Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel Data Confirms Customers that Shopped for their Energy Supplier Saved $107.6 Million in 2023

March 5, 2024

Analysis reveals substantial benefits for consumers in electric supplier market

HARTFORD, March 1, 2024 – The monthly Electric Supplier market reports published by Connecticut Office of Consumers Counsel (OCC), an independent agency that advocates for utility ratepayers on issues decided by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, showed customers who shopped for their energy supplier and enrolled with a competitive energy supplier instead of their utility saved an aggregate of $107 million in 2023. 

According to the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel, “In the month November 2023, residential Eversource customers who chose suppliers saved in aggregate $874,072 more than the Standard Offer for their electric generation, and residential UI customers who chose suppliers saved in aggregate $334,166 more than the Standard Offer.”

Notably, residential customers who chose a retail supplier collectively saved $107,623,927 more than those on the standard offer throughout 2023. 

Source: OCC Fact Sheet – Electric Supplier Market, December 2022 Through November 2023

However, the report does not differentiate between customers enrolled in value-add products such as flat monthly bills, long-term contracts, 100% renewable energy plans and programs like free electric vehicle charging which may sometimes show a higher price to account for the value-added savings customers choose. Even with this value-add grouped into the total compared to customers on basic 6-month utility service, retail energy customers are saving significantly in Connecticut thanks to the competitive energy market.

“Retail suppliers serve 22.9% of Eversource Energy (Eversource) residential customers and 16.9% of United Illuminating (UI) residential customers, in November 2023,” as per the OCC’s fact sheet, which is based on data submitted in compliance filings within the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s Docket Number 06-10-22.

According to the most recent data from the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA) as of 2022, a total of 163,576 residential customers in Connecticut actively shopped for their electricity.

Standard Offer Rate Charged by Eversource Energy and United Illuminating
01/01/23 – 06/30/2307/01/23 – 12/31/2301/01/24 – 06/30/24*
Eversource24.17 c/kWh13.82 c/kWh14.71 c/kWh
United Illuminating21.94 c/kWh14.33 c/kWh17.06 c/kWh
*Predicted Standard Service price based on historical data
Source: OCC Fact Sheet – Electric Supplier Market, December 2022 Through November 2023

To further empower customers to make informed decisions and capitalize on potential savings the Retail Energy Advancement League (‘REAL’) offers a comprehensive suite of resources:

  • Connecticut Energy Shopping Guide: This resource covers topics such as understanding energy plans, deciphering pricing structures, and identifying opportunities for savings. 
  • Monthly Energy Shopping Summary: Providing essential information such as the utility supply rate, the cheapest fixed-rate offer, the cheapest 100% renewable offer in each utility service territory, and an overview of value-added products available to customers in the state. 
  • Subscribe to My Energy Choice alerts: Stay informed by receiving these resources directly in your inbox. By filling out the form at the bottom of our website, subscribers will receive updates, reminders when utility rates are about to change, monthly shopping summaries, and more.

Fore more information and to access these valuable resources, visit our website, www.retailenergychoice.org

Connecticut OCC 2023 Electric Market Supplier Reports:
About Retail Energy Advancement League (‘REAL’)

REAL is a national advocacy organization dedicated to the expansion and modernization of American retail energy markets. In many states, utility monopolies still control the electric market and customers can’t choose where they buy their electricity and gas. States with restructured markets enable companies to compete with utilities and they create access for customers to choose from a variety of products available on the electric grid, such as 100% renewable energy, free home charging for electric vehicles, carbon offsets for gas products and fixed-rate products.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Max Lifton

lifton@retailenergychoice.org

REAL Choice