Personal Finance
Connecticut Utility Bills Among Nation's Highest
You just got your power turned back on, congratulations! Now figure out how to pay for it...
CONNECTICUT — As residents of neighboring states flee their homes to put down new roots in the Nutmeg State where the coronavirus is better managed, they're in for a shock when the utility bills start to arrive.
That's the conclusion of a new report from the relocation experts at Move.org.
Only Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia have higher utility bills than Connecticut on the average.
Find out what's happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The researchers ranked states on their residents' combined average bills for electricity, water, natural gas, internet and cable. The average American pays $398.25 a month for those services, whereas the average Connecticut resident forks over $440.03, the sixth highest collective utility bill in the country.
Connecticut is the highest-ranking northern state on the list not because of any special weather considerations or thermodynamics issues. It's just that electricity is more expensive in Connecticut than it is in most other states, according to the report. In fact, electricity bills are more expensive on the East Coast, period, likely contributing to the placement of seven of those states in the top ten of the most expensive utilities list.
Find out what's happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
| Rank | State | Electricity | Natural gas | Water | Internet | Cable | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $149.33 | $223.07 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $587.79 |
| 2 | Florida | $126.44 | $117.57 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $459.40 |
| 3 | South Carolina | $140.80 | $94.32 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $450.51 |
| 4 | Alabama | $142.55 | $90.79 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $448.73 |
| 5 | Georgia | $126.38 | $99.33 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $441.10 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $139.97 | $84.67 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $440.03 |
| 7 | Arizona | $128.40 | $87.28 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $431.07 |
| 8 | Delaware | $121.73 | $83.41 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $420.53 |
| 9 | Maryland | $131.16 | $73.95 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $420.50 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $114.95 | $88.83 | $70.39 | $60.00 | $85.00 | $419.17 |
Don't believe what you saw on "Breaking Bad:" It's not that difficult to pay the bills in New Mexico, which has the lowest cost of utilities with an average of $344.55, according to the report. New Mexicans pay the least in the land for their electricity, as well
So your utility bill's through the roof. Is there anything to be done, other moving to The Land of Enchantment? Move.org recommends a few ways to save money on your utility bills every month:
- Replace your old thermostat with a smart thermostat.
- Swap out your light bulbs with energy-efficient replacements.
- Replace your curtains with insulated curtains.
- Unplug all your electronics when you’re not using them.
- Get solar panels for your house.
- Replace your water heater if it’s more than 10 years old.
- Replace your furnace’s air filter once every three months.
- Use less water for tasks like showering and brushing your teeth.
You shouldn't ignore the energy savings/efficiency programs offered by your utility, either. They represent some of the best ways to save money on electric bills, and are usually only a phone call away.
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