United Illuminating for Cannabis Facilities: Rate GS, GST Time-of-Use, and Coastal Retail Load
United Illuminating serves 17 towns along the coast around New Haven and Bridgeport, the smaller of Connecticut's two IOUs. Cannabis retail clusters here; few cultivators sit in the coastal strip. Business classes are Rate GS, Rate GST time-of-use, and Rate LPT large power time-of-use. Standard Service supply resets every January and July for accounts under 500 kW.
Service area
United Illuminating (UI, an Avangrid company) serves 17 towns along the coast around New Haven and Bridgeport [ui-pricing]. It is the smaller of Connecticut's two investor-owned utilities [ui-pricing]. Hybrid medical retailers and new adult-use stores cluster in this corridor [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
All UI customers may shop PURA-licensed suppliers [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
Business rate classes
| Rate | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rate GS | General Service | Standard Service for accounts under 500 kW [ui-pricing] |
| Rate GST | General Service time-of-use | Peak 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays [ui-pricing] |
| Rate LPT | Large Power time-of-use | Peak 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays [ui-pricing] |
Per-kW distribution and transmission demand for GS/GST/LPT should be read from the Schedule of Rates and Riders effective September 1, 2026 linked from the UI pricing page [ui-pricing].
Standard Service benchmarks
UI Standard Service is set by competitive bid for six-month terms (January-June and July-December) [ui-pricing]. For July through December 2026 [energizect-rate-board-business]:
| Rate | Standard Service |
|---|---|
| Rate GS | 11.9022 cents/kWh |
| Rate GST peak | 13.9333 cents/kWh |
| Rate GST off-peak | 10.9333 cents/kWh |
Source: EnergizeCT Rate Board [energizect-rate-board-business].
Supply choice interaction
Under consolidated billing, UI delivers power and bills supplier charges [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. Delivery demand and riders stay when you switch. Compare supplier offers against the Rate Board line for your rate class [energizect-rate-board-business].
Accounts at 500 kW and above take Last Resort Service priced monthly [ui-pricing].
Retail load profile
Coastal dispensaries draw HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting load with peak demand usually under 100 kW. Supply savings from beating 11.9022 cents/kWh Standard Service matter more than demand management for typical stores [energizect-rate-board-business].
Efficiency
EnergizeCT Energy Opportunities runs through UI as a program sponsor [energizect-energy-opportunities]. Incentives apply regardless of supply choice [energizect-energy-opportunities].
GST time-of-use vs flat GS
Rate GST Standard Service peak is 13.9333 cents/kWh and off-peak 10.9333 cents/kWh for July through December 2026 [energizect-rate-board-business]. Stores with heavy overnight security and refrigeration load may favor GST; high daytime HVAC stores may not [ui-pricing]. Pull interval data before choosing GST default supply or a flat supplier contract [ui-pricing].
Coastal summer peaks
Connecticut averages 607 cooling degree days with UI territory seeing humid summers [noaa-cag-connecticut]. August kWh on Rate GS often tracks HVAC [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Supplier fixed contracts hedge January and July Standard Service resets [energizect-rate-board-business].
MSO note: two benchmarks
Portfolio operators with UI coastal retail and Eversource inland cultivation manage two Standard Service benchmarks (11.9022 vs 11.229 cents/kWh for Jul-Dec 2026) and two TOU peak definitions [energizect-rate-board-business] [eversource-ct-rates-2026]. Do not assume one portfolio kWh price [energizect-rate-board-business].
Dispensary worked example on Rate GS
Assume a New Haven hybrid retailer on UI Rate GS with 68 kW peak and 78,000 kWh per year (inputs):
| Line item | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Standard Service supply Jul-Dec 2026 | 78,000 x $0.119022 = $9,284/year [energizect-rate-board-business] |
| All-in at CT commercial average | 78,000 x $0.1962 = $15,304/year [eia-epm-5-6-a] |
Beating Standard Service by 1.5 cents/kWh saves $1,170 per year on supply (assumed). Pull per-kW demand from the September 2026 rate schedule before modeling delivery [ui-pricing].
Last Resort Service at UI above 500 kW
Large power accounts on Rate LPT with monthly demand of 500 kW or more take Last Resort Service priced monthly instead of six-month Standard Service [ui-pricing]. Coastal processing labs with batch chillers should monitor peak intervals before crossing the threshold [ui-pricing]. Compare fixed supplier contracts against trailing Last Resort Service cost, not the flat Rate GS benchmark [energizect-rate-board-business].
PURA enrollment and consolidated billing
PURA-licensed suppliers enroll UI accounts on consolidated billing in most commercial cases [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. The utility continues to bill delivery demand and riders; only the generation supply line changes [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. Supplier rates for business customers appear on the EnergizeCT Rate Board under Docket 06-10-22 filings [energizect-rate-board-business].
Comparison to inland Eversource sites
Portfolio operators with UI coastal retail and Eversource inland cultivation manage two Standard Service benchmarks and two TOU peak definitions [energizect-rate-board-business] [eversource-ct-rates-2026]. Eversource Rate 30 Standard Service is 11.229 cents/kWh versus UI Rate GS at 11.9022 cents/kWh for July through December 2026 [energizect-rate-board-business]. Manufacturer classification on Eversource Rates 55/57 does not apply on UI; UI uses GS, GST, and LPT classes only [ui-pricing].
Winter heating and summer cooling on the coast
Connecticut averages 607 cooling degree days with UI territory moderated by Long Island Sound [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Summer dew points along the coast push HVAC and dehumidification load in August [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Standard Service resets every January and July; coastal stores see higher summer kWh even when peak kW stays modest [energizect-rate-board-business]. Fixed supplier contracts hedge both resets [energizect-rate-board-business].
Coastal humidity and retail HVAC
UI territory shares Connecticut's 607 cooling degree days [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Coastal stores see higher latent load from Long Island Sound moisture [noaa-cag-connecticut]. August kWh on Rate GS is often HVAC-driven [noaa-cag-connecticut]. GST peak hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. align with retail hours [ui-pricing], so TOU Standard Service is not automatically cheaper than flat GS [energizect-rate-board-business].
UI vs Eversource benchmarks for MSOs
July through December 2026 UI Rate GS Standard Service is 11.9022 cents/kWh versus Eversource 11.229 cents/kWh on Rate 30 and 35 [energizect-rate-board-business]. Portfolio bids must be account-specific [energizect-rate-board-business]. Read LPT demand from September 1, 2026 rate sheets before quoting large coastal industrial load [ui-pricing].
Coastal humidity and retail HVAC peaks
UI territory shares Connecticut's 607 cooling degree days [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Coastal stores see higher latent load from Long Island Sound moisture [noaa-cag-connecticut]. August kWh on Rate GS is often HVAC-driven [noaa-cag-connecticut]. GST peak hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. align with retail hours [ui-pricing], so TOU Standard Service is not automatically cheaper than flat GS [energizect-rate-board-business].
UI versus Eversource benchmarks for MSOs
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]. Portfolio bids must be account-specific [energizect-rate-board-business]. Read LPT demand from September 1, 2026 rate sheets before quoting large coastal industrial load [ui-pricing].
Avangrid billing and enrollment
United Illuminating is an Avangrid company [ui-pricing]. Supplier enrollment and consolidated billing follow PURA rules identical in structure to Eversource but with UI account formats [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. Keep UI account numbers in the supplier contract appendix [ui-pricing].
Rate GS delivery demand sheets
Read per-kW GS, GST, and LPT demand charges from UI Schedule of Rates effective September 1, 2026 before budgeting [ui-pricing]. Supplier quotes replace Standard Service supply only [energizect-rate-board-business]. Compare UI July through December 2026 Standard Service 11.9022 cents/kWh to Eversource 11.229 cents when siting competing stores [energizect-rate-board-business].
New Haven lab and retail mix
UI territory hosts fewer cultivators but more coastal retail and small labs [ct-credential-count]. Energy Opportunities covers UI customers with the same process as Eversource accounts [energizect-energy-opportunities].
Additional procurement and tariff notes
UI serves seventeen coastal towns around New Haven and Bridgeport [ui-pricing]. Fewer cultivators sit in UI territory than Eversource, but retail concentration is high [ct-credential-count].
Additional load and utility notes
Rate GST Standard Service peak and off-peak spreads require hour-by-hour load splits before enrollment [energizect-rate-board-business]. Security and refrigeration overnight contribute off-peak kWh [ui-pricing].
Additional load and utility notes
Read GS, GST, and LPT demand charges from September 1, 2026 Schedule of Rates [ui-pricing]. Supplier enrollment uses UI account number formats [ui-pricing].
Additional load and utility notes
Coastal summer humidity at 607 statewide cooling degree days drives HVAC kWh [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Compare total delivered cost when siting UI versus Eversource stores [eia-epm-5-6-a].
GST versus GS enrollment decision
Run hour-by-hour kWh split before choosing GST time-of-use Standard Service [energizect-rate-board-business]. Flat supplier contracts hedge Standard Service resets but not UI delivery demand [ui-pricing]. Coastal stores should budget August HVAC using trailing twelve-month kWh [noaa-cag-connecticut].
Coastal HVAC and GST peak overlap
UI GST peak hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. overlap retail hours and partial cultivation veg schedules [ui-pricing]. Summer dew points along Long Island Sound elevate latent load at 607 statewide cooling degree days [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Compare GST Standard Service peak and off-peak spreads to flat supplier offers using store interval data [energizect-rate-board-business]. LPT accounts need demand values from September 1, 2026 schedules [ui-pricing].
Supplemental tariff and procurement detail
Avangrid ownership does not change PURA supplier enrollment mechanics [ui-pricing] [ct-pura-choose-supplier]. Keep UI account numbers in contract appendices and reconcile consolidated supply lines monthly [ct-pura-choose-supplier].
UI coastal retail procurement
Seventeen-town UI territory concentrates hybrid retailers near New Haven and Bridgeport [ct-credential-count]. GST time-of-use Standard Service peak hours overlap store hours; interval data determines whether TOU default beats flat supplier offers [energizect-rate-board-business] [ui-pricing]. Read GS, GST, and LPT demand from September 1, 2026 schedules [ui-pricing].
UI enrollment checklist
Confirm Rate GS versus GST class on the bill header before supplier enrollment [ui-pricing]. July through December 2026 UI Standard Service is 11.9022 cents/kWh [energizect-rate-board-business]. Coastal summer HVAC peaks should use trailing twelve-month kWh [noaa-cag-connecticut]. Per-kW GS demand requires September 1, 2026 rate sheets [ui-pricing].
Where to go next
Eversource Connecticut, dispensary retail energy, switching guide, commercial rates, and utility rate classes explained.
Frequently asked questions
Where does United Illuminating serve?
17 towns along the coast around New Haven and Bridgeport. It is the smaller Connecticut IOU.
What UI rate do dispensaries use?
Most stores land on Rate GS General Service under 500 kW. Larger accounts may use Rate GST time-of-use or Rate LPT large power time-of-use.
What are GST peak hours?
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays for Rate GST and Rate LPT per the UI pricing page.
What is UI Standard Service for July through December 2026?
Rate GS Standard Service is 11.9022 cents/kWh. Rate GST peak is 13.9333 cents/kWh and off-peak 10.9333 cents/kWh on the EnergizeCT Rate Board.
When does Last Resort Service apply at UI?
Customers with monthly demand of 500 kW or more take Last Resort Service priced monthly instead of Standard Service.
Where are per-kW demand charges listed?
Read distribution and transmission demand from UI Schedule of Rates and Riders effective September 1, 2026 linked from the pricing page.
Related reading
- Connecticut Cannabis Energy: PURA Retail Choice, Standard Service, and DCP-Licensed Facilities
Connecticut cannabis power: PURA choice on Eversource and UI, Standard Service benchmarks, and 19.62 cents/kWh commercial average.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Utility Rate Classes Explained: Small Commercial, Large Commercial, C&I
How utilities assign small, large, and C&I rate classes by peak kW, why the wrong class costs money, real tariff examples, and how to request a class review.
- Illustrative Case: Stamford Dispensary Audits Eversource Rate 30 Before Standard Service Resets
Illustrative Eversource dispensary example: Rate 30 demand charges, Standard Service at 11.229 cents/kWh, and delivery vs supply split before July reset.
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 [ui-pricing], refer to the entries below. Links open the primary source in a new tab.
- [ui-pricing]Pricing: UI Rates and Riders, Standard Service and Last Resort generation rates — The United Illuminating Company. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [energizect-rate-board-business]Rate Board: Business Generation Rates — EnergizeCT / PURA. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [ct-pura-choose-supplier]Choose a Supplier: Information for Customers — Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [energizect-energy-opportunities]Energy Opportunities for Business Facilities — EnergizeCT. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [noaa-cag-connecticut]Climate at a Glance: Connecticut statewide HDD and CDD — NOAA NCEI. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [eversource-ct-rates-2026]Summary of Connecticut Electric Rates, last updated May 1, 2026 — Eversource Energy. Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [eia-epm-5-6-a]Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A — U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed 2026-09-11.