# Vermont Electricity Rate Changes: What Changed in 2026 and What's Next

> Green Mountain Power's rates rose 5.5% on October 1, 2026 after Vermont regulators trimmed a 7.5% request. The utility serves more than 275,000 customers.

- URL: https://solarexaminer.com/posts/vermont-electricity-rate-changes-2026/
- Site: Solar Examiner (https://solarexaminer.com/)
- Category: Electric Rates
- Published: 2026-10-04
- Last verified: 2026-10-04
- Author: Tehseen Arbab

## Key takeaways

- Vermont has a real October 1, 2026 change: Green Mountain Power's rates rose 5.5%.
- The company asked for 7.5%. The Public Utility Commission issued its decision on August 28, 2026.
- Regulators approved about $113 million of resilience spending over four years, roughly a third of the $341 million requested.
- Several small municipal utilities are seeking larger increases, from 14% to 30%.



Vermont is one of the few states with a rate change on October 1, 2026. Green Mountain Power (GMP), which serves more than 275,000 customers, raised rates 5.5% that day.

This article covers Green Mountain Power. It does not cover Vermont Electric Cooperative, Burlington Electric or the smaller municipal utilities in detail.

## Quick Summary

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Requested | 7.5% |
| Approved | 5.5% |
| Decision | August 28, 2026 |
| Effective | October 1, 2026 |
| Resilience spending approved | About $113 million over four years |
| Resilience spending requested | About $341 million |

## What the Commission Decided

The Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC) cut GMP's request by two percentage points. VTDigger reported that the commission said affordability concerns were "central to our analysis." The commission had opened an investigation into GMP's finances in March 2026.

More than 50 customers filed objections to the original request, according to Vermont Public.

## What It Means for a Bill

The reports give no dollar figure. To estimate your own:

**Formula:** current monthly bill × 0.055

- A $100 bill: + $5.50
- A $120 bill: + $6.60
- A $150 bill: + $8.25

These are our illustrations, not GMP figures. They assume the 5.5% applies evenly to your whole bill, which may not be exact for your rate class.

## The Resilience Plan

GMP proposed a four-year program to bury and reinforce lines, with a goal of eliminating outages by 2030. It says outages fell 95% on 100 miles of buried line and that it spent $225 million on storm repair over the past decade. The commission approved about a third of the proposed spending.

## Other Vermont Utilities

Vermont Public reported that several municipal utilities are seeking larger increases: Swanton Electric 30%, Jacksonville Electric 18%, Hyde Park Electric 15% and Barton Electric 14%. These are requests.

## What This Means for Homeowners With Solar

We did not verify Vermont's current net metering or export credit rules for this article, so we give no export rates here. Ask your utility for its current solar tariff, and check how exported energy is credited before sizing a system. Fixed monthly charges are not reduced by solar.

Our [solar payback guide](/posts/solar-payback-period-without-federal-tax-credit/) shows how the retail rate and the export credit change the math.

## What to Check on Your Bill

1. The customer charge and energy rate on your first bill covering October.
2. Whether the bill is split between old and new rates.
3. Your rate class, if you have a heat pump or electric vehicle rate.

For help sorting the lines on your bill, see our guide to [reading your electric bill](/posts/how-to-read-your-electric-bill/).

## Limitations

Figures come from VTDigger and Vermont Public. We did not open the PUC order, and no source gave a residential dollar impact. The two outlets describe the approved resilience spending slightly differently, so we use VTDigger's figures.

## Sources

- [VTDigger, "Vermont regulators finalize 5.5% rate increase for Green Mountain Power customers," Sept. 8, 2026](https://vtdigger.org/2026/09/08/vermont-regulators-finalize-5-5-percent-rate-increase-for-green-mountain-power-customers/)
- [Vermont Public, "Public Utility Commission approves 5.5% rate increase for Green Mountain Power," Sept. 8, 2026](https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2026-09-08/public-utility-commission-approves-green-mountain-power-rate-increase)

## Frequently asked questions

### Did Vermont electric rates change on October 1, 2026?

Yes for Green Mountain Power customers. A 5.5% increase took effect on October 1, 2026.

### How much will my Green Mountain Power bill go up?

The reports we reviewed give the percentage, not a dollar figure. As an illustration, 5.5% on a $120 bill is $6.60 a month.

### Why did Green Mountain Power ask for more?

It cited storm repair costs and a plan to bury and strengthen lines. Regulators approved about a third of the proposed four-year spending and said affordability was central to their decision.


Image credit: Photo by Markus Winkler on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-house-with-solar-panels-on-the-roof-VX0ZEZSwqnY?utm_source=solarexaminer&utm_medium=referral)