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UTILITY COSTS PUSH USERS TO THEIR LIMITS

Conservation efforts not enough

Sheila Burke,

AARP

Published May 01, 2026

Woman sits at table perusing high utility bills

Getty Images

When Shawnee Baldwin opened her electric bill last winter, the number stopped her cold: $900.75 for service from Dec. 23, 2025, to Jan. 27, 2026.

She heats her four-bedroom home with electricity. Even after years of trying to cut usage—energy audits, shutting doors, disconnecting plugs and skipping air conditioning—she says winter bills have become “heart-stopping” to face.

“I’ve done everything I could possibly do to bring that bill down, but I can’t do anything about their pricing,” says Baldwin, 71, who lives in Glastonbury near Hartford and works part-time at an after-school day care program.

She also volunteers with AARP Connecticut, where utility costs have become a constant topic—a growing source of anxiety for residents who feel like they’re already doing everything they can.

That’s the tension at the center of Connecticut’s utility debate: Individual conservation only goes so far when rates climb. That’s why AARP Connecticut is preparing for another round of high-stakes regulatory battles aimed at limiting increases and strengthening consumer protections—while urging residents to speak up before decisions are made.

And now Eversource, the state’s largest electric distribution utility, is widely expected to seek a significant delivery-rate increase this summer. If that happens, AARP Connecticut says it will work to ensure that members’ voices and objections are heard while regulators review the proposal.

Connecticut has long ranked among the nation’s highest-cost states for electricity, according to a recent state legislative research report. But it’s not just the cost of electricity that is clobbering consumers. Connecticut ranks among the top states in the nation for home heating oil costs, according to Hartford-based nonprofit CTData. As many as 35 percent of households in the Constitution State are dependent on it—nearly nine times the national average of 4 percent.

Natural gas customers also pay above-average rates, according to the nonprofit Connecticut Business and Industry Association. That’s a consequence of the state’s limited pipeline infrastructure. In January 2026, AARP’s Vital Voices survey found that 70 percent of Connecticut residents age 45 and older say elected officials aren’t doing enough to keep utility bills affordable, and 92 percent say state leaders should prioritize utility rates and regulatory changes that benefit consumers.

The strain is also showing up in requests for emergency help. Brittany Bergstrom, chief program officer at Generation Power CT, says the nonprofit’s emergency energy assistance program supported more than 5,600 households in fiscal 2025, providing more than $2.6 million in assistance. Demand has remained high this fiscal year, she says. In fiscal 2026, Generation Power CT received nearly 5,000 requests for help in about 27 days, with electricity assistance representing a growing share of requests. Because of the increased demand, the nonprofit has had to limit the number of days it accepts applications for assistance.

ADVOCATING FOR MEMBERS

Because many older residents are struggling with these rising costs, AARP Connecticut advocates on behalf of its roughly 550,000 members across the state, says John Erlingheuser, senior director of advocacy. Members, he says, expect AARP to fight for them on pocketbook issues like utility costs.

Erlingheuser says AARP Connecticut plans to participate in upcoming proceedings at the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority by monitoring filings, mobilizing public participation and submitting expert testimony and other evidence aimed at limiting increases and strengthening protections.

Connecticut’s consumer watchdog, the Office of Consumer Counsel, says a major proceeding is likely on the horizon. Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman says Eversource, which delivers electricity to about 80 percent of the state, is expected to file a “large application” for a delivery-rate increase.

Jamie Ratliff, a spokeswoman for Eversource, did not respond to an email and a voicemail seeking comment.

Eversource has sought delivery-rate increases before, Coleman says, but it hasn’t had a full delivery-rate case since 2018, which resulted in a settlement. Delivery charges reflect how electricity gets to homes.

Coleman says her office intends to scrutinize any request and press to ensure an increase reflects actual costs, aligns with state policy priorities and accounts for the impact on ratepayers. Any request would be filed before the state’s regulatory authority. From the date a case is filed, Coleman says, the process typically takes roughly a year before any approved increase shows up in customers’ bills. Coleman and Erlingheuser say public comments matter; residents can share their stories on utility costs at action.aarp.org/lowerratesct.

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Lower your winter energy bill—and where to get help

Set the thermostat back when you’re asleep or away; this can save up to 10 percent a year.
Seal leaks with caulk/weatherstripping; cover drafty windows with clear plastic film and use insulating drapes/shades.
Call your utility: Ask about payment plans, discount rates and any medical protections.
Need help? Dial 211 to see if you qualify for assistance. Generation Power CT may assist households up to 75 percent of state median income—about $59,705 (1 person) or $114,818 (family of 4).

Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Generation Power CT.

Sheila Burke is a Nashville-based freelance writer for AARP Tennessee whose articles for the AARP Bulletin and AARP States cover caregiving, fraud and scams, housing, natural disaster preparedness, advocacy, and other issues affecting older adults, and she has lived and worked in Nashville for many years.