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Opportunites Abound in CT's Power Market
07/26/10 - Hartford Business Journal
Q&A talks with Michelle Erca, founder of CT Energy Savings.com, about Connecticut’s energy marketplace.
Q: What is CTEnergySavings.com and how is it going to help businesses in Connecticut?
A: CTEnergySavings.com is Connecticut’s new online resource for residents and businesses to compare electric rate plans and switch suppliers with an easy sign up process. CTenergysavings.com can help small and medium-size businesses save money on their electric bill by lowering their rate/kWh as well as providing greener energy options for them. Ultimately, this resource helps all Connecticut electric customers by answering questions about switching suppliers and saves everyone time in researching their options and making the switch.
CL&P Rate Increase Request Cut
New Britain, CT - 6/30/10 - State regulators have cut a revenue increase request by Connecticut's largest electric utility by nearly $76 million, effectively cutting electricity customers' bills.
The Department of Public Utility Control on Wednesday said it approved an increase of $63.4 million this year for Connecticut Light & Power and $38.5 million next year, a total of about $102 million. The subsidiary of Northeast Utilities requested increases totaling $177.6 million for the two years.
Due to the expiration of an assessment and changes in other rates effective Jan. 1, state regulators said customer bills will likely decline to about $130 a month in January 2011 from $141 a month last year. CL&P, which serves 1.2 million customers, said regulators did a good job balancing the needs of customers, the company and others.
Rell Vetoes Energy Reform Bill
Republican Gov. M. Rell vetoed an energy reform bill Tuesday that caused a significant amount of controversy as it weaved its way through the process in the waning days of the legislative session. The bill reorganized the Department of Public Utility Control, sought a 15 percent drop in electricity rates, set goals for expanding solar power, created a low-income electricity rate, and imposed new regulations on retailers.
In her veto message Rell objected first to the content of the bill and second to the process. “The legislation, as well-intentioned as it is, would likely result in higher utility bills for consumers and, at time when taxpayers simply cannot afford bigger government, creates another state bureaucracy,” Rell said in a press release..
Connecticut electric customers are switching suppliers
Over 301,000 CL&P and UI customers have chosen an electric supplier. Each month an average of 20,000 Connecticut residents and businesses are taking advantage of lower electric rates by switching suppliers! CL&P and UI continue to deliver your power and maintain your lines while alternative electric suppliers generate your electricity at a lower rate than customers are receiving with CL&P and UI.
CT among U.S. leaders in energy savings
Hartfordbusiness.com
3/17/10 - Energy conservation and efficiency saved Connecticut consumers an estimated $46 million last year, ranking the state among the nation's leaders, proponents say. Nearly 349,000 households, plus more than 3,100 businesses and municipalities, shared in the savings promoted through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, officials told state lawmakers this week.
The various energy-efficiency measures and low-energy heating and cooling equipment and lights paid for by the fund last year will achieve savings totaling nearly $337 million over their projected lifetimes, officials said. Those achievements have been largely responsible for Connecticut being awarded the third highest energy efficiency scorecard in the nation by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy in 2009, according to the Energy Conservation Management Board.
"ECMB is proud of these programs and the tremendous results they have shown for Connecticut," Chairman Jeff Gaudiosi said in a statement. Connecticut's energy conservation program also has educated the public on ways to cut energy use, Gaudiosi said. Connecticut's energy-efficiency programs are funded by a surcharge on customers' utility bills and administered by the state's electric and gas utilities.
81,000 leave UI, CL&P for new providers
By Luther Turmelle, North Bureau Chief
1/6/10 - Between May 31 and Nov. 30, 2009, about 23,000 United Illuminating Co. customers chose to seek new power providers in an effort to reduce generation costs on their electric bills. That’s according to the latest data from the Department of Public Utility Control, which gets monthly reports from UI and Connecticut Light & Power Co.During the same six months at CL&P, 58,000 customers switched to alternative power providers, according to the DPUC.
Statewide, about 20 percent of the 1.28 million electric customers, or nearly 260,000, are served by alternative power providers. Those who opt to buy power generated by another company still have that power distributed by UI and CL&P. Even with about 192,000 of its customers seeking alternative power providers, CL&P still purchases electricity for 1.02 million customers, while UI still buys power for 259,309 consumers, even after having 67,649 seek out different power generators.
People are seeing the opportunity for savings and are taking it, said Phil Dukes, a DPUC spokesman.