Eversource Energy : Encourages Energy Efficiency Steps Before Hot Weather and Summer Rate Adjustment

Energy company offers solutions to help customers control energy use and costs, and flexible payment plans

BERLIN, Conn. - With summer weather on the horizon and two upcoming rate adjustments, Eversource is encouraging customers to act now to save energy and money and to help avoid a spike in seasonal electricity usage.

• On average, Connecticut customers use 35% more electricity during the summer months. To help customers manage their increased summer costs, Eversource offers a variety of easy and budget-friendly energy efficiency measures that can help customers keep their homes cool while managing energy use. Details are below.
• On June 1^st customers in Connecticut using an average of 700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity a month can expect to see an increaseof less than $3 on the delivery portion of their monthly bill when the rate adjustment takes effect. This rate change covers costs associated with building and maintaining a reliable electric system - this does not include costs related to the Tropical Storm Isaias restoration.
• On July 1^st, the cost of energy will decrease for customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource. In Connecticut, the energy supply price changes twice a year - January 1st and July 1st.On July 1, 2021, the Standard Service Charge for residential customers will change from 8.391 cents per kilowatt-hour to 7.003 cents per kilowatt-hour and the supply portion of customers' bills will decrease by more than $9.50 for customers using an average of 700 kWh of electricity per month.

'Staying cool and comfortable at home during the hot summer months can get costly and we want to help customers save energy and avoid spikes in their energy bills,' said Eversource Executive Vice President of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner. 'On average, customers use about 35% more electricity during the hot summer weather because air conditioners, fans and other appliances work overtime when it's sweltering outside. So while the cost of electricity will go down on July 1^st, customers' overall bills will go up because more electricity is being used to keep things cool. That's why we urge customers to take advantage of our energy efficiency programs now-before the hot weather arrives.'

Three actions customers can take now to beat the heat this summer:

1. Use the new Cooling Calculator on Eversource.com. The tool helps determine how much electricity is being used to keep a home cool and offers suggestions to save energy.
2. Sign up for a Home Energy Solutions home energy audit. During the audit, a certified technician checks a customer's home to identify places it can be tightened up to save money and energy. The technician will do on-the-spot improvements like replacing old lighting with LEDs, sealing up drafty doors and windows and closing air gaps around pipes.
3. Take advantage of the Kill A Watt electricity usage meter which shows how much power is being used by most home devices. The Kill A Watt kits are available for borrowing from nearly 200 libraries around the state. A list of participating libraries can be found at Eversource.com, here.

Additional tips for keeping temperatures and energy costs down in the summer:

• Keep air conditioners set at or near 78 degrees-a generally comfortable temperature that requires less energy to reach and maintain than cooler temperatures. For every degree higher on the thermostat, the air conditioner will use 1-3% less electricity.
• Don't block air flow. Keep air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains, and rugs. For those with central air and floor vents, consider using vent deflectors to direct and increase the reach of cooled air.
• Operate major appliances during the cooler parts of the day. Energy is conserved by using appliances like clothes washers and dryers early in the morning or late in the evening, when there is also less demand on the electric system.
• Keep blinds closed when it's hot out to prevent unwanted heat from entering a home through windows. Using curtains, shades, and blinds can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
• Switch to LED lights. The energy efficient bulbs run cooler and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lights.
• Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise and at a higher speed in the summer to circulate the breeze more effectively, creating a cooling, wind chill effect.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR rating when purchasing new appliances. Also, be sure to choose the right size when purchasing an air conditioning unit. An oversized or undersized AC unit is less effective and wastes energy.

Help is available for customers who need it

Eversource encourages customers to enroll in one of its payment plans or assistance programs if they need help with their energy bill. Regardless of financial need, both residential and non-residential customers are eligible for the COVID-19 Payment Program and are urged to call the energy company at 800-286-2828 to learn more. Enrollment in the program has been extended to July 20. Customers can also learn more about payment programs and enroll online at Eversource.com/BillHelp. Information on energy efficiency programs is available at www.energizect.com.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek 's list of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America's Most JUST Companies. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity to 1.27 million customers in 149 cities and towns, provides natural gas to 246,000 customers in 74 communities, and supplies water to approximately 216,000 customers in 52 communities across Connecticut. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally-recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.