Connecticut consumers have more choices and greater access to cleaner energy since deregulation of the electricity industry a decade ago, according to a new report.
“It is clear that the competitive marketplace is working to the benefit of both customers and the environment,” said Paul Alfonso, executive director of the New England Energy Alliance (NEEA), which prepared the report.
The group’s report cited several achievements since restructuring began including:
More power: There are currently more than 4,000 megawatts of new electricity generation in various stages of development in Connecticut. Bringing all of that online will increase the state’s generation capacity by 50 percent. And that will help boost competition, reduce prices and create jobs.
Cleaner air: Construction of highly efficient, natural-gas-fired plants and a switch to cleaner fuels in plants already operating have helped significantly reduce emissions. Since 2005, carbon dioxide emissions from electricity plants have decreased 20 percent, nitrogen oxides by 61 percent and sulfur dioxide 77 percent.
More choice: Since 2005 there has been triple-digit growth in the number of Connecticut consumers served by competitive suppliers. Alternative suppliers now serve 20 percent of all state customers and supply half of all electricity sold in the state. There are now 35 energy companies investing substantial capital and employing hundreds of residents in the state.
Higher efficiency: More than 400 million kilowatt-hours of electricity-enough to supply over 47,000 homes-are conserved each year because of consumer-funded efficiency programs available through power utilities in the state. These programs are preventing the potential emission of greenhouse gases.
New resources: Many new types of ‘greener’ electricity generation-such as hydro, wind generation and biomass-are being developed in order to meet state standards of generating 27 percent of Connecticut’s entire energy load by the year 2020.
