Over the past year, Connecticut's electricity landscape has been defined by a significant reliance on both fossil fuels and low-carbon sources. Between April 2025 and March 2026, more than half of the electricity consumed, specifically around 55%, was generated from fossil fuels, with the vast majority, about 53%, attributed to gas. Low-carbon electricity contributed nearly 44% to the state's energy mix. Notably, nuclear energy played a substantial role in this segment, accounting for over a third of electricity generation. Solar energy, comprising both behind-the-meter and utility-scale, together contributed close to 6%. Oil and biofuels represented smaller shares in the energy mix, highlighting room for improvement in Connecticut's transition toward greener energy solutions.

Is Electricity Growing in Connecticut?

Electricity consumption in Connecticut demonstrates a subtle downward trend. The most recent data for 2026 shows electricity usage at approximately 12,453 kilowatt-hours per person, slightly below the peak in 2024 of 12,577 kilowatt-hours per person, marking a decline by 123 kWh/person. Despite this reduction in overall consumption, there is a small but significant increase in low-carbon electricity generation, reaching a record of 5,476 kWh/person in 2026, up by 18 kWh/person from the 2025 record. While the growth in clean energy generation is encouraging, the decrease in overall electricity consumption raises concerns about fully supporting a sustainable, electrification-driven future.

Suggestions

To expand its low-carbon electricity generation, Connecticut could significantly benefit from developing its existing nuclear capabilities due to its substantial contribution to the current energy mix. Drawing inspiration from successful regions around the world can also offer valuable insights. For instance, states like California and Nevada have made significant strides in solar power, contributing to over 30% of their electricity generation. Similarly, countries like France and states such as South Carolina and New Hampshire have achieved impressive levels of nuclear energy production, reaching upwards of 50%. These examples underscore the potential of scaling nuclear and solar energy generation, which aligns with Connecticut's objective to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and increase clean energy capacity.

History

Looking back, Connecticut has demonstrated a stable yet underwhelming journey in low-carbon electricity development. In 2024, there was a significant increase in nuclear energy generation by about 3.2 TWh, simultaneously faced with minor fluctuations, such as a slight decrease in hydroelectric output by 0.1 TWh. In 2025, nuclear energy experienced a small decline of 0.2 TWh, and since then, energy sources like biofuels, hydro, and wind, have shown little to no change in output through 2026. Critically, this stagnation in diversifying clean energy sources underlines the necessity to prioritize strategic investments in expanding nuclear power and exploring new opportunities in solar energy. These steps would ensure the growth of sustainable energy, meet future demands, and address environmental concerns associated with fossil fuel reliance.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.