Summer electricity generation rates to rise
A screenshot of a reporter's recent Eversource bill. The generation charge at the top, which is slated to tick up in July, is just a piece of the bill, separate from transmission and other charges.
Eversource electric ratepayers will see higher standard-service generation rates starting July 1, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority announced Thursday.
The rate — a direct pass-through of the costs utilities incur to buy power for their customers — is approximately 40 percent of the average ratepayer's bill and doesn't include other costs such as transmission.
For Eversource, the rate will rise to 8.01 cents per kilowatt hour for the second half of 2017, up from 7.87 cents in the first half of this year, and 6.61 cents in the latter half of 2016.
Both Eversource and PURA said Thursday that higher capacity prices — money paid to power plants who pledge to be available in future years — played a role in the increase. The Office of Consumer Counsel warned last month that generation rates would likely rise because of capacity prices.
“This slight increase is a direct reflection of the energy price volatility we’re seeing in New England and more proof of the need for new energy infrastructure in the region,” Penni Conner, Eversource’s senior vice president and chief customer officer, said in a statement.
Eversource’s electric territory covers much of the state, while Avangrid’s is centered mainly in Fairfield County.
Avangrid electricity customers will see their generation rate fall to 7.6 cents starting in July, down from 9.26 in the first half of this year and from 8.02 cents in the second half of 2016.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments