Nstar's electric customers will see another drop in their electric bills after Jan. 1.

The utility yesterday announced that its new rates for the first half of next year will be down 3.7 percent from current prices and down 30 percent from the same period last year, thanks to falling energy prices.

Nstar's new rate, which is expected to receive approval from the state Department of Public Utilities, is $20 lower per average monthly bill than what customers paid in the first half of 2009.

"Between lower electricity supply prices and increased energy efficiency, customers are seeing much lower bills this year," said Tom May, Nstar's CEO. "The decline in market prices has allowed us to pass along some significant savings to our customers in recent months, and in today's difficult economy this represents one of the bright spots."

Electric utilities in Massachusetts file new rates twice a year, based on fluctuating commodity prices.

The biannual rate changes don't include the cost of delivering electricity.

National Grid and other electric-company customers have seen similar savings over the past year.

- jfitz@bostonherald.com

Originally published by By JAY FITZGERALD.

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