With global demand for natural gas soaring, Connecticut ratepayers should brace themselves for higher heating and electricity prices, Eversource Energy warned its customers this week.
In November, the average Eversource natural gas residential heating customer could see a 14%, or $30, increase on their total bill as compared to their average monthly winter heating bill in 2020, the utility said, and because the purchased gas adjustment rate is recalibrated monthly, end users can expect to see incremental changes throughout the winter.
The rising cost of natural gas will also impact electricity rates, as natural gas is increasingly used to generate the region’s power. Eversource this week will file new electricity rates scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022, and company officials said prices will likely rise.
Eversource attributed the pending price hikes to a surge in demand for natural gas now that much of the world economy is rebounding from the devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic-induced logistical disruptions and extreme weather in gas-producing states are also playing a role, the utility said.
Company officials said they are encouraging customers to look into payment assistance programs such as UniteCT, which provides up to $15,000 in rental and electricity payment assistance on behalf of Connecticut households financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Operation Fuel, a private, nonprofit energy assistance program for those needing emergency help with their energy bills year-round and who aren’t receiving other state or federal assistance.
Eversource also offers its New Start program, which eliminates portions of customers’ overdue balances as restructured payments are made to the company each month.
The utility also listed numerous ways in which customers can reduce their energy consumption, including through weatherizing their homes, switching to LED lights, regularly servicing their home heating system and setting programmable thermostats as low as is comfortable when home and awake and lower when sleeping or away from home.
