Connecticut Cannabis Energy: PURA Retail Choice, Standard Service, and DCP-Licensed Facilities
Connecticut has had full commercial electricity choice since 2000 and adult-use cannabis retail since January 2023, which puts every licensed grow, lab, and dispensary on Eversource or United Illuminating in a position to shop generation supply. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority licenses competitive suppliers; customers under 500 kW who do not choose receive Standard Service reset every January 1 and July 1. Customers at 500 kW monthly demand or above take Last Resort Service priced monthly, and cultivators must file annual electricity usage reports under RERACA.
Figures from the Connecticut data file, last verified 2026-09-11. Sources listed at the bottom of this page.
How the Connecticut cannabis market is structured
Adult use was legalized by the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act (RERACA), Public Act 21-1, effective June 22, 2021; retail sales began January 10, 2023 [ct-reraca-chapter-420h]. The Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control Division licenses both adult-use and medical programs [ct-credential-count].
As of September 11, 2026, DCP's open dataset shows 27 cultivation credentials (15 Cannabis Cultivators, 8 Micro-Cultivators, and 4 legacy medical producers), 13 processing credentials, and 80 retail credentials [ct-credential-count]. Cultivator licenses require at least 15,000 square feet of grow space; micro-cultivators run 2,000 to 10,000 square feet with 5,000 square foot annual expansion rights [ct-credential-count].
Almost every cultivation facility outside the New Haven-Bridgeport corridor sits in Eversource territory [eversource-ct-rates-2026]. Coastal retail clusters fall in United Illuminating's 17-town service area around New Haven and Bridgeport [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
Electricity choice under PURA
Connecticut opened retail access under Public Act 98-28, effective 2000 [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. All residential, commercial, and industrial customers of Eversource (Connecticut Light and Power) and United Illuminating may buy generation from a PURA-licensed electric supplier [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
Customers under 500 kW monthly demand who do not choose a supplier take Standard Service [energizect-rate-board-business]. Customers at 500 kW and above take Last Resort Service, purchased quarterly and priced monthly [energizect-rate-board-business]. A large cultivation facility that never contracts with a supplier is on a floating rate by default.
For July through December 2026, Eversource Rate 30 Standard Service is 11.229 cents/kWh and United Illuminating Rate GS Standard Service is 11.9022 cents/kWh, posted on the EnergizeCT Rate Board [energizect-rate-board-business]. Suppliers' consolidated-billing rates for business customers are filed monthly in PURA Docket 06-10-22 [energizect-rate-board-business].
Connecticut sits inside ISO New England; capacity and transmission costs flow through the delivery bill [energizect-rate-board-business].
What commercial power costs here
| Sector | Connecticut, June 2026 | U.S. average, June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 19.62 cents/kWh | 14.19 cents/kWh |
| Industrial | 16.70 cents/kWh | not in state file |
Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A [eia-epm-5-6-a].
Connecticut commercial power runs about 5.4 cents per kWh above the national average, or roughly 38 percent higher [eia-epm-5-6-a].
| State | Avg. commercial price | Cannabis market | Energy choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 27.33 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Commercial-only choice |
| Massachusetts | 24.52 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| New York | 23.56 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| Washington, D.C. | 23.38 cents/kWh | Medical only | Full commercial choice |
| Rhode Island | 22.70 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| Maine | 22.24 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| New Hampshire | 21.22 cents/kWh | Medical only | Full commercial choice |
| Connecticut | 19.62 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| New Jersey | 18.47 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| Maryland | 16.84 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| Michigan | 16.63 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Capped commercial choice |
| Illinois | 14.53 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| Delaware | 14.40 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| Ohio | 13.77 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Full commercial choice |
| Pennsylvania | 13.33 cents/kWh | Medical only | Full commercial choice |
| Nevada | 9.83 cents/kWh | Adult-use + medical | Commercial-only choice |
| Texas | 8.66 cents/kWh | Low-THC medical only | Full commercial choice |
Utilities and territories
| Utility | Territory | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eversource (CL&P) | About 149 of 169 towns, including Hartford, Stamford, Waterbury | Largest IOU; Rate 30/35/55-58 commercial classes |
| United Illuminating | 17 coastal towns around New Haven and Bridgeport | Rate GS/GST/LPT classes |
Municipal utility customers do not have supplier choice [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. Confirm territory before lease signing.
Utility detail on Eversource Connecticut and United Illuminating.
Climate and load shape
Connecticut averages 5,849 heating degree days and 607 cooling degree days [noaa-cag-connecticut], the highest summer cooling load among northern New England states. Summer dew points along the coast and Connecticut River valley reach the upper 60s to low 70s F, so dehumidification binds in flowering rooms during summer [noaa-cag-connecticut].
Regulatory quirks for energy buyers
C.G.S. Section 21a-421m requires cannabis establishments to file an annual electricity usage report [ct-reraca-chapter-420h]. Connecticut has not adopted a Massachusetts-style lighting power density cap [ct-reraca-chapter-420h].
Eversource splits large commercial classes by customer type: Rates 55 and 57 are for manufacturers; Rates 56 and 58 serve non-manufacturers with higher per-kVA transmission demand [eversource-ct-rates-2026]. Cultivation and extraction facilities should confirm classification before sizing service.
Public Act 25-173, signed July 1, 2025, reworks Standard Service procurement, requiring at least 25 percent of Standard Service load through dynamic market purchases, permitting contracts up to three years, and allowing Millstone nuclear purchases to be assigned to Standard Service [ecm-ct-pa-25-173]. PURA is implementing the changes in Docket 12-06-02RE04 [ecm-ct-pa-25-173].
Incentives worth knowing
EnergizeCT Energy Opportunities offers up to 40 percent of installed cost for LED lighting, HVAC, chillers, and custom measures in existing business facilities [energizect-energy-opportunities]. Connecticut C-PACE provides long-term financing for efficiency and solar repaid through a property assessment [ct-green-bank-cpace].
Municipal utilities and site selection
Groton, Norwich, Wallingford, and other municipal electric systems serve customers without PURA retail supplier choice [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. Cannabis operators scouting retail or warehouse space should verify the serving utility before lease signing. A dispensary in a municipal territory budgets from the local tariff and cannot shop ISO-NE supply the way an Eversource Rate 30 account can [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
Industrial cannabis uses more power per square foot than typical warehouse tenants [ct-credential-count]. Confirm the municipal utility can serve the requested load and whether any local franchise fee applies in addition to energy charges [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
RERACA reporting and procurement data
C.G.S. Section 21a-421m requires cannabis establishments to file an annual report on electricity usage [ct-reraca-chapter-420h]. Use the same twelve-month billing export you rely on for supplier negotiations to populate that filing [ct-reraca-chapter-420h]. Centralizing kWh, peak kW or kVA, and supply cost by account prevents reconciling two different spreadsheets at year end [ct-reraca-chapter-420h].
ISO-NE capacity on Connecticut delivery bills
Connecticut sits entirely inside ISO New England [energizect-rate-board-business]. Forward Capacity Market charges and transmission costs flow through Eversource and UI delivery tariffs, not through competitive supply quotes alone [energizect-rate-board-business]. A fixed supplier contract should state whether capacity and transmission are passed through or bundled [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. Cultivation facilities with high load factor still see capacity components in the delivery stack [eversource-ct-rates-2026].
Compare Connecticut's 19.62 cents per kWh commercial average to Massachusetts at 24.52 cents and Rhode Island at 22.70 cents in June 2026 [eia-epm-5-6-a]. The relative rank does not predict your account: class placement and supply product dominate [eia-epm-5-6-a].
Public Act 25-173 and Standard Service procurement
Public Act 25-173, signed July 1, 2025, requires Eversource and UI to buy at least 25 percent of Standard Service load through dynamic market purchases, permits contracts up to three years, and allows Millstone nuclear purchases to be assigned to Standard Service [ecm-ct-pa-25-173]. PURA implements the changes in Docket 12-06-02RE04 [ecm-ct-pa-25-173]. Standard Service will behave less like a laddered fixed price and more like a blended market product, which changes the value of a fixed supplier contract for sub-500 kW facilities [ecm-ct-pa-25-173].
Last Resort Service above 500 kW
Customers with monthly demand of 500 kW or more are not on Standard Service [energizect-rate-board-business]. They take Last Resort Service, purchased quarterly and priced monthly [energizect-rate-board-business]. A cultivation facility that never contracts with a supplier is on a floating rate by default [energizect-rate-board-business]. Model expansion scenarios against that threshold before adding HVAC tonnage or lighting circuits [eversource-ct-rates-2026].
Summer latent load along the coast
Connecticut averages 607 cooling degree days and 5,849 heating degree days [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Summer dew points along Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River valley reach the upper 60s to low 70s F, so dehumidification binds in flowering rooms during July and August [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Flowering rooms run dehumidifiers at full capacity while lights stay on, which often sets the billing peak that drives Rate 56 kVA demand charges [eversource-ct-rates-2026].
EnergizeCT efficiency capital stack
Energy Opportunities offers up to forty percent of installed cost for LED, HVAC, chillers, and custom measures [energizect-energy-opportunities]. Connecticut C-PACE adds long-term financing repaid through a property assessment [ct-green-bank-cpace]. Cultivation owners should sequence utility pre-approval before C-PACE closing so rebate reservations are not lost [energizect-energy-opportunities] [ct-green-bank-cpace]. Supply procurement runs on a parallel track: twelve-month kWh and kW exports feed both supplier RFPs and Section 21a-421m annual reporting [ct-reraca-chapter-420h].
Norwalk to Hartford submarket benchmarks
July through December 2026 UI Rate GS Standard Service is 11.9022 cents/kWh versus Eversource 11.229 cents/kWh on Rate 30 [energizect-rate-board-business]. A two-store operator on both utilities maintains two benchmarks and two enrollment workflows [energizect-rate-board-business]. Municipal utilities in Groton, Norwich, and Wallingford exclude supplier choice entirely [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
Additional procurement and tariff notes
DCP's credential dataset updated September 11, 2026 combines active, active by provisional, and active in renewal statuses [ct-credential-count]. Energy planning should refresh counts before board presentations [ct-credential-count]. No license lotteries are open; Equity Joint Venture applications are the active pipeline [ct-credential-count].
Additional load and utility notes
Connecticut sits in ISO New England with Forward Capacity Market charges on delivery [energizect-rate-board-business]. Supplier fixed prices do not cap delivery demand on Rate 56 kVA billing [eversource-ct-rates-2026]. Compare fixed vs index contracts with capacity pass-through language [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
Additional load and utility notes
Annual electricity usage reporting under C.G.S. 21a-421m should reuse supplier RFP spreadsheets [ct-reraca-chapter-420h]. Centralize kWh, peak kW or kVA, and supply cost by account [ct-reraca-chapter-420h].
Procurement calendar for Connecticut operators
Mark January 1 and July 1 EnergizeCT Rate Board updates on every sub-500 kW account [energizect-rate-board-business]. Start supplier re-bids sixty days before contract expiry when fixed offers beat proposed Standard Service [energizect-rate-board-business]. Cultivation accounts above 500 kW should calendar Last Resort Service monthly reviews [energizect-rate-board-business]. Pair Section 21a-421m annual electricity reporting exports with the same CSV used for RFPs [ct-reraca-chapter-420h]. ISO-NE Forward Capacity Market charges flow through delivery regardless of supplier [energizect-rate-board-business]. Municipal utilities in Groton, Norwich, and Wallingford remain off the shopping market [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
Where to go next
Facility pages cover cultivation, extraction, dispensary, and multi-site load profiles. The switching guide and commercial rates pages carry tariff detail.
Connecticut guides by facility type
- Connecticut Cannabis Cultivation Energy: Manufacturer Rate Classes, Summer Humidity, and Standard Service
Connecticut indoor grow power: humid summers, Eversource Rate 56/58 demand, 500 kW LRS threshold, and a worked cost example at 19.62 cents/kWh.
- Connecticut Cannabis Extraction Energy: Process Loads, Flatter Profiles, and Eversource Rate Placement
Connecticut extraction and processing power: chillers, ovens, C1D1 ventilation, Eversource Rate 30-58 classes, and scheduling loads around TOU peaks.
- Connecticut Cannabis Dispensary Energy: Standard Service on Rate 30 and Coastal UI Territory
How Connecticut cannabis retailers are billed: Eversource Rate 30 small general service, UI Rate GS, six-month Standard Service supply, and retail HVAC loads.
- Connecticut Multi-Site Cannabis Operator Energy: Eversource vs. UI and the 500 kW LRS Line
Connecticut MSO energy strategy across Eversource and United Illuminating: Standard Service vs Last Resort Service, municipal exceptions, and renewal calendars.
- 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.
- Connecticut Commercial Electricity Rates for Cannabis Facilities: Standard Service, Eversource Classes, and ISO-NE
Connecticut commercial power at 19.62 cents/kWh vs U.S. average, Eversource Rate 30-58 demand charges, Standard Service at 11.229 cents/kWh, and LRS at 500 kW.
- 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.
- United Illuminating for Cannabis Facilities: Rate GS, GST Time-of-Use, and Coastal Retail Load
UI cannabis billing in 17 coastal CT towns: Rate GS/GST/LPT classes, Standard Service benchmarks, and PURA supply choice for retail and labs.
Where we work: 16 states plus Washington, D.C.
Every jurisdiction below has a licensed cannabis market and lets commercial customers choose their electricity supplier.
Frequently asked questions
Can every Connecticut cannabis facility shop for electricity supply?
Yes, if the account is on Eversource or United Illuminating. Municipal utility customers in towns like Groton, Norwich, and Wallingford do not have supplier choice. The account must be in the licensee's name.
What is Standard Service?
Standard Service is the utility-procured default generation rate for customers under 500 kW monthly demand, reset every January 1 and July 1 and posted on the EnergizeCT Rate Board. For July through December 2026 Eversource Rate 30 Standard Service is 11.229 cents/kWh.
How expensive is commercial power in Connecticut?
EIA reported Connecticut commercial electricity at 19.62 cents per kWh in June 2026, about 38 percent above the U.S. average of 14.19 cents. Industrial customers averaged 16.70 cents.
Does Connecticut require energy reporting for cannabis?
Yes. C.G.S. Section 21a-421m requires cannabis establishments to file an annual report on electricity usage with the state. Connecticut has not adopted a Massachusetts-style lighting power density cap in statute.
What happens at 500 kW demand?
Customers with monthly demand of 500 kW or more are not on Standard Service. They take Last Resort Service, purchased quarterly and priced monthly, so default supply floats with the market.
How many licensed facilities operate in Connecticut?
DCP's credential count dataset shows 27 cultivation credentials, 13 processing credentials, and 80 retail credentials as of September 11, 2026, combining active and active-by-provisional statuses.
Related reading
- Connecticut Cannabis Cultivation Energy: Manufacturer Rate Classes, Summer Humidity, and Standard Service
Connecticut indoor grow power: humid summers, Eversource Rate 56/58 demand, 500 kW LRS threshold, and a worked cost example at 19.62 cents/kWh.
- Connecticut Cannabis Extraction Energy: Process Loads, Flatter Profiles, and Eversource Rate Placement
Connecticut extraction and processing power: chillers, ovens, C1D1 ventilation, Eversource Rate 30-58 classes, and scheduling loads around TOU peaks.
- Connecticut Cannabis Dispensary Energy: Standard Service on Rate 30 and Coastal UI Territory
How Connecticut cannabis retailers are billed: Eversource Rate 30 small general service, UI Rate GS, six-month Standard Service supply, and retail HVAC loads.
- Connecticut Multi-Site Cannabis Operator Energy: Eversource vs. UI and the 500 kW LRS Line
Connecticut MSO energy strategy across Eversource and United Illuminating: Standard Service vs Last Resort Service, municipal exceptions, and renewal calendars.
- 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.
- Connecticut Commercial Electricity Rates for Cannabis Facilities: Standard Service, Eversource Classes, and ISO-NE
Connecticut commercial power at 19.62 cents/kWh vs U.S. average, Eversource Rate 30-58 demand charges, Standard Service at 11.229 cents/kWh, and LRS at 500 kW.
- 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.
- United Illuminating for Cannabis Facilities: Rate GS, GST Time-of-Use, and Coastal Retail Load
UI cannabis billing in 17 coastal CT towns: Rate GS/GST/LPT classes, Standard Service benchmarks, and PURA supply choice for retail and labs.
- What Is Energy Deregulation? How Electricity Choice Works for Commercial Customers
How deregulation splits supply from delivery, who gets to choose a supplier, what the utility still does, and where cannabis businesses can shop in 17 markets.
- Demand Charges Explained for Cannabis Cultivators
What a demand charge is, how utilities measure peak kW in 15- or 30-minute windows, why grow rooms get hit hard, how ratchets work, and a worked example.
- Massachusetts Cannabis Cultivation Energy: Lighting Caps, Winter Heat Loss, and Eversource G-2 Demand
Massachusetts indoor grow power: 935 CMR 500.120 lighting limits, 6,132 HDD climate, utility demand classes, and a worked cost example.
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 [eia-epm-5-6-a], refer to the entries below. Links open the primary source in a new tab.
- [eia-epm-5-6-a]Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, June 2026 and June 2025 — U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [ct-credential-count]Cannabis Credential Count (open dataset, rows updated September 11, 2026) — Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection via Connecticut Open Data. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [ct-pura-choose-supplier]Choose a Supplier: Information for Customers — Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [energizect-rate-board-business]Rate Board: Business Generation Rates (Eversource and United Illuminating Standard Service 2024-2026 and supplier-billed rates under PURA Docket 06-10-22) — EnergizeCT / Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [ct-reraca-chapter-420h]Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 420h: Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis (P.A. 21-1, June Special Session) — Connecticut General Assembly. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [eversource-ct-rates-2026]Summary of Connecticut Electric Rates, last updated May 1, 2026 — Eversource Energy (The Connecticut Light and Power Company). Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [noaa-cag-connecticut]Climate at a Glance: Connecticut statewide heating and cooling degree days, 1991-2020 base period averages — NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [energizect-energy-opportunities]Energy Opportunities for Business Facilities — EnergizeCT (Eversource and United Illuminating). Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [ct-green-bank-cpace]C-PACE: Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy — Connecticut Green Bank. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [ecm-ct-pa-25-173]Regulator Opens Docket For Default Service Procurement Changes After Governor Signs New Law (Public Act 25-173, PURA Docket 12-06-02RE04) — EnergyChoiceMatters.com. Accessed 2026-09-11.