PURA May 2026 Rate Adjustment: Connecticut Public Benefits Credit
Connecticut PURA's May 1, 2026 rate adjustments turned the public benefits charge into a net credit of roughly 4.3 cents per kWh for Eversource and 4.9 cents for United Illuminating, partly offsetting supply costs tied to Millstone and Seabrook contracts. Supply remains shoppable; delivery is not.
By Jason Taken, Founder, Jaken Energy
Updated September 12, 2026PURA's May 1, 2026 adjustments
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority announced electric rate adjustments effective May 1, 2026 for Eversource and United Illuminating [pura-may-2026-pr]. A headline element: the public benefits charge became a credit rather than a charge on customer bills [pura-may-2026-pr].
Reported credit levels from PURA's announcement:
| Utility | Public benefits credit |
|---|---|
| Eversource | ~4.3¢/kWh [pura-may-2026-pr] |
| United Illuminating | ~4.9¢/kWh [pura-may-2026-pr] |
PURA tied the move to Millstone and Seabrook contract effects and broader rate reconciliation work [pura-may-2026-pr]. Credits reduce certain regulated line items; they do not automatically erase other supply or delivery increases on the same bill.
Connecticut customers who do not choose a supplier remain on Standard Service procured under PURA oversight [ct-energizect-faq]. Competitive supply is available for many commercial accounts under Connecticut switching rules.
Supply shoppable, delivery not
Cannabis cultivators in Connecticut face the same split as other deregulated states:
| Component | Shoppable? | Utility |
|---|---|---|
| Standard service / supplier energy | Yes | Eversource or UI |
| Delivery + demand | No | Same utility |
| Public benefits (now credit) | Regulated adjustment | PURA-set [pura-may-2026-pr] |
A May credit on public benefits does not reduce delivery demand when you add flower rooms. See understanding your commercial utility bill.
Eversource separately filed a $727 million delivery rate increase request in 2026 see our CT filing post. May supply-side credits and pending delivery cases can move in opposite directions on the same statement.
Worked example: net supply line
Inputs we chose for an Eversource C&I account using 100,000 kWh/month.
| Line item | Rate input | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Standard service supply (illustrative) | 11.5¢/kWh | $11,500 |
| Public benefits credit [pura-may-2026-pr] | −4.3¢/kWh | −$4,300 |
| Net regulated supply-ish subtotal | 7.2¢/kWh | $7,200 |
The illustrative 11.5¢ supply input is not a PURA-published class rate; it shows how a 4.3¢ credit moves real dollars. Pull your Generation Service Charge and benefits lines from the bill.
Compare net standard service to retail fixed offers via Eversource Connecticut benchmarks and Energize Connecticut tools [ct-energizect-faq].
Why cultivators should still compare suppliers
Credits can expire or shrink when PURA recalculates components. Standard service resets with PURA proceedings. Retail fixed contracts trade that volatility for term risk.
Questions before switching:
- Does the supplier pass through RPS or benefits adjustments?
- Is the rate fixed through winter Standard Service changes?
- Are early termination fees compatible with expansion plans?
- Does municipal aggregation already cover your address?
Read fixed vs index contracts.
Statutory reporting reminder
Connecticut statute requires annual electricity use reporting for licensed cannabis activities (confirm current thresholds with your regulator). Energy procurement decisions should align with reporting meters you already maintain.
Takeaway
PURA's May 1, 2026 order produced public benefits credits of about 4.3¢ (Eversource) and 4.9¢ (UI) per kWh [pura-may-2026-pr]. That is real money on high-kWh cultivation loads, but it is not a substitute for delivery rate vigilance or competitive supply comparison.
Rebuild your effective ¢/kWh after PURA adjustments, then decide whether standard service or a retail contract fits the next 12–24 months of canopy plans.
UI vs Eversource credit gap
PURA's 4.9¢ UI credit exceeds Eversource's 4.3¢ credit on public benefits [pura-may-2026-pr]. Multi-site operators spanning Fairfield County UI and northern Eversource should map credits by meter, not company-wide averages.
Millstone and Seabrook context
Connecticut public benefits adjustments reflect state policy on nuclear contracts feeding rate components [pura-may-2026-pr]. Credits can reverse when forward markets shift. Budget scenarios, not single-month snapshots.
Standard service vs third-party on credits
Competitive suppliers may or may not pass through regulated benefits adjustments identically to standard service [ct-energizect-faq]. If your retail contract excludes state-mandated credit pass-through, you may lose 4.3¢ relative to standard service despite a lower headline energy rate.
PURA May adjustment vs July Eversource filing
May credits improved supply-side optics while Eversource's $727 million delivery filing see CT filing post threatens delivery. CFO dashboards should show two trend lines, not one net bill KPI.
Commercial class verification
PURA's 4.3¢ and 4.9¢ figures describe public benefits movement [pura-may-2026-pr]. Large C&I accounts may have different benefit factor mechanics; pull Eversource GS or UI LGS tariff pages rather than applying residential credit math to 100,000 kWh grows.
Historical perspective on benefits charges
Connecticut public benefits components have swung from charges to credits as Millstone and Seabrook contract costs interact with forward markets [pura-may-2026-pr]. A credit in May 2026 does not guarantee a credit in 2027. Cultivators modeling five-year pro formas should include at least two scenarios for benefits lines rather than extrapolating 4.3¢ indefinitely [pura-may-2026-pr] [ct-energizect-faq].
UI 4.9¢ vs Eversource 4.3¢
UI customers receive a 4.9¢ public benefits credit versus 4.3¢ on Eversource [pura-may-2026-pr]. Multi-meter MSOs need territory-level credit maps, not blended 4.6¢ shortcuts [pura-may-2026-pr] [ct-energizect-faq].
May 1 effective date
PURA adjustments took effect May 1, 2026 [pura-may-2026-pr]. Bills straddling April/May need proration in month-over-month comparisons [pura-may-2026-pr] [ct-energizect-faq].
Standard service procurement versus May credits
Connecticut Standard Service prices come from PURA-supervised supplier solicitations distinct from the public benefits line PURA adjusted May 1 [pura-may-2026-pr] [ct-energizect-faq]. Benefits credits reflect Millstone and Seabrook contract reconciliation and state program funding, not the energy commodity alone [pura-may-2026-pr].
When you compare competitive retail offers, ask whether benefits adjustments pass through identically to standard service. Some contracts quote a low energy rate but exclude state-mandated credit riders, making standard service net of 4.3 cents the true benchmark for Eversource accounts [pura-may-2026-pr].
Energize Connecticut shopping steps for commercial accounts
Energize Connecticut publishes Rate Board tools and FAQs for comparing Standard Service to licensed suppliers [ct-energizect-faq]. Commercial cannabis accounts should:
- Download the Generation Service Charge history for twelve months
- Apply May 2026 benefits credits line by line [pura-may-2026-pr]
- Request all-in fixed retail quotes with RPS and benefits pass-through tables
- Confirm early termination rules if DAS expansion changes load
Follow Connecticut switching guidance and Connecticut cultivation facility energy for rate class verification. Credits can reverse when PURA recalculates components; budget scenarios, not one-month snapshots [pura-may-2026-pr].
UI 4.9¢ versus Eversource 4.3¢ for multi-site operators
PURA's May order set 4.9 cents per kWh benefits credits for United Illuminating versus 4.3 cents for Eversource [pura-may-2026-pr]. An MSO with Fairfield UI meters and Hartford Eversource meters should map credits by account, not blend a corporate average.
On 100,000 kWh, the 0.6 cent territory gap is $600 per month in benefits treatment alone, before supply or delivery moves. Pair credit mapping with Eversource Connecticut utility context and the pending $727 million delivery filing tracked in our Eversource CT rate post.
May credits versus July delivery filing on CFO dashboards
May public benefits credits improved supply-side optics while Eversource's $727 million delivery filing threatens delivery per our Eversource CT rate post. CFO dashboards should show two trend lines, not one net bill KPI. Supply wins can coexist with delivery demand increases from canopy expansion.
Large C&I benefits factor verification
PURA's 4.3 cents and 4.9 cents figures describe public benefits movement [pura-may-2026-pr]. Large C&I accounts may have different benefit factor mechanics; pull Eversource GS or UI LGS tariff pages rather than applying residential credit math to 100,000 kWh grows [pura-may-2026-pr] [ct-energizect-faq].
Historical swing from charges to credits
Connecticut public benefits components swung from charges to credits as Millstone and Seabrook contract costs interact with forward markets [pura-may-2026-pr]. A May 2026 credit does not guarantee a 2027 credit. Five-year pro formas need at least two scenarios for benefits lines [pura-may-2026-pr] [ct-energizect-faq].
Connecticut annual electricity reporting alignment
Connecticut statute requires annual electricity use reporting for licensed cannabis activities (confirm current thresholds with your regulator). Energy procurement decisions should align with reporting meters you already maintain [pura-may-2026-pr]. Switching suppliers does not change meter ownership; verify settlement data matches regulatory filings [ct-energizect-faq].
May 1 proration on April/May bills
PURA adjustments took effect May 1, 2026 [pura-may-2026-pr]. Bills straddling April/May need proration in month-over-month comparisons [pura-may-2026-pr]. Finance teams comparing April to May without proration may misattribute benefits credits to the wrong procurement decision [ct-energizect-faq].
Retail supplier written confirmation on credits
Ask retail suppliers in writing whether May 2026 benefits credits flow through to competitive supply customers at the same $/kWh as standard service [pura-may-2026-pr]. If not, your effective benchmark is standard service net of credits, not the supplier headline energy rate alone [ct-energizect-faq]. See Connecticut commercial electricity rates for delivery context [pura-may-2026-pr].
Worked example: UI 4.9 cent credit at 100,000 kWh
For United Illuminating at 100,000 kWh/month with illustrative 11.5 cent standard service (input, not PURA class rate):
| Line | Rate | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Standard service (illustrative) | 11.5¢ | $11,500 |
| Public benefits credit [pura-may-2026-pr] | −4.9¢ | −$4,900 |
| Net subtotal | 6.6¢ | $6,600 |
Eversource at 4.3 cents credit on the same kWh saves $600 less per month than UI's 4.9 cents [pura-may-2026-pr]. Multi-meter MSOs must map credits by account [ct-energizect-faq].
Rebuild effective ¢/kWh after PURA adjustments, then decide whether standard service or a retail contract fits the next 12–24 months of canopy plans [pura-may-2026-pr] [ct-energizect-faq].
Frequently asked questions
What changed on Connecticut electric bills May 1, 2026?
PURA adjusted components of Eversource and United Illuminating rates effective May 1, 2026, including public benefits charges that moved to a credit of about 4.3 cents per kWh for Eversource and 4.9 cents for UI according to PURA's announcement.
Did total bills fall by the full credit amount?
Not necessarily. Other supply and delivery components may move in the same adjustment. Net bill impact depends on class, usage, and concurrent riders.
Can Connecticut cannabis businesses shop supply?
Yes. Connecticut allows competitive electric suppliers for eligible customers. Eversource or UI continues to deliver power and bill delivery charges.
What are public benefits charges?
They fund state programs and, in recent years, include costs tied to nuclear contracts such as Millstone and Seabrook that PURA can reclassify or credit as market conditions change.
Does PURA's May credit replace shopping a supplier?
No. Credits adjust regulated rate components. Competitive supply still may beat standard service on all-in price depending on contract terms and load.
Related reading
- How to Switch Electricity Suppliers in Connecticut: A Step-by-Step Guide for Cannabis Businesses
Step-by-step Connecticut supplier switching for cannabis on Eversource and UI: Standard Service benchmarks, PURA enrollment, and the 500 kW LRS threshold.
- Eversource Connecticut for Cannabis Facilities: Rate 30 Through 58 and Manufacturer Classification
Eversource Connecticut cannabis billing: CL&P territory, Rate 30/56/58 demand charges, Standard Service at 11.229 cents/kWh, and non-manufacturer kVA classes.
- Understanding Your Commercial Utility Bill (Line-Item Breakdown)
Supply vs delivery, customer charge, distribution demand, transmission, capacity, riders, power factor, and taxes, with an annotated sample bill for a grow.
- Eversource CT $727M Rate Increase Filing
Eversource Connecticut seeks $727M in annual delivery revenue. Supply is shoppable; distribution is not. What cultivators can and cannot change on their bills.
- Eversource and National Grid Basic Service August 2026 Increase
Eversource basic service hit 17.32¢/kWh and National Grid 17.19¢/kWh Aug 1, 2026. MA cultivators should compare supply before riding default.
Jason Taken founded Jaken Energy, the commercial energy procurement practice behind this site. He works with licensed cannabis operators in deregulated electricity markets to lower supply rates, manage demand charges, and evaluate efficiency upgrades.
Sources
Inline citations in this article, such as [pura-may-2026-pr], refer to the entries below. Links open the primary source in a new tab.
- [pura-may-2026-pr]PURA announces electric rate adjustments to take effect May 1 — Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Accessed 2026-09-12.
- [ct-energizect-faq]Energize Connecticut Rate Board FAQs — Energize Connecticut. Accessed 2026-09-12.