Why Connecticut Electric Rates Keep Rising (And What Homeowners Can Do)
Updated August 2026 with the latest rates and program details from PURA, Eversource, and state program filings.
Thesis: 2026 has been a tale of two states — Connecticut bills finally came down while Massachusetts bills went up on August 1 — but in both states the structural forces behind New England's electricity prices haven't gone anywhere, and rates remain far above the national average of about 18.8¢/kWh.
Connecticut: real relief in 2026 — here's the math
Eversource's standard service supply rate fell from 12.641¢/kWh in January to 11.577¢/kWh on July 1, and United Illuminating's fell to 11.9473¢. Combined with the public benefits credit that took effect May 1, a typical 700 kWh/month household is saving roughly $38 a month with Eversource and about $50 with UI — an 18% drop. All-in, Connecticut homes that were paying around 30¢/kWh earlier this year now pay about 23.5¢ — 11.577¢ for supply plus roughly 12¢ in delivery, transmission, and public policy charges. That's genuine progress — and still well above the national average of about 18.8¢.
Massachusetts: moving the other way
On August 1, 2026, Eversource's Massachusetts basic service supply rate rose from 15.63¢ to 17.32¢/kWh, with National Grid and Unitil raising rates the same week. Massachusetts all-in residential rates now run above 30¢/kWh — rate trackers put Eversource's Massachusetts territory around 36¢ and National Grid's approaching 39¢ after the increase — among the very highest in the nation.
Why the long-term trend still points up
- Supply is the small piece. The supply rate covers the electricity itself. Delivery, transmission, and public policy charges — the larger share of a New England bill — are driven by grid investment in aging poles, wires, and substations.
- Constrained gas pipelines. New England leans on natural gas for generation with limited pipeline capacity, creating winter bottlenecks that spike wholesale prices.
- Rising demand. EVs, heat pumps, and data centers are growing electricity demand faster than regional supply.
- The next increase is already filed. In May 2026, Eversource filed with PURA for a double-digit delivery rate increase in Connecticut — today's relief and tomorrow's request are moving in opposite directions.
What homeowners can actually do
You can't control the utility's rates, but you can control how much of their power you buy. Rooftop solar locks a large share of your usage into a predictable cost — in Connecticut, the RRES program locks your arrangement for a 20-year term, and Massachusetts still offers retail-rate net metering for typical home systems. Every home is different, which is why we start with a free, no-pressure estimate using your actual bill.