Your Guide to Eversource CT Electricity Rates and Market Choices

Your monthly Eversource CT electricity bill has two main parts: supply charges and delivery charges. While delivery charges are set through regulatory processes, you have a choice when it comes to supply. You can either stay with Eversource's "standard service" rate or choose a different supplier.

To set the standard service rate, Eversource conducts competitive auctions where major players in the electricity market—generation companies, investment banks, and energy traders—compete to supply power. These auctions determine the rate you'll pay if you stick with Eversource's standard service.

The chart below reveals the full story behind Eversource's price volatility. Pay special attention to January 2023, when the blue line (auction-determined price) jumped dramatically. This procurement approach created the conditions for the 24¢/kWh rate that cost standard service customers substantially more than those who switched to alternative suppliers.

What This Means for Your Bills

Eversource's auction system creates both risks and opportunities for informed consumers:

• Price Stability vs. Market Opportunities: Eversource's approach smooths out market volatility but can leave you paying above-market rates when wholesale prices drop quickly—exactly what happened in 2023 when customers who switched saved hundreds of dollars.
• Predictable Rate Changes: The next rate change comes in January 2026, and recent auction results suggest prices will likely increase, potentially creating additional savings opportunities for shopping customers.
• Switching Flexibility: While Eversource must stick with its auction-determined prices, you're free to choose a different supplier whenever price differences make it worthwhile. Energize CT's Rate Board makes comparing options simple.

The data proves these savings opportunities are real. During the 2023 price spike, Connecticut customers who switched to alternative suppliers paid an average of just 13.78¢/kWh compared to Eversource's 24.17¢/kWh—saving the typical household $436 over six months. And while today's price differences aren't as dramatic, meaningful savings opportunities still exist.

Connecticut makes it surprisingly easy to compare and switch electricity suppliers. Your first stop should be the Energize CT Rate Board—a state-run website that lists all available offers and walks you through the switching process if you find a better deal.

Want more context? Our Eversource CT data dashboard takes this same rate board data and adds historical trends. You can see how supplier rates have changed over time and make more informed decisions about contract length and timing.

The chart below shows current supplier offers. Each point represents a different offer, arranged by contract length and rate. The dotted line shows Eversource's current rate (9.74¢/kWh) for comparison.

The chart below tracks two key market indicators that tell a fascinating story about supplier behavior:

• The purple line shows the average of supplier 12-month fixed offers—reflecting the consensus view of wholesale electricity costs over the coming year
• The pink line shows the lowest available offer—revealing how aggressively the most competitive suppliers are willing to price

These trends help explain the relationship between Eversource's rates and supplier behavior. Eversource builds its supply portfolio gradually through auctions spread months apart—a strategy that helps smooth out market volatility. In contrast, supplier offers reflect today's view of future prices, which can adjust rapidly as market conditions change.

We saw this dynamic play out dramatically in 2023. Look at the auction results chart above—Eversource's earlier procurements locked in higher prices, leading to that 24¢/kWh spike in their standard service rate. But suppliers could immediately adjust to falling wholesale prices, creating that significant savings opportunity for customers who switched.

The chart below tracks the number of Eversource customers choosing alternative suppliers over time. What stands out immediately is the dramatic spike in early 2023—the exact moment when Eversource's rate jumped to 24¢/kWh while suppliers offered rates around 13.8¢/kWh.

The numbers are striking: from November 2022 to April 2023, the number of residential customers with alternative suppliers nearly tripled from approximately 90,000 to over 250,000. This mass exodus from Eversource's standard service represents one of the largest customer migrations in Connecticut's electricity market history.

Equally telling is what's happening now. Since July 2024, we've seen a steady decline in shopping customers as Eversource's rates have become more competitive. This return to standard service confirms that Connecticut consumers are price-sensitive and will move back and forth as market conditions change.

What This Customer Behavior Tells Us

• Price thresholds matter: It takes a significant price difference—like the 10¢/kWh gap in early 2023—to trigger mass switching. Smaller differences of 1-2¢/kWh don't appear to motivate most customers.
• The market is dynamic: The declining shopping numbers throughout 2024 demonstrate that customers don't permanently switch—they actively return to standard service when the price advantage diminishes.
• Consumer awareness increased: Even as shopping numbers decline, they remain higher than pre-2023 levels, suggesting that more Connecticut consumers now know they have options and how to exercise them.

The chart below shows customer counts by supplier over time, illustrating how Connecticut's robust competitive market has evolved. Each colored segment represents a different supplier's customer base, all of which offer valuable alternatives to standard service.

Constellation Energy (blue) has established a strong presence with consistent customer numbers throughout market fluctuations, demonstrating their commitment to the Connecticut market. Meanwhile, suppliers like Town Square Energy (green) and Direct Energy (pink) showed impressive growth during the 2023 market expansion, successfully connecting with customers seeking alternatives during the price spike.

Each supplier brings distinct offerings to the market, contributing to a healthy competitive environment that ultimately benefits consumers through enhanced choice and innovative service options.

Consumer Confidence in a Well-Protected Market

Connecticut consumers can approach supplier choices with confidence, thanks to:

• Strong consumer protections: Connecticut has implemented robust consumer protection regulations that govern supplier practices. For details on these protections, visit the Rate Board FAQs.
• Market transparency: The Energize CT Rate Board ensures all offers are presented in a standardized format, making it easy to compare options with confidence.
• Ease of switching: Connecticut's market design allows customers to easily move between suppliers or return to standard service as their needs change, with no disruption in electricity delivery.
• Diverse quality options: The variety of suppliers in the market means customers can find options that match their specific preferences, whether they prioritize low rates, customer service, green energy, or other features.

Whether you choose to stay with Eversource's standard service or select one of these competitive suppliers, Connecticut's electricity market is designed to give you meaningful choices backed by strong consumer protections. Our data dashboard lets you explore current offers from all of these suppliers to find the option that best suits your needs.

Stay Informed with Real-Time Market Data

Electricity markets are dynamic, with conditions and opportunities changing regularly. To make the most informed decisions:

• Visit our Eversource CT dashboard for daily-updated rates, supplier offers, and market trends
• Compare current offers directly on the Energize CT Rate Board, where you can also initiate the switching process if you find a better deal
• Explore our State Summaries to see how Connecticut's market compares to other states
• Check our Current Offers page to view real-time supplier rates across all markets we track

As we've seen from the 2023 market dynamics, electricity pricing can change significantly, creating both risks and opportunities for consumers. By monitoring the market regularly, you can make decisions based on current conditions rather than outdated information.