Connecticut Residents Can Use 'Clean Power' while Sticking with Current Company

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Electricity customers can stay with their current power companies and still sign up for "green power" under a final decision by the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control released Wednesday.

Oct. 21—Electricity customers can stay with their current power companies and still sign up for "green power" under a final decision by the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control released Wednesday.


"Clean power," as the state calls it, will come from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric and garbage-burning.


Beginning in 2005, consumers may sign up for 50 percent or 100 percent of their electricity to be generated by clean power sources, but they will pay more for that portion of their power supply.


"Until suppliers are selected, we won't know the price," said Derek Murrow, director of policy analysis at Environment Northeast's New Haven office.


State officials hope to have clean power suppliers lined up by year's end. They will be selected from the New England or mid-Atlantic states.


"Connecticut consumers have expressed a desire for more electricity options and for cleaner power. This program offers them both. It also brings companies into the state and spurs the development of a competitive electricity market," said Anne C. George, lead state commissioner in the case.


The electric utilities will assist by enclosing marketing fliers from clean power suppliers in electric bills and posting information on their company Web sites.


© 2004, New Haven Register, Conn. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.