Connecticut Commercial Electricity & Natural Gas

Connecticut's High-Rate Market Makes Shopping Worthwhile

Connecticut is one of the most expensive electricity markets in the country: the average commercial customer paid about 23.56¢/kWh in April 2026 (EIA) — roughly 75% above the U.S. average of 13.51¢. Commercial natural gas averaged about $10.71 per Mcf. Those elevated prices are exactly why Connecticut's deregulated market matters: with rates this high, the dollar savings from competitively shopping the supply portion are among the largest available anywhere. Compare CT in our electricity rates by state and natural gas rates by state tables.

Why Connecticut Rates Are So High

Connecticut sits inside ISO New England (ISO-NE), a region defined by winter natural gas pipeline constraints. In cold months, heating demand competes with gas-fired power generation for limited pipeline capacity, spiking wholesale prices and pulling electricity up with it. Add heavy transmission costs, public-policy charges, and limited in-region generation, and you get structurally high rates — a supply-and-infrastructure issue, not a deregulation one. See why prices vary by region and natural gas pipeline capacity impact.

How Connecticut Energy Choice Works

Connecticut businesses buy delivery from Eversource or United Illuminating (electricity), while shopping the supply portion from competitive licensed suppliers. Skip the choice and you pay the utility's Standard Service default rate, which resets periodically and passes through market volatility. A competitive fixed rate can lock in below a rising Standard Service rate. Your utility still delivers power, reads your meter, and restores outages regardless of supplier. See how electricity deregulation works and delivery vs. supply charges.

How to Lower Your Connecticut Energy Costs

• Shop supply and lock a fixed rate — the higher your baseline, the more a competitive bid saves. See comparing supplier offers and switching suppliers step by step.
• Time your lock for shoulder months to avoid the winter premium. See best time to lock in electricity rates.
• Protect against winter gas spikes with a fixed gas rate before heating season — see our Winter 2026-2027 gas outlook.
• Attack demand charges — at 23¢/kWh, peak demand is costly. Use the demand charge calculator.
• Audit for overcharges and read why bills rose in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average commercial electricity rate in Connecticut? About 23.56¢/kWh (EIA, April 2026) — among the highest in the U.S. and roughly 75% above the national average, driven by ISO-NE winter gas constraints and high transmission costs.

Can Connecticut businesses choose their energy supplier? Yes. Commercial customers shop competitive licensed suppliers for the supply portion of both electricity and natural gas, while Eversource or United Illuminating continues delivery. Not choosing means paying the utility's Standard Service default rate.

Is switching suppliers worth it in Connecticut? Because CT rates are so high, the dollar savings from a competitive fixed rate are among the largest in the country — and a fixed rate also protects against the region's sharp winter price swings.

Get a free Connecticut commercial rate review. Contact us or call 833-264-7776.