Watch CBS News

Connecticut Residents Get Break On Electricity Bills

HARTFORD, CT (WCBS 880) - There is a bit of good news for people in Connecticut cranking up their air conditioners in this dome of heat.

WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau With St. Sen. Pres. Williams

Podcast

Lower natural gas prices are helping to reduce electricity bills, and Connecticut consumers are getting another break.

"We were able to make changes in the state budget so that we could eliminate a surcharge that was costing electric users an additional 5 percent on their bills and it couldn't come at a better time," State Senate President Don Williams told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau. "That was effective July 1st. So, right now as people are cranking up the air conditioners and using more electricity, luckily there's an immediate 5 percent cut in the cost of electricity."

Williams says lower natural gas prices should continue to lower electricity bills right through next year, and the savings could amount to about 10 percent.

Sen. Susan Johnson says new regulations will make it cheaper for utilities to buy natural gas.

"We also have made it so there's flexibility in how we procure our energy because we found that some of our rules were too strict and we needed to give flexibility," she said on Thursday.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.