CONNECTICUT DEMOCRATIC POLICIES POISED TO HELP CUT ENERGY BILLS BY UP TO $30/MONTH STARTING IN MAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe O’Leary | Joe.OLeary@cga.ct.gov | 508-479-4969

MARCH 27, 2026

A draft decision published by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the results of policies proposed and championed by Connecticut Democrats in recent years will help spur cuts of up to $30 per month to Connecticut ratepayers’ electric bills starting May 1, pending final approval.

Pending the final approval of the current draft decision, upcoming adjustments to the energy rates through the Public Benefits Charge will reduce the average United Illuminating customer’s bill by about $30 per month, while Eversource customers would see savings of about $26 per month.

While Connecticut utility bills are complex, this tentative rate adjustment will deliver significant relief to consumers struggling with high costs, largely due to the Public Benefits Charge delivering cost savings in the upcoming marketplace. Consumer savings are based on a baseline total of 700 kilowatt hours used per month.

An update to supply rates from July 2026 to January 2027, to be announced later this spring, is expected to drive these rates down further.

“This relief is the result of years of work by Connecticut lawmakers focused on preserving the strength of our energy grid with specific focus on improving affordability and reducing costs,” said State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee. “It’s the result of a number of policies adopted in past sessions intended to help consumers struggling with high costs today. There’s still more work to do, of course, but this is strong progress that will provide meaningful reductions that will be notable on future bills.”

“We’re gratified that our efforts to improve the efficiency of energy programs has yielded real savings to ratepayers,” said State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport), House Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee. “We will always champion a balanced long-term strategy which enshrines energy efficiency and renewable energy while striving to make energy more affordable. We can do both.”

Senate Bill 4/Public Act No. 25-173, with passage led by Sen. Needleman and Rep. Steinberg in 2025, created the bond funding mechanism that directly spurred much of these declines, as it shifted some hardship costs and other charges to state bonding. That bill also included a provision for storm securitization blocking what could have been a one-time $1.2 billion increase due to deferred storm repair and preparation costs from Eversource.

That bill was projected to cut nearly $800 million over several years in consumer electric charges when it was passed; these cuts are delivering on that promise.

Significant savings for consumers also come from changes to clean energy contracts. Shifts in the energy marketplace can make these contracts more or less expensive than more common fuel sources like natural gas and oil. In 2025, market pressures delivered high costs for common fuel sources, resulting in tens of millions in clean energy savings. United Illuminating and Eversource both collected excess funds under the contracts, and that money will be redistributed to ratepayers as of May 1 should the draft be approved.

Additionally, an expiring contract for a natural gas generator saves tens of millions in further costs for both Eversource and UI.