Connecticut was the only one of the six New England states to have its electricity rates drop in April and for the first four months of the year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
In April, Connecticut’s electricity rate dropped to 15.50 cents per kilowatt hour from 15.65 cents in April 2012. All five other New England states saw increases in their rates, and the regional average rose to 14.04 from 13.78.
For the first four months of the year, Connecticut’s average power rate was 15.64 cents, down from 15.67 cents in the first four months of 2012. All other New England states had an increase, and the regional average rose to 14.25 from 14.19.
EIA reports the electricity figures on a three-month delay, so the May numbers won’t be out until the end of July.
Connecticut has been bucking the national trend in power prices for the year, as the national average for the first four months of the year was 9.70 cents, up from 9.56 in 2012.
Gov. Dannel Malloy and other state energy officials have made it a priority to reduce the power and heating costs in the state, and the reduction mostly has been fueled by the widespread use of natural gas as fuel.
Despite the new trend and the state officials’ effort, Connecticut’s electricity prices remain among the highest in the nation. The only states will higher prices in April were Hawaii and Alaska.
