The average price of wholesale electric energy fell 6% in New England last year, according to a report released May 15 by ISO New England Inc.'s Internal Market Monitor (IMM).
Total costs declined by about 10%, while energy costs declined by about 6%. Total costs decreased more than energy costs alone because, in percentage terms, capacity and ancillary services costs dropped much more than energy costs. The decline in energy costs primarily was the result of a decrease in natural gas prices. Natural gas prices fell by approximately 4.5% in 2011.