How United Illuminating compares with the utilities next door
| Utility | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers | Δ vs United Illuminating, ¢/kWh | $/yr difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Wallingford | 15.65 | 21,405 | -18.39 | -$1,986 |
| Eversource (Connecticut Light & Power) | 28.51 | 924,132 | -5.54 | -$598 |
| United Illuminating Co (this page) | 34.04 | 256,302 | — | — |
2 bundled utilities (≥5,000 customers) share at least one county with United Illuminating. Positive $/yr = that utility's customers pay more than United Illuminating customers at the same usage. Territories are fixed by address — these gaps measure cost differences between areas, while the supply portion is separately shoppable in Connecticut (see below).
Where United Illuminating customers pay more (county benchmark)
| County | Cheapest utility in county | Their ¢/kWh | United Illuminating premium, $/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | Town of Wallingford | 15.65 | +$1,986 |
| Fairfield | Eversource (Connecticut Light & Power) | 28.51 | +$598 |
Multiple utilities in one county means adjoining territories, not household choice — you cannot switch wires companies. In Connecticut you can shop the supply portion regardless of county.
Rate trend and size
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average price, ¢/kWh | 33.16 | 34.04 | +2.7% |
| Residential customers | 263,416 | 256,302 | -2.7% |
Ownership: Investor Owned. Including delivery-only/third-party-supply accounts, United Illuminating serves 312,291 residential customers in CT. Statewide context: Connecticut electricity rates.
Current residential tariff snapshot (URDB)
| Fixed charge | Energy rate, $/kWh | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| $13.02/mo | 0.200 | Jan 2026 |
Tariff structure (tiers, time-of-use, riders) determines your marginal rate; the EIA-861 average above reflects what customers actually paid all-in. Source: OpenEI URDB.
Supply vs delivery on a United Illuminating bill
Connecticut has residential electric supply choice: United Illuminating delivers the power and bills a default supply rate, but you may buy the supply portion from a licensed competitor instead. Compare offers against the price to compare on the state's official shopping site: energizect.com/rate-board.
Electric choice statewide (Eversource/UI; PURA Rate Board publishes supplier offers vs standard service). No residential gas choice.
Counties served (CT, EIA-861 2024)
Fairfield · New Haven
Head-to-head comparisons
Questions people ask
- Is United Illuminating Co more expensive than other Connecticut utilities?
- United Illuminating Co customers paid an average 34.04 cents/kWh in 2024 — 19% above the Connecticut volume-weighted average of 28.66 cents (EIA-861, bundled residential service).
- Can I switch away from United Illuminating Co?
- You cannot switch the wires company — distribution territory is fixed by address. Connecticut does allow supply choice, so you can buy the supply portion of the bill from a licensed competitor via energizect.com/rate-board if its offer beats the price to compare.
- How many customers does United Illuminating Co have?
- 256,302 residential customers in Connecticut in 2024 across 2 counties, per its EIA-861 federal filing. Ownership type: investor-owned.