How to Switch Electricity Providers in Connecticut: Rate Board, Rights and Checklist

Connecticut residents can switch electricity suppliers while Eversource or United Illuminating (UI) keeps delivering their power and sending the bill. The official place to compare offers is the EnergizeCT Rate Board, and the regulator is the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). Connecticut has unusually strong protections: residential variable-rate contracts were banned in 2015 and suppliers can no longer charge residential cancellation fees.

Below is how choice works in Connecticut, the protections you can count on, and a checklist for comparing an offer with Standard Service.

Who regulates electricity suppliers in Connecticut?

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) licenses electric suppliers and maintains Connecticut's official generation supply rate board (PURA supplier information). You can reach PURA at 800-382-4586 or pura.information@ct.gov, and file supplier complaints through its online form.

The Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) represents ratepayers and publishes plain-language guides and monthly supplier market fact sheets.

The official comparison site: EnergizeCT Rate Board

The OCC points shoppers to the EnergizeCT Rate Board (energizect.com/rate-board) to compare supplier offers by price and plan length (OCC: Where can I compare electricity suppliers?). The OCC advises signing up with a supplier directly on EnergizeCT.com, and warns that tele-sales and door-to-door sales "can sometimes include aggressive or misleading marketing tactics."

How switching works in Connecticut

• Standard Service is the default. You do not have to choose a supplier. If you do nothing, Eversource or UI provides generation under Standard Service.
• Delivery stays with the utility. Your utility charges the same delivery rate no matter which supplier you pick. Only the supply portion changes.
• One bill. The utility still delivers power and sends your bill.
• Timing. EnergizeCT's offer pages explain that suppliers must wait three days (the cancellation period) before sending your enrollment to the utility, and must submit it within seven business days of your request. To start on your next meter read date, enroll at least ten business days before it (EnergizeCT offer page).
• Returning to Standard Service. The state's consumer protection summary says you can return to Standard Service online, with the transition "taking up to two days."

Connecticut's consumer protections

Protection	What it means for you
No residential variable rates	PURA banned variable-rate contracts for residential customers in 2015. Suppliers must offer a fixed rate for at least four months, and renewal prices cannot rise for at least four months.
No cancellation fees	Public Act 21-117 prohibited cancellation fees for residential customers.
Cancel within 72 hours	The OCC says you have 72 hours after signing to cancel without penalty.
Renewal notice	A supplier that renews you must notify you in writing between 30 and 60 days before the renewal date.
Fixed-price expiry notice	Suppliers must give notice at least 30 days before a fixed price expires, describing any change.
Hardship customers	Financial hardship customers may contract with a supplier only at a rate equal to or less than the utility's Standard Service rate.
Sales hours	The OCC says solicitation is limited to 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sources: the OCC's Know Your Rights bulletin and the state's consumer protection legislation summary.

Contract terms to read carefully

Term length. Offers on the Rate Board vary in length. A longer term protects you from price increases, but it also locks you in if Standard Service drops.

Renewal. The state notes that "almost all supplier contracts automatically renew." Watch for the 30 to 60 day renewal notice and check the new price against Standard Service.

Monthly or enrollment fees. Check whether an offer includes any recurring charge in addition to the per-kWh price.

Your bill's supply summary. The state suggests checking the supply summary on the first page of each bill to confirm your supplier rate is still saving you money.

Step-by-step checklist: switching electricity providers in Connecticut

1. Check your Standard Service rate and usage. Both appear on your bill. See our Connecticut electricity rates page for context.
2. Compare on the Rate Board. Search EnergizeCT by utility and compare price, term and fees.
3. Calculate with your usage. Use our electric bill calculator to see the monthly difference for your kWh.
4. Check when Standard Service changes. A fixed offer that beats today's rate may not beat the next one.
5. Enroll through EnergizeCT or directly with the supplier. Avoid signing at the door or over an unsolicited call.
6. Use the cancellation window if needed. You have 72 hours to cancel without penalty.
7. Calendar your end date. When the renewal notice arrives, compare again. Because residential cancellation fees are banned, you can leave if the new price is not competitive.

Red flags

• Any offer described as a variable rate for a residential customer.
• Any mention of an early cancellation fee for a residential contract.
• Solicitation outside 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• A salesperson asking for your account number before you have decided.
• Renewal pricing that arrives without the required written notice.
• If you receive energy assistance, an offer above Standard Service.

Report problems to PURA at 800-382-4586 or through its online complaint form.

How to estimate savings before you switch in Connecticut

Supply offers are quoted in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), so the quickest test is simple arithmetic. Take the difference between the offer and your Standard Service price, then multiply it by the kWh you use in a typical month. As an illustration only: an offer 1 cent per kWh below the default price, on a home using 700 kWh a month, would lower the supply part of the bill by about $7 that month. An offer 1 cent higher would add about $7.

Repeat the math for a high-use month (winter heating or summer cooling) and a low-use month, because the dollar difference grows with usage. Then add any monthly fee the supplier charges, and subtract any sign-up credit spread across the term. If the offer only wins in some months, or only before the Standard Service price next changes, the overall result may be close to zero. Our kWh calculator can help if you need to work out usage for specific appliances, and our state rates page shows how prices in Connecticut compare with other states.

Fixed or variable: choosing a price type in Connecticut

A fixed-rate plan charges the same supply price per kWh for the contract term. It makes budgeting easier, and you are protected if wholesale prices rise. The downside is that you may pay more than the default rate if that rate falls during your term, and you may owe a fee to leave early if the contract has one.

A variable-rate plan can change from month to month. It may start low, but you carry the risk if prices climb. Before accepting one, ask how the price is calculated, whether there is a ceiling, and how much notice you get before a change. In Connecticut this choice is simpler for households: PURA's 2015 ban means residential offers must be fixed-rate, so you are mainly comparing price, term length and any monthly fees.

Whichever type you pick, write down three dates: when service starts, when the price could change, and when the contract ends. Most problems people report with supply contracts come from missing one of those dates.

What to do if something goes wrong

Start with the supplier. Many billing errors, missed cancellations or wrong prices can be fixed with one call, especially if you have the contract summary and the date you enrolled. Keep notes of who you spoke with and when.

If that does not work, contact the state. In Connecticut, PURA takes supplier complaints at 800-382-4586 or through its online complaint form, and the Office of Consumer Counsel publishes guidance on your rights. Have your utility account number, the supplier's name, and copies of any letters or emails ready. If you think you were switched without permission, say so clearly; unauthorized switching is treated seriously by state regulators.

Next steps

Compare your Standard Service rate with any Rate Board offer in our electric bill calculator, then review our Connecticut electricity rates page and the EIA Connecticut electricity profile. For other states' bills, see average electric bill by state.