Rising electricity costs are something that New Haven residents are all too familiar with. Just this year, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved a $68 million increase in profits for United Illuminating (UI), with rates expected to increase on July 1st. This will create a $15 increase in monthly delivery charges for the average household.
Connecticut families can combat this. With a Home Energy Solutions℠ assessment and Energize Connecticut℠ rebates, you can protect your home from rising rates. Learn how to get started with this program.
Start with a Home Energy Solutions Visit
Energy-saving home improvements are your line of defense against the United Illuminating rate increase in July 2026. Air leaks, duct leaks, and poor insulation can all cause your home to lose a significant amount of the heating and cooling that you pay for. If you rely on electricity for either, you will feel changes to the UI delivery charge vs the supply rate in 2026.
A Home Energy Solutions assessment, conducted by the New England Smart Energy Group, helps you identify areas of improvement in your home. For a small co-pay (or for no cost for income-eligible households), we do a blower door and duct leakage test to spot air leaks in your home. Combined, the services included in our Home Energy Solutions visit save households an average of $70-$100 per year.
Most importantly, a Home Energy Solutions assessment is a requirement for your household to be eligible for Energize CT rebates.
Utilize Energize CT in 2026
Intentional home upgrades can help you save energy and reduce electricity consumption. This can help you directly offset UI’s rate increase. With Energize CT, households can receive rebates for a variety of energy-saving improvements. This program is funded through your United Illuminating public benefits charge in 2026, so you should use it! Income-eligible households can receive additional incentives or no-cost services through the Home Energy Solutions Income-Eligible program. These services can include:
- Insulation: Improving or adding insulation can help you contain your heated and cooled air for longer, reducing the amount of time your HVAC system needs to run, and reducing utility costs.
- Heating and Cooling Systems: An energy efficient furnace, boiler, or AC replacement can significantly offset UI’s rising electricity rates. A heat pump installation is even more efficient. Plus, Energize CT provides ductless mini split rebates in Connecticut in 2026.
- Water Heaters: Upgrading your existing water heater with an energy-efficient replacement like a heat pump water heater or an on-demand water heater can reduce energy costs further.
Why You Should Apply This Spring
With summer heat just around the corner, many people are going to start using their air conditioning more and realize how expensive it is. Once UI’s rate changes kick into effect, people will feel the additional cost and look towards energy-saving services to counteract it. To get ahead of this demand, it’s best to apply now.
New England Smart Energy Group is an authorized contractor for Energize CT, and we can conduct the Home Energy Solutions visit that you need to qualify for rebates. Additionally, we are a team of BPI-certified professionals who can provide all the home improvement upgrades you need to protect yourself against UI’s expensive electricity rates.
