The short answer
To switch electricity in Connecticut, visit energizect.com or ct.gov/pura. Two utilities serve the state: Eversource (most of CT) and UI (New Haven + Bridgeport). Post-2014 reforms restricted variable-rate residential products; mandatory disclosures simplified. 3-business-day cooling-off period.
Connecticut deregulated retail electricity in 1998. Two investor-owned utilities serve the state: Eversource (most of CT) and United Illuminating (UI, New Haven and Bridgeport metros). After 2014 reforms, CT PURA tightened rules substantially.
Connecticut utility territories
Eversource: most of Connecticut. About 1.3 million customers. Largest CT utility.
United Illuminating (UI): New Haven and Bridgeport metros. About 340,000 customers.
How to switch in Connecticut
Step 1: visit energizect.com. Step 2: review offers. CT PURA requires mandatory disclosure of rate type, term, ETF, and value-add. Filter for fixed-rate.
Step 3: enroll, EDI 814, switch at next meter read. Step 4: 3-business-day cooling-off.
What the 2014 reforms changed and why CT shopping looks different
Pre-2014, Connecticut had over 40 percent supplier-choice adoption — among the highest in the country. The catch was that many of the products were variable-rate plans with no rate cap. When winter 2013-2014 wholesale electricity prices spiked, residential variable-rate customers saw bills double or triple in a single billing cycle. Consumer complaints flooded PURA.
The legislature responded with the 2014 reforms: residential variable-rate products were heavily restricted (requiring rate caps and clear disclosure of historical price ranges), mandatory standardized disclosure forms were introduced, and supplier marketing rules were tightened. Many smaller ESCOs left the residential market because the compliance overhead made low-margin products uneconomical.
The current CT competitive market is smaller in supplier count but more reputable in product quality. Most current offerings are fixed-rate 12 to 24-month contracts with clear up-front pricing and limited or no early-termination fees. The cooling-off-period-energy-supplier-rights guide covers the 3-business-day cancellation right that applies in Connecticut.
Eversource vs UI — the two CT utility territories
Eversource serves about 1.3 million Connecticut electric customers across most of the state. It also operates in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but each state has its own rate structure and PUC oversight. Eversource Standard Service rate resets twice yearly (January and July) based on procurement auctions; recent rates run 13 to 16 cents per kWh.
United Illuminating (UI) serves about 340,000 customers in the New Haven and Bridgeport metros plus surrounding towns. UI is a separate operating utility owned by Avangrid (parent of NYSEG and RG&E in New York). UI Standard Service rates typically track Eversource within 0.5 cents per kWh.
Both utilities sit inside ISO-NE, the New England regional grid operator. Capacity charges and regional transmission costs apply across both territories similarly. The capacity-charge-line-item-explained guide covers the mechanics for ISO-NE customers.
Infographic
CT Standard Service rate vs locked supplier — 24-month spread
Green options and EV-charging rate plans
Connecticut customers can opt into 100-percent-renewable supply through several PURA-licensed suppliers. Green-e Energy certification is the gold standard. Eversource and UI also offer green-power options through their Standard Service customers as voluntary opt-ins, which add 0.3 to 0.8 cents per kWh.
For EV-charging households, Eversource offers a residential EV TOU rate plan with cheap overnight rates (around 12 cents per kWh) compared to standard rates (14 to 16 cents). UI offers a similar program. The ev-home-charging-rate-plan-guide walks the EV TOU comparison and the load-shifting moves that maximize savings.
Connecticut also runs the EnergizeCT energy efficiency program funded through a small surcharge on every electric bill. It pays rebates for heat pumps, smart thermostats, insulation, and EV chargers. Many programs stack with federal IRA rebates. Check energizect.com for current rebate amounts.
Recap
Bottom line
Connecticut retail electricity is one of the most consumer-protective deregulated markets in the country thanks to 2014 PURA reforms that addressed the variable-rate harm from earlier years. The current market is smaller but more reputable, with most offerings being fixed-rate 12 to 24-month contracts that clearly disclose all pricing and fees. Switching is a 5 to 10-minute online process at energizect.com.
For most Connecticut households, locking a 12 to 24-month fixed rate ahead of the next Standard Service reset (January or July) is the cleanest defense against winter wholesale spikes. Layer in EnergizeCT efficiency rebates and consider an EV TOU rate if you charge at home regularly. The how-to-switch-energy-supplier guide walks the universal mechanic; the cooling-off-period-energy-supplier-rights guide covers the 3-business-day cancellation window if you change your mind after signing.
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