While electricity is fundamental to modern-day living, recent global supply chain disruptions have significantly impacted its pricing, making energy budgeting a more complex task. This situation is particularly challenging for Connecticut residents, who face the fourth-highest cost per kWh in the US.
Managing these costs is critical in the face of this high inflation. One possible way out is to understand the average electricity bills in Connecticut, what factors can impact them, and how you can save on your monthly electric bills. This article will be a comprehensive guide through all these aspects.
What Is The Average Electric Bill In Connecticut?
You can easily find the monthly electric bill in CT by multiplying the average monthly use, which is 983kWh, by the per-kWh price, which is $0.29. So, with these numbers, the monthly average bill in CT stands around $285.
In the US, electric bills are based on two parameters. First comes the fixed charges that consumers pay for electricity infrastructure development, line losses, and similar management and maintenance. Next are variable charges that depend on your monthly per-kWh use and change every month according to your energy consumption patterns.
However, it's important to note that for some electric providers, the fixed rates are too subject to your consumption. This simply means that if you are using less electricity, your fixed charges will be less, and if your energy use is more, that will increase, too.
What Is The Average Electric Rates In Connecticut?
Connecticut electricity users, whether commercial or residential, pay much higher electricity rates than many other states in the US. As per the July 2024 update, the per-kWh residential electricity rate in CT is 29.12 ¢/kWh. Though it is less than the July 2023 rate of 33.02 ¢/kWh, the current rate is still 64.63% higher than the average electric rate in the US, which is 16.68 ¢/kWh.
The situation is slightly better for commercial properties. The monthly bill in CT for commercial properties remains around $2181, higher only by 34.38% than the national average of $1632. Nonetheless, the difference is stark for industrial users as they pay around $49500, much higher than the national average of $39000.
Why My Electric Bill Is So High In Connecticut?
It’s obvious that electric prices are high in CT. However, the driving factors behind these costs are diverse, ranging from CT's geographical locations to its energy expenditure patterns and government policies. Below is a brief discussion of these factors to get a more detailed understanding.
Location of CT
Connecticut does not have any natural fossil fuel reserves for energy production. Its primary electricity source is gas which accounts for 54% of total electricity consumption and is transported from other regions. Ultimately the high transport charges add up to per kWh costs.
Low dependence on renewables
Renewables are cheap and efficient sources of power. Solar energy accounts for 8% of the total energy produced in the US, but in Connecticut, it is only around 3%, which is way less than total national production, eventually increasing electric bills.
Government policies
Government policies, like a recently adopted Milestone Purchase Agreement, have compelled electricity providers to buy power at high rates. Starting July 1, this resulted in a 12% hike in overall per-kWh prices.
How To Get The Best Electricity Rate In Connecticut?
Connecticut energy market deregulation transformed the way one used to pay for electricity consumption. Now, growing market competition has conferred an opportunity for individuals to choose among various energy providers depending on their rates and plans.
However, to get the best rates, consider some important factors enlisted below.
- First and foremost comes the rate comparison. This includes comparing different electric suppliers based on their per-kWh rates subjected to a specific plan, which could be Time of Use, fixed, or any other. Choose a supplier and plan that aligns best with your needs, as this is the primary deciding factor for your monthly electric bills.
- The next step is to analyze offerings. Many electric companies in Connecticut offer promotions in terms of customer acquisition. These could be free cash vouchers or gift cards, or they can allow you to use free electricity for a specific time or during specific hours. Understanding these offerings and reviewing the cost per kWh subsidizing them can offer valuable insights into getting the best electricity rates.
- Lastly, understanding your agreement is critical. Electric companies may have lower rates initially, but after a certain time period, they can increase their rates and bind you with high contract termination fees. So, while choosing a supplier, make sure to read the agreement's terms and conditions carefully.
How To Save On Electric Bills In CT?
High electric bills in CT could be really a headache for many average households. While there is no single panacea to the problem, a combination of different effective approaches can yield the desired results. The details of these remedies are discussed below.
Opt for Energy Star appliances.
Energy Star is a government-backed body that marks appliances for their high energy efficiency, quality, and sustainability. While a complete overhaul of all your home appliances might not be suitable at once, you can check for the most energy-consuming appliances in your home and try to replace them with those recommended by Energy Star.
HAVC Maintenace
Heating and cooling systems are the most energy-consuming appliances in any household. Their efficient management could significantly lower your electric bills.
At first, the more older and ill-maintained your HVAC is the more power it will consume. Thus their regular maintenance and lubrication is critical. Further go for a home insulation check, poor insulation allows for easy temperature exchange with external environment, leading to more running hours and eventually the higher bills.
Upgrading to solar energy
In a state like Connecticut, where exorbitant electric prices are a menace for monthly budgets, many could find a ray of hope in solar power. With its multifaceted benefits, it involves only one-time investment and offers a free, sustainable, and uninterrupted power supply for years and years.
Though the high upfront cost of solar systems is a critical concern, BLUETTI's cost-effective units are the best way to help you save significant amounts. The systems are blends of solar panels, inverters, and batteries and are the best way to run your whole home on solar power.
Is Solar System Worth In Connecticut?
The latest solar and battery technology innovations have boosted solar installation’s efficiency manifolds. So, Yeah, solar systems are an effective way to fulfill your home’s power needs. However, if you want to go completely off-grid or even if you have a grid-tied system, the choice of the right solar system is critical to ensure an invariable power supply at night or during cloudy days.
BLUETTI products come with an extended lifespan competing with all the other renowned market brands, all while ensuring a PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE for their consumers on almost all products. This means if you find any other related product that is lower priced than BLUETTI, you can claim the extra amount within 30 days of your purchase.
Below are three variables of solar packs, compatible with all medium and large size households. You can review to choose what aligns best with your needs.
BLUETTI EP500 Solar Power Station
EP500, with its wheels, is a portable unit that can be used at home, during trips, or to power your RV. This solar power station has an extensive 5120Wh battery capacity that can power almost all of your home appliances for hours and days.
Highly compatible with medium-sized household power needs, the system’s pure sine wave inverter with a 2kW output capacity supports the running of multiple appliances simultaneously.
Unlike traditional solar systems, EP500 has a sleek design, enhancing the aesthetics of your home. Its Battery management System sets it apart in terms of safety, making it completely safe to be used at extreme temperatures.
Further, it supports recharging through different means, so running out of power is not even a consideration. Lastly, the integrated micro-computer makes it a must-buy if you have some voltage-sensitive appliances at home.
BLUETTI AC500 + 2*B300S | Home Battery Backup
Whatever your aims are for solar systems, the AC500 will change the game. You reap the benefits of solar power. Firstly, its inverter, a pure sine wave with an output capacity of 5kW and surge power of 10kW, can effortlessly fulfill the power needs of all your power-hungry appliances.
Regardless of your location, the variety of charging options, including AC wall outlets, conventional generators, and solar panels, ensure power availability at all times and in all situations.
What’s the best about AC500 is its flexibility in terms of power storage. Its pre-built battery capacity is 3072 Wh, but if this is not enough for you, you can expand it to 18432 Wh by adding additional B300 batteries.
The unit has a diverse range of output ports, making it compatible with almost all your home appliances. We are not talking about support for only 120V appliances but all 240V appliances, too.
Zero noise pollution, free electricity, zero carbon footprints, and the PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE with a 4-year hassle-free warranty and lifetime customer support are all the aspects that make AC500 a go-to solution.
BLUETTI EP800+B500 Home Battery Backup
EP800 is explicitly designed to serve as a power backup for all large homes or commercial setups. It's not just an ordinary home battery backup but your key to significantly lowering your bills, remaining shielded from power outages, and saying hello to off-grid style living.
Its basic specifications include an output capacity of 7.6kW and a battery capacity of 9.9kWh, further expanding up to 19.8 kWh with additional B500 batteries.
With its multiple recharging sources, the system automatically combines solar and AC during extreme weather conditions, making a reliable power supply on the go. It is compatible with all your existing solar panels, saving a lot in terms of solar panel costs and charging-recharging customization depending on peak and off-peak hours, saving significant amounts in terms of monthly electric bills.
Indeed, with all the basics of other battery backups and its own advanced specifications, EP800 could be the solution to all your power worries.
The Bottom Line
Connecticut’s 4th highest electricity to wreak havoc on its natives. This could be troublesome, especially in today’s era, where the overall cost of living is burgeoning. One possible way out is going solar. BLUETTI battery backups, with their price match guarantee, do not need any colossal upfront costs and can effectively help you lower your power bills.
