UI still delivers the power and sends the bill, and the delivery charges stay the same.
Help if your bill is hard to pay
- Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). It helps residents pay home heating costs. For 2026–27 benefits range from $355 to $705 depending on household size, income and heating source, and they are usually paid directly to your utility or fuel vendor. Online applications opened on September 1, 2026, and the last day to apply is May 31, 2027. You may qualify with a household income at or below 60% of the state median ($48,714 a year for one person, $93,681 for four) or if you receive SNAP, TANF, SSI or other qualifying benefits. See the state’s CEAP page.
- Winter Protection Program. Residents with a financial hardship or medical protection designation on their electric or gas account cannot be shut off from November 1 to May 1. You may qualify if you receive public or private energy assistance, have an income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, receive certain state, city, Medicaid or federal assistance, or if a physician certifies a serious or life-threatening illness in your household. Ask your utility or local Community Action Agency for the designation, and be ready to show proof of income eligibility. Details are on the state’s Winter Protection page.
- Life-threatening illness. Gas and electricity cannot be shut off at any time if a physician’s office certifies a life-threatening medical protection designation. It must be renewed each year, and you must keep paying your current bill or be on a payment arrangement.
Living in another state? See how the same kind of help works elsewhere in our guide to Wisconsin energy assistance.
FAQ
What are the current CT energy rates per kWh?
Since July 1, 2026, standard service supply is 11.58¢ per kWh for Eversource and 11.95¢ for UI. Delivery and public benefits charges are added on top. The EIA’s all-in average residential price for Connecticut was 24.16¢ per kWh in July 2026.
When do CT energy rates change?
Standard service supply rates change every January 1 and July 1. Delivery-side rates for 2026–27 run from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, and PURA may adjust them from September 1 after a prudence review.
How do I know if I am on standard service?
Check the first page of your bill. If it names Eversource or United Illuminating as your electric supplier, you are on Standard Service. If it names another company, you buy from a third-party supplier, and your supply rate follows that contract.
Is it cheaper to switch suppliers?
Sometimes. The OCC said that on May 21, 2026 some offers were lower than standard service, but offers change often and may be for longer periods. Compare current offers on EnergizeCT and read every contract term before you sign.
Why are CT energy rates higher than the national average?
The EIA data show the gap: 24.16¢ in Connecticut against 18.31¢ nationally in July 2026. The OCC’s bill guide shows where the money goes, including large transmission and local delivery charges, and public benefits charges that fund hardship, efficiency and renewable programs. It also notes that transmission charges have increased significantly over the last twenty years.
Our verification method
On October 5, 2026 we read the OCC’s bill guide and its May 22, 2026 consumer alert, PURA’s April 22, 2026 press release, the EIA’s Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (July 2026 data) and the Connecticut Department of Social Services pages on energy assistance and winter protection. The EnergizeCT rate board blocks automated tools, so we did not read it. January 2027 rates were not yet announced. Delivery-side rates can change from September 1, and CT energy rates differ by rate class, so check your own bill before you act. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. You can read more about how we work on our About page, or browse all our energy guides.
Sources
- Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel, Understand your electric bill
- Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel, Consumer Alert (May 22, 2026)
- PURA, Electric Rate Adjustments to Take Effect May 1 (April 22, 2026)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (July 2026)
- Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connecticut Energy Assistance Program
- Connecticut Heating Help, Winter Protection Program