Connecticut regulators approved a new electricity-purchasing framework October 7 that gives Eversource and United Illuminating more flexibility to buy power for residential and small-business customers on standard service.
PURA’s announcement describes a nonbinding target of 20 percent of standard-service demand supplied through wholesale-market purchases. Fixed-price full-requirement contracts would ordinarily cover the other 80 percent. Those contracts can also replace market purchases when they offer better value; purchases above the target require an expected customer benefit and suitable risk protections.
The decision concerns standard service, the default supply option for customers who have not enrolled with an outside supplier. PURA says it implements procurement changes required by Section 31 of Public Act 25-173 and calls for stronger participation by qualified wholesale bidders.
CT Mirror’s October 8 reporting explains the trade-off: direct market buying may capture cheaper power, but fluctuating wholesale prices also create risk. The outlet reported that regulators still needed a detailed implementation plan and that effects on bills were not expected until mid-2027 or early 2028. It reported that both utilities said customer impacts were too early to determine.
Customers should not interpret approval of the purchasing method as a new advertised supply rate or a guaranteed saving. The practical distinction is whether an account receives standard service or uses a third-party supplier; CT Mirror reports that the latter group is outside this change. Future implementation details and actual supply rates will determine what customers pay.