Norwich Public Utilities

What Norwich Public Utilities does

Norwich Public Utilities is a municipally-owned utility department of the City of Norwich, Connecticut, founded in 1904 and operating as a regulated monopoly within an assigned service territory that includes Norwich and portions of Preston, Bozrah, Lisbon, and Montville. NPU delivers four core utility services through separate but integrated infrastructure systems: electricity distribution (substations, poles, and wires; over 20% of generation from renewable sources including Shetucket River hydro and two Norwich solar gardens), natural gas distribution (156 miles of mains, 7,500 service lines, 9,800 meters, 14 gate/regulator stations, plus a 50,000-gallon LNG facility and two public CNG fueling stations), water treatment and distribution (drawing approximately 1.9 billion gallons annually from Deep River Reservoir in Colchester and Stony Brook Reservoir in Montville, treated at the Charles W. Solomon and Stony Brook facilities), and wastewater treatment (an 8.5-million-gallons-per-day facility currently undergoing a $200 million upgrade). Beyond core distribution, NPU operates an energy efficiency and rebate platform including the CHIPP heat pump program, Cool Choice rebates, EV and EVSE rebates, smart thermostat rebates, e-bike and e-scooter bill credits, residential home energy assessments via Lantern Energy, the Community Assistance Rate for income-qualified customers, and the Get the Lead Out lead service line compliance program.

Governance is provided by a five-member Board of Commissioners and Sewer Authority appointed by the Norwich City Council, with Jeff Brining appointed 14th General Manager in November 2025. The utility participates in the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC) for wholesale power. Revenue is generated through usage-based billing across all four service lines, with regulated rates 10-15% below Connecticut investor-owned utilities and pass-through Purchased Power Adjustment and Purchased Gas Adjustment mechanisms. NPU operates as a not-for-profit, returning surpluses to ratepayers, and is currently channeling hundreds of millions of dollars into infrastructure modernization funded by a combination of municipal bonding, federal PHMSA grants ($20.9M total in 2023 and 2024), and Congressionally Directed Spending ($960K FY2026). The utility holds 2026 APGA SOAR Silver and APPA Diamond Level RP3 designations and is headquartered at 16 South Golden Street, Norwich, CT, with a customer-facing Customer Service Center at 173 North Main Street.

Name

Norwich Public Utilities

Legal name

Norwich Public Utilities, CT

Website

https://norwichpublicutilities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Norwich Public Utilities is a municipally-owned, multi-utility department of the City of Norwich, CT delivering regulated electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater services to residential and commercial customers within its assigned Norwich-area service territory. The utility earns revenue through usage-based billing, returns surpluses to ratepayers, and invests in large-scale infrastructure modernization across all four service lines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Utility Services (Electric, Gas, Water, Wastewater)

NAICS

Utilities (221), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water Supply (4941), Electric Services (4911), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Electric Utilities (Munis) (EUADABAB), Municipal / Public Gas Distribution Systems (TLAGADAB), Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA)

Keywords

• Municipal utility services
• Electricity distribution
• Natural gas distribution
• Water treatment services
• Wastewater treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwich

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Electricity Distribution and Sales: NPU purchases and manages electricity for its community, distributing it through its local distribution system. Revenue is generated through electricity sales to residential and commercial customers within Norwich and portions of surrounding communities.
2. Natural Gas Distribution and Sales: NPU operates and maintains the local natural gas distribution system serving Norwich, Preston, and a small section of Bozrah. Revenue is generated through natural gas sales, including conversion incentives and rebates for new high-efficiency gas heating systems.
3. Water Distribution and Sales: NPU provides water from Deep River Reservoir (Colchester) and Stony Brook Reservoir (Montville), treating and distributing roughly 1.9 billion gallons annually. Revenue is generated through water sales.
4. Wastewater Collection and Treatment: NPU operates and maintains a wastewater treatment plant with capacity of 8.5 million gallons per day. Revenue is generated through sewer service charges to customers within Norwich.
5. Efficiency Programs and Rebates: NPU offers energy efficiency programs, rebates, and financing programs (including zero-percent financing for commercial/industrial customers, Smart-E Loans, and C-Pace financing) that generate administrative or program-related revenue while helping customers reduce energy costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Norwich Public Utilities is a municipally-owned multi-utility that distributes electricity, distributes natural gas, treats and distributes drinking water, and collects and treats wastewater for Norwich, Connecticut and portions of surrounding communities including Preston, Bozrah, Lisbon, and Montville. It administers customer service, billing, energy efficiency rebates, and a Community Assistance Rate discount program for low-income customers across all four services.

Product overview

Norwich Public Utilities provides four core utility services: electricity distribution, natural gas distribution, water treatment and distribution, and wastewater treatment. The utility operates as a municipal department of the City of Norwich, governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners. Beyond core distribution and treatment services, NPU offers an extensive portfolio of energy efficiency programs and rebates including the CHIPP heat pump program, Cool Choice central air rebates, EV and charging rebates, smart thermostat rebates, and residential home energy savings through Lantern Energy. The utility also provides alternative fueling infrastructure through CNG stations and public EV charging, and administers the Community Assistance Rate discount program for qualified customers. All services are coordinated through NPU's Customer Service Center in Norwich, CT.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Building, maintaining, and operating the local electricity distribution system for Norwich and portions of surrounding communities, including substations, poles, and wires. NPU purchases and manages electricity for the community, with over 20% of generation portfolio from renewable sources (hydro on the Shetucket River and two solar gardens in Norwich) at no additional cost to customers.
• Natural Gas Distribution Service Operating and maintaining 156 miles of natural gas distribution mains, 7,500 service lines, 9,800 meters, and 14 gate/regulator stations serving Norwich, Preston, and portions of Bozrah. Also includes a 50,000 gallon LNG storage facility and 2 CNG fueling stations. Annual safety inspections and mandatory PURA-mandated leakage surveys are performed.
• Water Treatment and Distribution Service Providing approximately 1.9 billion gallons of clean drinking water annually (~5.3 million gallons per day) from Deep River Reservoir in Colchester and Stony Brook Reservoir in Montville. Water is treated at the Dr. Charles W. Solomon Water Treatment Plant in Lisbon and the Stony Brook Water Treatment Plant in Montville, then distributed throughout the service territory.
• Wastewater Treatment Service Operating and maintaining NPU's wastewater treatment plant processing up to 8.5 million gallons per day, with sewer service charges to customers throughout the Norwich service area. Currently undergoing a $200 million infrastructure upgrade that is expected to dramatically improve water quality in the Yantic, Shetucket, and Thames Rivers.
• Residential Home Energy Savings Program Free energy efficiency program for 1-4 unit homes delivered by Lantern Energy's certified technicians. Includes overall health and safety checks, blower door tests, duct blast tests, LED lighting upgrades, water-saving measures, and tailored energy efficiency recommendations.
• Cool Choice Program Rebate program for air-source or ground-source heat pump installations providing per-ton rebates, incentives for integrated controls, and heat pump water heater rebates to NPU customers.
• CHIPP (Cooling & Heating Incentive Pilot Program) Incentive program helping electric customers convert to energy-efficient heat pump systems with rebates such as $1,200 per ton, up to $2,000 for integrated controls, and up to $1,100 for heat pump water heaters.
• Electric Vehicle and Charging Rebate Program Rebates offered to NPU electric customers for the purchase or lease of qualifying electric vehicles and for installation of EV charging equipment, subject to caps that exclude tax and installation from the qualifying purchase price.
• CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Fueling Stations Public-access compressed natural gas fueling station at 168 West Town Street in Norwich, open 24/7 with a dual dispenser fast-fill at 3600 psi, accepting all major credit cards, available to general public and fleet customers.
• Community Assistance Rate (CAR) Discount program providing a 10% bill discount on the electric portion for customers with incomes below 60% of state median household income, with an additional 10% AutoPay discount available. Income eligibility is verified through Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA).
• Get the Lead Out Program EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revision compliance program delivering a comprehensive lead service line inventory, field surveys conducted in partnership with Arcadis (basement inspections and curb stop excavations), and corrosion control treatment added prior to water leaving the plant.
• Smart Thermostat Rebate Program Rebate program for Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostats offered to NPU electric customers, available during the January 1 - June 30 window with a limit of two rebate applications per electric utility account.
• Solar Interconnection Program Program supporting private solar energy system installations through interconnection agreements, including application process and technical requirements for customer-owned systems tied to NPU's distribution system.
• E-Bike and E-Scooter Rebate Program Bill credit program for NPU electric customers purchasing new electric bikes or electric scooters, available during the January 1 - June 30 window, with the credit capped at 50% of the purchase price.

Quantifiable outcome

• NPU's electric customers see bills 10-15% less than investor-owned utility companies; statewide municipal utilities offer rates 23-64% lower than private utilities.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris MurphycoreOthers · 1 January 2026Senators Blumenthal and Murphy secured $960,000 in federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal spending bill for NPU's wastewater infrastructure modernization in Greeneville, Norwich. This funding follows previous advocacy that secured $10 million (2023) and $10.9 million (2024) in PHMSA grants for natural gas infrastructure.
• Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (ECHO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NPU provided $500,000 through Connecticut's Housing Tax Credit Contribution Program to ECHO for rehabilitation of 3 multi-family properties with 58 dwelling units for low-income households. Total NPU contribution to ECHO since 2004 exceeds $5.5 million. ECHO's mission is providing affordable housing for families in Eastern Connecticut.
• ArcadiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPU partnered with Arcadis to conduct field surveys for lead service line identification throughout Norwich. Arcadis staff complete basement surveys and excavations to verify service line materials using scratch and magnet tests and excavation at curb stops. Arcadis staff are identifiable by NPU car magnets and contractor photo badges.
• Lantern EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPU contracted with Lantern Energy to perform the Residential Home Energy Savings Program (HES). Lantern's certified technicians conduct overall health and safety checks, blower door tests, duct blast tests, LED lighting upgrades, water-saving measures, and provide energy efficiency recommendations for 1-4 unit homes free of charge.
• Northeast Gas AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPU partnered with the Northeast Gas Association to develop a self-directed, interactive, online training program for first responders on natural gas pipeline safety and emergency response. The e-Learning training is available to emergency response personnel through the NGA First Responder portal.
• Eastern Savings BankminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEastern Savings Bank offers Smart-E Loan financing for NPU customers converting to natural gas or making energy efficiency improvements.
• CorePlus Credit UnionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorePlus Credit Union offers Smart-E Loan financing for NPU customers converting to natural gas or making energy efficiency improvements.
• Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTVCCA verifies income eligibility for NPU's Community Assistance Rate (CAR) program, which provides a 10% discount on electric bills for customers with incomes below 60% of the State's median household income.
• Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMEEC is a not-for-profit electric utility cooperative owned by six member utilities (including Groton, Norwich, Jewett City, Bozrah Light & Power, South Norwalk, and East Norwalk). CMEEC provides wholesale power and related requirements to NPU and other member utilities. NPU's Board chooses one employee representative and alternate to sit on the CMEEC Board of Directors.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Groton Utilities: Groton Utilities is a municipally-owned utility serving Groton, CT, and a fellow CMEEC member alongside NPU. It provides similar multi-utility services (electric, water, and broadband) and operates under comparable Connecticut municipal utility economics, making it the closest direct peer.
• Jewett City Department of Public Utilities: Jewett City Department of Public Utilities is a small Connecticut municipal utility and CMEEC member. It provides electric and water services to a small eastern Connecticut community, sharing NPU's municipal ownership model, CMEEC procurement, and small-scale service territory profile.
• Bozrah Light & Power: Bozrah Light & Power is a small municipal electric utility in Bozrah, CT, and a CMEEC member alongside NPU. NPU already serves a portion of Bozrah for natural gas, making it a directly adjacent and operationally comparable municipal utility peer.
• South Norwalk Electric and Water (SNEW): SNEW is a Connecticut municipal utility and CMEEC member providing electric and water services to South Norwalk. It is comparable to NPU as a multi-service municipal utility with similar regulated-monopoly economics and CMEEC wholesale power procurement.
• East Norwalk/Norwalk WPCA: The Third Taxing District / East Norwalk operations are a Connecticut municipal electric utility and CMEEC member. It shares NPU's municipal structure, small-territory electric distribution focus, and CMEEC wholesale supply arrangement.

Broad incumbents

• Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC): CMEEC is the wholesale power cooperative owned by six Connecticut municipal utilities including NPU. It is comparable as the umbrella procurement and power-supply organization for NPU's electricity portfolio and is a key strategic counterparty.
• Eversource Energy: Eversource is the largest investor-owned electric, gas, and water utility in Connecticut. It is the principal IOU benchmark against which NPU's 10-15% rate advantage is measured, providing direct competitive context within the same regulatory and service geography.
• United Illuminating (Avangrid / Iberdrola): United Illuminating is an investor-owned electric distribution utility serving southern Connecticut. It is comparable as the IOU electric competitor serving portions of the same state regulatory environment where NPU operates its electric distribution system.
• Connecticut Water Company (Aquarion Water Company of CT): Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut (formerly Connecticut Water) is an investor-owned water utility operating across the state. It is comparable as a regulated water utility operating in the same Connecticut geography and PURA regulatory framework as NPU's water operations.
• Yankee Gas Services (Eversource): Yankee Gas is Connecticut's largest natural gas distribution utility, owned by Eversource. It is comparable as the investor-owned gas utility operating in the same state under PURA regulation, against which NPU's municipal gas distribution competes for service territory and rate benchmarks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NPUtilities
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@norwichpublicutilities8130
• Facebookfacebook.com/NPUtilities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/norwich-public-utilities
• Instagraminstagram.com/norwichpublicutilities

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Norwich Public Utilities