Energy policy in Connecticut, 2009-2017

in Connecticut

Fiscal Budgets Connecticut state budget and finances Tax policy in Connecticut Finance Financial regulation in Connecticut Pensions Public pensions in Connecticut Pension health in Connecticut Civil liberties Affirmative action in Connecticut Campaign finance requirements in Connecticut Campaign finance requirements for Connecticut ballot measures Nonprofit regulation in Connecticut Education Charter schools in Connecticut Higher education in Connecticut Public education in Connecticut School choice in Connecticut Elections Ballot access Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Connecticut Ballot access requirements for political parties in Connecticut Political parties in Connecticut Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Connecticut Redistricting in Connecticut Voting in Connecticut Energy and Environment Energy policy in Connecticut Fracking in Connecticut Oil and gas extraction on federal land in Connecticut Endangered species in Connecticut Environmental policy in Connecticut Healthcare Healthcare policy in Connecticut Medicaid spending in Connecticut Effect of the Affordable Care Act in Connecticut Immigration Immigration in Connecticut

---

This article does not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

---

Fracking in the U.S.
Energy policy in the U.S.
State fracking policy
State energy policy
Glossary of energy terms

Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

This article outlines state-level oil and gas regulations, renewable energy requirements, and energy efficiency standards in Connecticut.

See the tabs below for further information:

1. Policy: This tab provides information about state regulations on energy production and policies related to oil and gas production, fracking, renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, and net metering.
2. Production: This tab provides information about total energy production by energy source in Connecticut.
3. Usage: This tab presents information about electricity consumption by energy source.
4. Prices and taxes: This tab presents information about average energy and electricity prices, per capita spending on energy, and fuel taxes.
5. Utilities: This tab presents information about public and private utilities, electricity markets, the types of utilities in Connecticut, and the electric reliability organizations in Connecticut.
6. Background: This tab provides information about the types of nonrenewable and renewable energy sources produced and used in the United States, an energy profile of Connecticut, a state profile of Connecticut from the Almanac of American Politics (2016), and economic indicators in the state, such as median income.

Policy

State regulations

As of 2015, Connecticut did not have proven crude oil or natural gas reserves, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. As such, the state did not have rules and regulations governing oil and gas production in Connecticut.

Fracking

See also: Fracking in Connecticut

Connecticut had no oil or natural gas reserves as of 2015 and thus no hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) occurred in the state, though the state legislature enacted laws related to the storage of fluids related to fracking.

In May 2014. the Connecticut General Assembly approved SB 237, which prohibited the storage and/or disposal of fracking waste in Connecticut pending the development of regulations by the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The deadline for drafting these regulations was July 1, 2017.^[1][2]

SB 237 passed the state senate on May 6, 2014, with 35 yes votes (one member did not vote). On May 7, 2014, the state house passed the bill with 74 yes votes and 19 no votes (four members did not vote). Governor Dannel Malloy (D) signed the bill into law on June 12, 2014.^[1][2]

Renewable energy policies

States have implemented funding and financial incentive programs to subsidize or otherwise increase investment in renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. These programs include renewable portfolio standards, grants, rebate programs, tax incentives, loans, performance-based incentives, and more. The aim of the policies generally involves reducing the cost of renewable energy production for consumers, reducing regulatory compliance costs, reducing investment risks involving renewable energy, and/or increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources by individuals and businesses.^[3]

Renewable Portfolio Standard

See also: Renewable Portfolio Standard

A Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), also known as a renewable electricity standard, is a mandate intended to increase the amount of renewable energy production and use. Under these standards, a utility company can be required by a state to have a certain percentage of its electricity come from certain renewable energy resources. In addition, states may give tax credits to utility companies to fulfill these requirements.^[4][5]

As of February 2017, Connecticut was one of 30 states with a Renewable Portfolio Standard. The Connecticut State Legislature enacted the standard in 1998 and revised it in subsequent years. The standard required each electricity supplier and each electric distribution wholesale supplier to generate at least 23 percent of its retail load from renewable energy sources by January 1, 2020. The standard also required these suppliers to obtain at least 4 percent of its retail load from combined heat and power systems by the year 2010.^[6][7][8]

Portfolio standards are established for three types of resources: Class I resources include electricity generated from solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, landfill methane gas, wave power, biomass facilities that meet certain emissions requirements, and river-dependent hydroelectric power facilities with less than 30 megawatts (MW) in generating capacity. Class II resources include biomass facilities excluded from Class I, and Class III resources include commercial and industrial facilities with combined heat and power systems and systems that re-use heat or pressure produced by commercial and industrial processes.^[6][7][8]

The standard's requirements can be met by purchasing electricity generated by Class I or Class II resources. Utilities are required to procure a particular amount of renewable energy credits (RECs) to show compliance with the standard. REC trades and purchases are tracked by the state government.^[6][7][8]

Grant and loan programs

States, nonprofit organizations, and/or private utilities may operate grant programs for renewable energy. These programs may include state or private funding for energy installation costs, research and development, infrastructure and business development, system testing, and renewable energy feasibility studies (studies that look into the potential for renewable energy use in specific areas). Grants can be provided with or without requiring a recipient to match the grant. Additional incentives, such as lower interest loans, may be included with a grant.^[3]

See the map below for grant programs by state.^[3]

Loan programs may be used to offer lower interest loans or other financing options to individuals and businesses to reduce the upfront costs of purchasing and installing renewable energy technologies. Loan programs may include programs that use payments from earlier borrowers to provide loans for new borrowers, programs in which building owners reduce their energy consumption to pay their upfront costs for renewable energy technologies, and programs that allow individuals with a higher debt-to-income ratio to purchase homes that use less energy, among others.^[3]

See the map below for renewable energy loan programs by state.

Connecticut Green Bank

The Connecticut Green Bank (CGB) was established by the Connecticut State Legislature in 2011. A green bank, which is an independent, state-level financing authority, is capitalized by the state government. The program involves raising private capital to fund renewable energy projects. The CGB creates its own financial products and markets them to end-use consumers of energy. The bank was established in order to reduce the use of state grants and rebates and to increase the use of other financing options for renewable energy development. The program includes loan and incentive programs for residential, commercial, and municipal houses and facilities. A list of the bank's programs can be found here.^[3][6][9]

A complete list of all state, local, and private incentive, loan, grant, and assistance programs for renewable energy and energy efficiency in Connecticut can be found here.

Energy efficiency regulations

As of February 2017, Connecticut required new residential and commercial buildings to meet energy efficiency standards. Public Act 09-192, which was enacted in 2009, requires new residential and commercial buildings to meet energy efficiency standards outlined the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.^[6][10]

Net metering

Net metering is a billing system in which customers who generate their own electricity, usually using renewable sources (such as solar panels) are able to sell their excess electricity back to the electric grid, which is an interconnected network that is used to deliver electricity. This requires electricity to be able to flow both to and from a consumer.^[11][12][13]

As of October 2016, Connecticut was one of 41 states with a statewide net metering policy. The state's two investor-owned utilities—Connecticut Light and Power Company and United Illuminating Company—must provide net metering to customers that generate electricity (up to two megawatts in capacity) from solar energy, wind energy, landfill methane gas, wave power, biomass, and hydroelectric power.^[14][15]

For a complete list of net metering programs by state, click here.^[6][16]

Recent legislation

The following is a list of recent energy policy bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Connecticut State Legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Ballot measures

Energy policy ballot measures

See also: Energy on the ballot and List of Connecticut ballot measures

Ballotpedia has not covered any ballot measures relating to state and local energy policy in Connecticut.

Utility policy ballot measures

See also: Local utility tax and fees on the ballot

Ballotpedia has not covered any ballot measures relating to local utility tax and fees in Connecticut.

Production

The sections below include statistics on total energy production in Connecticut, oil and natural gas production in Connecticut, oil and gas production in Connecticut over time (2004-2014), and oil and gas production on federal land, including the amount of federal land leased in Connecticut for production.

Total energy production

The table below provides information regarding energy production in Connecticut in British thermal units (Btu). A British thermal unit is used to measure the heat contained in different fuels. The U.S. Department of Energy defines a Btu as "the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of liquid water by 1 degree Fahrenheit." Fuels are discussed in terms of Btu to compare fuels with different energy content and prices. For example, one gallon of gasoline equals 120,524 Btu.^[17]

Energy production, 2014 (in billion Btu)
State	Biomass	Coal	Crude oil	Nuclear energy	Natural gas	Renewable	Total*
Connecticut	0	0	0	165,677	0	31,594	197,271
Massachusetts	0	0	0	60,340	0	64,332	124,672
New Hampshire	0	0	0	106,350	0	54,683	161,033
Rhode Island	0	0	0	0	0	4,304	4,304
U.S. average	38,759	404,181	307,301	160,980	585,731	187,132	1,684,085
*Total figures were computed by Ballotpedia. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Nonrenewable energy production

The table below provides information regarding nonrenewable energy production in Connecticut. For coal data, the phrase productive capacity refers to the maximum amount of coal that could be expected to be produced in 2014. The natural gas and crude oil production data refer to the amounts of natural gas and crude oil produced in December 2014 and April 2016, respectively.^[18][19]

Nonrenewable energy production
State	Coal, productive capacity (short tons)	Natural gas (million cubic feet)	Crude oil (thousand barrels)
Date	2014	December 2014	April 2016
Connecticut	0	0	0
Massachusetts	0	0	0
New Hampshire	0	0	0
Rhode Island	0	0	0
U.S. average	24,874,314	43,350	4,388
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Oil and gas production (2004-2014)

Note: This section provides information about oil and gas production on private and state-owned lands. Information on oil and gas production on federal lands is accessible here.

Because Connecticut had no crude oil or natural gas reserves as of 2015, there was no oil or gas production in the state.

Energy usage

The section below includes statistics on electricity consumption in the state by energy type (in 2014).

Consumption

The table below provides information about energy consumption by source in Connecticut in 2014. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.^[18]

Energy consumption in Connecticut, 2014 (in billion Btu)
State	Coal	Crude oil and petroleum products	Natural gas	Nuclear energy	Solar	Wind	Geothermal	Hydropower	Wood and wood waste	Biomass
Connecticut	9,097	322,240	240,614	165,677	3,691	0	21	4,127	23,756	36,011
Massachusetts	29,871	571,239	433,246	60,340	14,360	2,139	859	8,579	38,394	61,735
New Hampshire	14,867	157,727	58,841	106,350	330	3,914	29	13,137	37,273	43,200
Rhode Island	0	90,664	91,259	0	197	94	57	38	3,919	7,068
U.S. average	359,931	716,746	544,353	172,585	20,739	531,323	16,555	61,397	65,345	101,581
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Prices and taxes

The sections below include information on energy prices and spending in Connecticut, fuel taxes and state taxes in Connecticut and in neighboring states, and an overview of the federal tax on gasoline.

Energy prices

The price of electricity is affected by supply and demand. The supply of electricity is affected by fuel prices, environmental and energy regulations, power plant capacity, weather, and other factors. Demand for electricity also affects the price. Because electricity cannot be stored for long periods of time, it must be produced and used when it is needed. As demand for electricity increases, the price also generally increases.^[20][21]

The table below provides information about energy prices in Connecticut as of April 2016. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.^[18]

Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to note that the cost of living can from state to state and within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Energy prices in Connecticut
State	Natural gas Dollars per thousand cubic foot	Electricity Cents per kilowatthour
Date	April 2016	April 2016
Connecticut	$12.85	17.6
Massachusetts	$11.96	16.9
New Hampshire	$12.22	15.8
Rhode Island	$13.42	16.6
U.S. average	$11.20	10.41
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Electricity prices can vary depending on the type of consumer; consumer categories include residential, commercial, industrial, and in some cases, transportation. The ratemaking process is both political and economic. The table below presents information about electricity prices by consumer type in Connecticut in April 2016. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.

Electricity prices in Connecticut by sector (in cents per kilowatthour)
State	Commercial	Industrial	Residential	Transportation	Average (all sectors)
Date	April 2016	April 2016	April 2016	April 2016	April 2016
Connecticut	15.7	12.9	21.2	13.5	15.8
Massachusetts	15.6	13.0	20.6	8.2	14.3
New Hampshire	14.5	12.4	18.7	--	15.2
Rhode Island	15.1	13.4	19.4	17.8	16.5
U.S. average	10.48	7.45	13.05	10.47	10.36
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Energy spending

The table below provides information about energy spending in Connecticut as of 2014. Information from select surrounding states is provided for comparison.

Energy spending in Connecticut, 2014 (in millions of dollar except per capita spending)
State	Petroleum	Coal	Natural gas	Nuclear	Per capita spending
Connecticut	$9,041	$39	$2,162	$120	$4,307
Massachusetts	$15,569	$129	$4,599	$48	$4,082
New Hampshire	$4,328	$64	$543	$77	$4,790
Rhode Island	$2,475	$0	$855	$0	$3,985
U.S. average	$17,267	$1,322	$3,786	$574	$5,304
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Google Sheets API"

Fuel taxes

Revenue collected by federal, state, and local governments from fuel taxes is usually used to fund transportation infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Some states may charge an excise tax based on how much gas or diesel is purchased. Some states may charge retail tax based on the average price of gas over a certain period. Additionally, some states may charge an environmental tax to be used for environmental projects. The Tax Foundation, which created the map to the right, used data from the American Petroleum Institute, which converted each state's different tax structure into cents per gallon to compare each state's gas taxes. In 2016, gas taxes accounted for 23 percent of the price of gasoline. Crude oil accounted for 40 percent of the price of gasoline, refining accounted for 24 percent of the price, and distribution and marketing accounted for 13 percent of the remainder.^[22][23]

The table below provides information about state fuel taxes by type (excluding the federal gas taxes) in Connecticut as of January 2016. As of January 2016, Connecticut levied a 37.5 cent state gasoline tax and a 50.3 cent state diesel tax. Connecticut ranked sixth highest in total gasoline taxes (federal and state) and second highest in total diesel fuel taxes as of January 2016.^[24][25]

State motor fuel taxes in cents per gallon, January 2016
State	State gasoline tax	Total gasoline tax	Rank	State diesel tax	Total diesel tax	Rank
Connecticut	37.5	55.9	6	50.3	74.7	2
Massachusetts	26.5	44.9	29	26.5	50.9	30
New Hampshire	23.8	42.2	33	23.8	48.2	34
Rhode Island	34.0	52.4	10	34.0	58.4	11
U.S. average	30.29	48.69	N/A	30.01	54.41	N/A
Source: American Petroleum Institute, "Motor Fuel Taxes"

Federal tax

The first federal tax on gasoline was proposed by Secretary of the Treasury Ogden L. Mills under President Herbert Hoover (R) as a revenue generating measure to balance the budget during the Great Depression. A 1-cent tax per gallon of imported gasoline and fuel oil was passed as part of the Revenue Act of 1932 and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D). The 1-cent tax continued until 1951 when the tax was increased to 2 cents in part to raise revenue during the Korean War. In 1956, the tax was raised to 3 cents to fund the Interstate Highway System. During this time, the Highway Trust Fund was created as a means to fund highway construction. Since 1956, there have been increases to the tax. As of April 2016, the gas tax was last raised by President Bill Clinton (D) in 1993 to 18.4 cents per gallon.^[26]

Utilities

The sections below include general information on utilities, an overview of utilities and electricity markets, information on the types of utilities in Connecticut, an overview of electricity reliability organizations (EROs), and the EROs that oversee electricity in Connecticut.

Background

Utilities are firms that own and/or operate facilities to generate, transmit, and/or distribute electricity, gas, and/or water to the public. Electric utilities are commercial entities that own and operate facilities to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity to the public and/or the industrial sector. State and local regulators oversee transmission and distribution charges. Local utilities read electric meters and bill individuals or businesses, generally on a monthly basis.^[27][28]

Utilities are defined differently in each state and in federal legislation. Two general types of utilities are private and public utilities. Private utilities, commonly known as investor-owned utilities, provide stocks to investors and sell bonds. These utilities are regulated by state regulatory agencies. State agencies are also responsible for setting retail rates charged by investor-owned utilities, overseeing utility infrastructure, and ensuring that investor-owned utilities respond to customer service demands. Public utilities include government or municipally owned utilities. Another type of utility is an electric cooperative. Cooperatives are nonprofit businesses voluntarily owned and managed by the individuals and businesses that use their services. They are commonly used in rural areas that do not have access to a larger state or region-wide electric grid.^[28]

Electricity markets

Electricity markets in each state are defined as regulated or deregulated. A regulated market includes utilities that own and manage the power plants that generate the electricity, the electricity transmission lines, and the distribution equipment (such as wires and electric poles). In addition, the utility rates are approved and regulated by local and state agencies. A deregulated market requires utilities to divest ownership in the generation and transmission of electricity. In this market, utilities oversee the interconnection from a meter at a household or business to the power grid and is responsible for billing ratepayers.^[29][30]

Depending on the state and/or area, public utilities may provide most or all energy services to homes and businesses, or a state may allow other private electricity providers to transmit and distribute electricity in addition to other utilities. For example, one type of private provider is a retail energy provider, which sells electricity in areas with retail competition. The provider purchases wholesale electricity and the delivery services (such as transmission lines) and can price electricity to particular consumers.^[29][30]

As of February 2017, Connecticut was one of 17 states with a deregulated electricity market. The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority oversees two electric distribution companies—the Connecticut Light and Power Company and the United Illuminating Company. These companies maintain, upgrade, and repair transmission lines that deliver electricity. The agency also licenses electric suppliers, which generate the electricity or purchases it from an electric generator. As of February 2017, Connecticut had 128 electric suppliers. A list of all electric suppliers in the state can be found here.^[31][32][33]

Electric reliability organizations

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 required the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to designate an electric reliability organization (ERO) for the United States. An ERO oversees the reliability of a nation's electric grid. In 2006, FERC granted authority to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to develop and enforce grid reliability standards for the United States. NERC, a self-regulated nonprofit corporation, is authorized to enforce grid reliability standards for all users, owners, and operators of the U.S. electrical system.^[34]

NERC works with eight regional reliability organizations to oversee the U.S. electrical system. These organizations, known as regional entities, are composed of officials from investor-owned utilities, federal power agencies, electric cooperatives, and state and municipal utilities. Regional entities enforce NERC and regional reliability standards. Further, they forecast electricity demand and coordinate operations with other regional entities.^[35]

Connecticut EROs

As of February 2017, the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) was the NERC-affiliated nonprofit corporation that oversees the bulk power system in northeastern North America, including Connecticut. The NPCC is responsible for developing regional reliability standards, assessing compliance, and enforcing continent-wide and regional reliability standards.^[36]

Background

The sections below include an overview of the types of renewable and nonrenewable energy produced and consumed in the United States, an energy profile of Connecticut (from the U.S. Energy Information Administration), a general profile of Connecticut (from the 2016 edition of the Almanac of American Politics), and various economic indicators in Connecticut.

Background on energy resources

Nonrenewable energy sources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas (sometimes known as fossil fuels), and renewable sources, such as hydropower, wind, biofuels, and solar energy, are produced in each state, though at different levels depending on a state's geography, energy consumption, and the raw materials available in a particular state. For example, several states do not have coal, oil, and/or natural gas resources. States that lack these resources import these fuels.^[37]

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, oil, coal, and natural gas comprise the majority of the resources used to generate power in the United States. In 2014, the top five energy-producing states were the top five fossil fuel-producing states—Texas, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and West Virginia. These states' fossil fuel production accounted for approximately 42 percent of U.S. energy production in 2014. States with fewer coal, oil, and natural gas resources generally consume less energy. In 2014, the bottom five energy-producing states—Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Hampshire—produced 0.2 percent of U.S. energy and consumed approximately 2 percent of total U.S. energy.^[37]

The production of biofuels (liquid fuels created from plant or plant-derived materials) is generally concentrated in the Midwest—states such as Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota—given the region's agricultural production of crops such as corn, which is used to make ethanol, a biofuel that can be blended with gasoline and used as a transportation fuel.^[37]

Other renewable sources are used to generate power in the states include hydroelectric power, which accounted for about half of all renewable energy production in the United States in 2014.^[37]

Connecticut energy profile

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Connecticut does not have coal, oil, or natural gas reserves. As of 2013, Connecticut was the fifth-lowest in the amount of energy consumed per capita. The state's residential and transportation sectors accounted for the majority of Connecticut's end-use energy consumption while its industrial sector consumed the least energy. In 2015, electricity generation from nuclear power and natural gas in Connecticut were equal while coal-fired and petroleum-fired electricity generation each accounted for less than 2 percent of the state's net electricity in the state. Connecticut received approximately 4 percent of its net electricity generation from renewable electricity, including biomass, hydroelectric power, and utility-scale solar energy capacity.^[18]

State profile

Demographic data for Connecticut
	Connecticut	U.S.
Total population:	3,584,730	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	4,842	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	77.3%	73.6%
Black/African American:	10.3%	12.6%
Asian:	4.2%	5.1%
Native American:	0.2%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.8%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	14.7%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	89.9%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	37.6%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$70,331	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	12.2%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Connecticut. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Connecticut

Connecticut voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Connecticut, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.^[38]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Connecticut had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Connecticut coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Connecticut
• United States congressional delegations from Connecticut
• Public policy in Connecticut
• Endorsers in Connecticut
• Connecticut fact checks
• More...

Economic indicators

See also: Economic indicators by state

Broadly defined, a healthy economy is typically one that has a "stable and strong rate of economic growth" (gross state product, in this case) and low unemployment, among many other factors. The economic health of a state can significantly affect its healthcare costs, insurance coverage, access to care, and citizens' physical and mental health. For instance, during economic downturns, employers may reduce insurance coverage for employees, while those who are laid off may lose coverage altogether. Individuals also tend to spend less on non-urgent care or postpone visits to the doctor when times are hard. These changes in turn may affect the decisions made by policymakers as they react to shifts in the industry. Additionally, a person's socioeconomic status has profound effects on their access to care and the quality of care received.^[39][40][41]

Connecticut and its neighboring states all had an above average median annual household income between 2011 and 2013. However, Connecticut had the greatest percentage of its population that earned incomes at least 400 percent above the federal poverty level. In September 2014, Connecticut's unemployment rate was 6.4 percent, 0.5 percentage points above the nationwide rate.^{[42][43][44][45]}

Note: Gross state product (GSP) on its own is not necessarily an indicator of economic health; GSP may also be influenced by state population size. Many factors must be looked at together to assess state economic health.

Various economic indicators by state
State	Distribution of population by FPL* (2013)	Median annual income (2011-2013)	Unemployment rate	Total GSP (2013)†
Under 100%	100-199%	200-399%	400%+	Sept. 2013	Sept. 2014
Connecticut	11%	13%	26%	50%	$67,807	7.7%	6.4%	$249,251
Massachusetts	12%	15%	24%	49%	$64,555	7.2%	6%	$446,323
New Hampshire	9%	13%	29%	49%	$69,888	5.2%	4.3%	$67,848
Rhode Island	14%	20%	25%	42%	$55,158	9.5%	7.6%	$53,184
United States	15%	19%	30%	36%	$52,047	7.2%	5.9%	$16,701,415
* Federal Poverty Level. "The U.S. Census Bureau's poverty threshold for a family with two adults and one child was $18,751 in 2013. This is the official measurement of poverty used by the Federal Government." † In millions of current dollars. "Gross State Product is a measurement of a state's output; it is the sum of value added from all industries in the state." Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts"

See also

• Energy policy in the U.S.
• Fracking in Connecticut
• Net metering
• Renewable Portfolio Standard
• Environmental policy in Connecticut

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Connecticut energy policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Footnotes

	v • e State of Connecticut Hartford (capital)
Elections	What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures
Government	Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy