Despite a push for alternative energy, New England will remain highly dependent for some time on natural gas to run its power plants.
Vermont gets most of its electricity from nuclear and hydroelectric power, thanks to the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant and the provincial utility Hydro-Quebec.
But the regional power dispatch agency, ISO-New England, says most of the regional power grid will rely on natural gas-fired power plants for much of its electricity.
And it says that means electric rates are not expected to come down any time soon.