Hardship Accounts and Electric Suppliers

Information for Medical Protection or Financial Hardship Accounts regarding Retail Electric Suppliers

As of July 1, 2020, The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has implemented new regulations to protect accounts coded with Medical protection or Financial hardship protection from paying higher electric rates. Medical protection or Financial hardship coded accounts must remain on UI’s Standard Service rate.

Why will I be paying the Standard Service rate and not the retail electric supplier rate I chose?
In many instances, customers are signing retail electric service contracts without realizing their rate can increase over time. Research shows customers with Medical protection or Financial hardship coded accounts who participate with a retail electric supplier pay, on average, more for their electric service than the Standard Service rate UI offers.

I currently have a contract with an electric supplier. What does that mean for me?
To comply with PURA’s requirement, your account currently enrolled with a retail electric supplier will be transferred to the Standard Service rate before July 1, 2020.

Your contract with your electric supplier will be canceled and under this new requirement, your retail electric supplier cannot charge early termination penalties or any other fees. You should only be charged for the electricity you receive from the retail supplier — and only up to the date your account is transferred to UI’s Standard Service rate.

I recently signed a contract with my electric supplier. Will my pending enrollment still be suspended?
Yes. PURA’s new requirement immediately suspends your enrollment and cancels your contract with the retail electric supplier because your account is coded as Medical protection or Financial hardship.  Your electric supplier cannot charge early termination penalties or any other fees. Since your enrollment is being suspended, no early termination penalties apply.

What if my account status changes and my account is no longer coded as Medical protection or Financial hardship?
If the Medical protection or Financial hardship code is removed from your account, you may again participate with the retail electric supplier of your choice.

Can I opt-out of a hardship status so I can choose a different supplier? 
Yes, you can find the form to fill out and send back to us here. Please read the letter to understand your options before you fill out the form.