CT ENERGY INFO HOME
Choosing An Electric Supplier
It's easy to choose an electric supplier:
1. Check the current Generation Service Charge (GSC) price on your electric bill.
2. Compare your current GSC price to prices offered by other electric suppliers. (We've set up a page so you can compare these prices.)
3. Customers of CL&P and UI can use the links below to compare their current GSC price to GSC prices that are offered by electric suppliers.
4. Contact a supplier to switch.
Like shopping for any other product or service you should be informed about the choice you make. Things to consider inlcude price, additional services, if the electricity is produced from clean or renewable sources and whether the price is fixed or variable. Also, be sure to check each supplier's Terms and Conditions before enrolling.
If you have additional questions about choosing an electric supplier or need help to do so, you can speak to someone at the Department of Public Utility Control's Consumer Outreach Unit at (1-888-922-3782) or TDD (860-827-2837).
Please take a minute to read the information on this page to learn more about choosing an electric supplier. Or, just click below to compare GSC prices that are currently offered by suppliers.
Your Electric Bill
There are two major costs associated with providing electricity to your home or business:
- Generation - Producing electricity
- Delivery - Transmission over high voltage lines and distribution over local poles and wires
Only the generation portion of your electric bill, the Generation Service Charge or GSC (the first item on your bill), is open to competition.
Electric Deregulation
In 1999 The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and The United Illuminating Company (UI) were required to sell their electric generating plants. As a result, CL&P and UI no longer produce electricity. Instead, they purchase it from private companies and deliver it to their customers.
Because CL&P and UI no longer own power plants, other companies are allowed to compete to sell electricity to Connecticut consumers. This is the reason you can choose an electric supplier.
CL&P and UI encourage their customers to learn about choosing an electric supplier to help control energy costs.
It is important to know that regardless of the electric supplier you choose, CL&P or UI will continue to deliver your electricity, bill you for service and respond to power outages.