As of July 1, 2000, when restructuring took effect in Connecticut, CL&P customers may choose their energy supplier. You have two choices: to remain a full service customer of CL&P (that is, choose not to charge); this is referred to as “Standard Offer Service.” Or you can choose a new provider of electricity.

CL&P is required to provide Standard Offer service, which is regulated by the DPUC. Customers who did not choose an energy supplier before January 2007 received Default Service and their energy supply has been put out to a competitive bid among all energy suppliers at the time.

Whichever choice you have made or an energy supplier, CL&P will continue to deliver your electricity safely and reliably, as we have for more than 100 years. CL&P is still responsible for maintaining the poles and wires and providing repairs and restorations after storms.

The DPUC has prepared a public education campaign. You can find more information by accessing the DPUC Web sit at www.WattsNewCt.com, or call them at 1-888-922-DPUC. You can also look for educational updates in your CL&P bill. Finally, if you are a large business customer, you can talk to your CL&P Account Executive, who can provide you with resource materials and answer your questions.

Every supplier who wishes to compete in Connecticut meets strict licensing requirements, as defined by the DPUC. The DPUC maintains information about these suppliers, including a record of complaints, and issues an annual report to the legislature. In addition, each energy supplier is required to provide information about: price, sources of power which make the electricity, and air emissions.

Questions to ask before choosing an energy supplier: Is the supplier licensed with the Department of Public Utility? How many rate options will the supplier provide you? Are the rate options easy to understand? Are they in writing? What value-added services will the supplier provide? How do the value-added services offered by the supplier affect the price? How long will the quoted price be guaranteed? How much will the price vary? What is the source of the supplier’s fuel mix? Do you have the right to terminate your contract with the supplier? If you choose the change suppliers, when can you make the change? If you choose to change suppliers, how do you go about it? Is the process convenient for you? Under what conditions can the supplier terminate your contract? What experience does the provider have?

The online calculator is based on pricing currently in effect for Rate 37. If you have additional questions, please contact your account executive or call our Business Solutions team at 888-783-6617.

To learn how to manage your load more effectively, please call our Business Solutions team at 888-783-6617. CL&P also has energy-efficiency programs, rebates, financing and other resources that are helping Connecticut businesses thrive while saving energy and money.

As with all rates, this depends on how much electricity you use and when you use it. To see the effects of the new rate, our online calculator allows you to enter monthly demand and energy amounts for a single or multiple months to compare charges under both rates. Depending on available data, you may enter either total monthly amounts, or separate amounts for the peak and off-peak periods. You can obtain kW and kWh amounts from meter readings that appear on your monthly billing statement. You may also set your own amounts, and vary how much demand and energy occurs during the peak and off-peak periods. Comparisons between current Rate 35 and Rate 37 are provided.

Rate 37 is a new time-of-use (TOU) tariff that has been created for customers whose peak demand is less than 350 kW.

The Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) developed Rate 37 in order to implement requirements of Public Act 05-01, An Act Concerning Energy Independence. Customers placed on Rate 37 will receive electric service priced on a TOU basis.

CL&P’s schedule for moving customers to Rate 37 service is as follows:
- For peak demand between 300 and 350 kW - begins January 1,2009
- For peak demand between 200 and 300 kW - begins January 1, 2010
- For peak demand between 100 and 200 kW - begins January 1, 2011

At the end of this year CL&P will review your peak demand history from the past 12 months. If it is between 300 and 350 kW, you will be moved to Rate 37 beginning with your next billing period.

TOU rates consist of prices that vary by the time of day, month or even season in which electricity is consumed. Prices are set on a TOU basis for only certain components of service. Where applicable, CL&P’s TOU rates are set higher during higher cost periods, and lower at other times. CL&P defines the peak period as 12 noon through 8 pm when Eastern Standard Time is in effect (or 1 p.m. through 9 p.m. when Daylight Savings Time is in effect). This structure provides an opportunity to more closely align prices with costs that vary throughout the month than might occur with a single “flat” rate. Further, it provides customers with opportunities to understand and react to these prices by managing their demand and energy usage.

Perhaps. CL&P has reviewed the type of meter installed at your location and will schedule a replacement, if necessary.

Energy supply costs currently account for 62 percent of a CL&P customer's bill. Charges for CL&P to deliver the power (distribution and transmission) are about 25 percent, federally mandated congestion charges make up another six percent and the remaining seven percent consists of public benefit charges that include the funding for conservation programs.

CL&P offers many tips for residential and business customers. See Energy Efficiency at Home or Energy Efficiency at Work.