Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC), a non-profit municipal joint action agency, was established by municipal electric utilities (MEUs) pursuant to state enabling legislation passed in 1975. This legislation outlined our operating principles and bylaws, and resulted in a long-standing commitment to serve our member communities in Connecticut and other customers in the region. 

The Members of CMEEC today include Bozrah Light and Power, Groton Utilities, Jewett City Department of Public Utilities, Norwich Public Utilities, South Norwalk Electric and Water, and the Third Taxing District of Norwalk. CMEEC serves the wholesale power requirements of its Members as a participant in the regional ISO-NE markets. Each MEU owns and operates an electric distribution system that provides retail power to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers within their service areas and are committed to supplying reliable and sustainable power at a reasonable cost. 

CMEEC is subject to the direct local control and governance of its Members, whose MEU commissions and local legislative bodies appoint the members of the Joint Board of Directors of CMEEC and Connecticut Transmission Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CTMEEC dba “Transco”), hereafter referred to as “the Board”. This local control provides a high level of governance transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, as well as community-tailored policies, programs and practices.

To learn more, “plug” into CMEEC’s past by browsing the timeline below, which highlights some of CMEEC’s most notable events and milestones and showcases how our organization has evolved over time.

Click any event on the timeline below to learn more about that event. 

You can also select a topic from the box below to display only events in that category.
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Topics Governance Markets Technology Projects
1961 Predecessor: CMEGA Connecticut Municipal Electric and Gas Association laid the groundwork for what became CMEEC. It fostered initial collaboration among Connecticut municipal utilities for power supply. 1971 New England Power Pool Created Formed to coordinate regional generation dispatch, manage settlements, and support transmission planning across New England. 1975 CMEEC is Created CMEEC's enabling statute, also known as Public Act 75-634, passes, allowing Connecticut’s municipal electric utilities to form a joint power supply company, Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative.
1976 First CMEEC Members Joined The formation agreement was signed. Groton Utilities, Norwich Public Utilities and Wallingford Electric Department signed the original agreement. At this time, Jewett City Department of Public Utilities, Third Taxing District, and South Norwalk Electric & Water are also introduced as participating systems. 1979 CMEEC Applies for NEPOOL Membership CMEEC files its formal application to join the New England Power Pool, initiating the review and approval process that would integrate CMEEC into the region’s collaborative power-market structure. 1980 CMEEC Becomes A Wholesale Power Supplier Groton Utilities, Norwich Public Utilities, and Jewett City Department of Public Utilities began purchasing all of their power needs through CMEEC.
1986 Millstone No. 3 Unit Investment CMEEC invests in a 12 MW share on 1150 MW from Millstone Unit No. 3, accounting for 7% of power supplied to members in 1986. 1997 ISO-NE Established ISO-NE takes over grid operations, wholesale market administration, and regional transmission planning, while NEPOOL becomes the stakeholder forum responsible for market-rule input and sector governance. 1998 Energy New England (ENE) Formed and Funded Originally a CMEEC business arm offering power-marketing services, ENE was divested in 1998 which allowed it operate independently and later become its own public power cooperative.
1998 Public Act 98-28 Public Act 98-28 marked the introduction of Connecticut state legislation that restructured the regulated portion of the energy industry, allowing municipal electric utilities to operate independently. 1999 CMARS Launches CMEEC creates CMARS to integrate market data with internal systems, enabling real-time tracking and improving power-puchase management. 2003 Standard Market Design & CMARS Update ISO-NE launches Standard Market Design (SMD), introducing day-ahead and real-time markets with locational pricing. CMEEC upgraded CMARS to analyze locational prices and new services, verify ISO bills, and optimize bids under the new rules.
2007 A.L. Pierce Operations Begin CMEEC replaces a dormant 55-year old plant with a new 84 MW turbine as a quick start dispatch asset. This asset was later divested in 2021. 2009 Transco Established CMEEC and its members set up the Connecticut Transmission Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CTMEEC, d.b.a. Transco) which enables municipal utilities to jointly invest in high-voltage transmission projects and receive a share of ISO-NE transmission revenue credits. 2010 CMARS3 Platform Launches A web-based business intelligence portal that unifies metering, budgeting, forecasting and billing data. This improved decision making for power procurements and rate-settings.
2010 MicroGen Fleet Buildout The initial 40 MW of the “50 in 5” MicroGen buildout received ISO-NE interconnection approval, allowing sixteen peaking generators to be sited across member systems and creating the foundation of a fleet used to lower peak-related costs. 2014 Board Adopts Enterprise Risk Management Policy This policy established guidelines for managing wholesale market risks, credit exposures, and long-term resource decisions. 2017 Solar Gardens Approved by ISO-NE The Mountain Ash Farm in Norwich and Trident Park and Lafayette Drive in Groton are confirmed to not negatively impact system stability by ISO-NE.
2022 SUBASE Fuel Cell Commissioned CMEEC’s 7.4 MW fuel cell park at the Groton SUBASE entered into commercial operation on December 16, 2022. Initially producing 6 MW before ramping to full output in 2024, the baseload plant was designed to power critical naval facilities during emergencies. 2022 Great River Hydro PPA CMEEC invests in a long-term hydropower purchase agreement for around the clock and peaking energy. This asset resulted in $1 million in savings during 2022. 2023 Board Adopts Decarbonization Policy This policy commits CMEEC to pursue cost-effective carbon reduction strategies increasing investments in renewables (solar, wind, hydro) and emerging technologies while maintaining reliability and affordability.
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1961
Predecessor: CMEGA
Connecticut Municipal Electric and Gas Association laid the groundwork for what became CMEEC. It fostered initial collaboration among Connecticut municipal utilities for power supply.
1971
New England Power Pool Created
Formed to coordinate regional generation dispatch, manage settlements, and support transmission planning across New England.
1975
CMEEC is Created
CMEEC's enabling statute, also known as Public Act 75-634, passes, allowing Connecticut’s municipal electric utilities to form a joint power supply company, Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative.
1976
First CMEEC Members Joined
The formation agreement was signed. Groton Utilities, Norwich Public Utilities and Wallingford Electric Department signed the original agreement. At this time, Jewett City Department of Public Utilities, Third Taxing District, and South Norwalk Electric & Water are also introduced as participating systems.
1979
CMEEC Applies for NEPOOL Membership
CMEEC files its formal application to join the New England Power Pool, initiating the review and approval process that would integrate CMEEC into the region’s collaborative power-market structure.
1980
CMEEC Becomes A Wholesale Power Supplier
Groton Utilities, Norwich Public Utilities, and Jewett City Department of Public Utilities began purchasing all of their power needs through CMEEC.
1986
Millstone No. 3 Unit Investment
CMEEC invests in a 12 MW share on 1150 MW from Millstone Unit No. 3, accounting for 7% of power supplied to members in 1986.
1997
ISO-NE Established
ISO-NE takes over grid operations, wholesale market administration, and regional transmission planning, while NEPOOL becomes the stakeholder forum responsible for market-rule input and sector governance.
1998
Energy New England (ENE) Formed and Funded
Originally a CMEEC business arm offering power-marketing services, ENE was divested in 1998 which allowed it operate independently and later become its own public power cooperative.
1998
Public Act 98-28
Public Act 98-28 marked the introduction of Connecticut state legislation that restructured the regulated portion of the energy industry, allowing municipal electric utilities to operate independently.
1999
CMARS Launches
CMEEC creates CMARS to integrate market data with internal systems, enabling real-time tracking and improving power-puchase management.
2003
Standard Market Design & CMARS Update
ISO-NE launches Standard Market Design (SMD), introducing day-ahead and real-time markets with locational pricing. CMEEC upgraded CMARS to analyze locational prices and new services, verify ISO bills, and optimize bids under the new rules.
2007
A.L. Pierce Operations Begin
CMEEC replaces a dormant 55-year old plant with a new 84 MW turbine as a quick start dispatch asset. This asset was later divested in 2021.
2009
Transco Established
CMEEC and its members set up the Connecticut Transmission Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CTMEEC, d.b.a. Transco) which enables municipal utilities to jointly invest in high-voltage transmission projects and receive a share of ISO-NE transmission revenue credits.
2010
CMARS3 Platform Launches
A web-based business intelligence portal that unifies metering, budgeting, forecasting and billing data. This improved decision making for power procurements and rate-settings.
2010
MicroGen Fleet Buildout
The initial 40 MW of the “50 in 5” MicroGen buildout received ISO-NE interconnection approval, allowing sixteen peaking generators to be sited across member systems and creating the foundation of a fleet used to lower peak-related costs.
2014
Board Adopts Enterprise Risk Management Policy
This policy established guidelines for managing wholesale market risks, credit exposures, and long-term resource decisions.
2017
Solar Gardens Approved by ISO-NE
The Mountain Ash Farm in Norwich and Trident Park and Lafayette Drive in Groton are confirmed to not negatively impact system stability by ISO-NE.
2022
SUBASE Fuel Cell Commissioned
CMEEC’s 7.4 MW fuel cell park at the Groton SUBASE entered into commercial operation on December 16, 2022. Initially producing 6 MW before ramping to full output in 2024, the baseload plant was designed to power critical naval facilities during emergencies.
2022
Great River Hydro PPA
CMEEC invests in a long-term hydropower purchase agreement for around the clock and peaking energy. This asset resulted in $1 million in savings during 2022.
2023
Board Adopts Decarbonization Policy
This policy commits CMEEC to pursue cost-effective carbon reduction strategies increasing investments in renewables (solar, wind, hydro) and emerging technologies while maintaining reliability and affordability.