Connections Newsletter

Groton City Brew Run

The 5th Annual event will be held on September 6th at Eastern Point Beach

The City of Groton's signature event is right around the corner. Running and food trucks and local breweries - who could ask for anything more. Oh right, and it's held at the beautiful Eastern Point Beach. Plus live music from 2 Cat Zoo!

This event has been so much fun each year that more and more people have signed up year after year. Sign up early to guarantee your runners shirt.

Summer 2025

295 Meridian Street

Groton, CT 06340

Walk-in Hours:

Mon - Thurs: 8 am to 4pm

Phone Hours:

Mon - Fri: 8 am to 4pm

Sat: 8 am to noon

Closed Holidays

Did you know?

The average Groton Utilities electric customer pays 42% less than the local benchmark for the same amount of power usage. (based on rates as of 7/1/2025)

Fire Up the Grill, Not the Bill

Cooking tips to keep your kitchen cool and your energy bill cooler

Everybody loves the summertime, but nobody loves the utility bill that comes with running the AC constantly. Every time you cook indoors during the summer, your stove or oven adds heat to your home, making your air conditioner work even harder than it already was. During the heart of the summer this only adds to your utility bill, which no one wants.

The fix? Get Grillin’

Here’s how to enjoy delicious meals and save energy:

Go Full Grill Boss

Using a gas or charcoal grill outside keeps the heat where it belongs—in the yard, not your kitchen. Bonus: grilled food just tastes better. So get those burgers, hot dogs and ribs (the best!) cooking and leave the heat outside.

Keep It Simple (and Seasonal)

Take advantage of fresh local veggies—zucchini, corn, and peppers are perfect for skewers. Less time prepping means less time inside with appliances humming.

Curb Box Inspections

What is a curb box? The curb box is a vertical pipe housing the shut-off valve (also called a curb stop) that lets the utility control the flow of water into the building without needing to go inside. Curb boxes are generally located between the house and the street.

It typically looks like a small metal or plastic cap flush with the ground, sometimes in a lawn or sidewalk. Beneath that cap is a long pipe, with a rod or keyhole leading to the shut-off valve.

Why is Groton Utilities doing service line inspections?

The Water division of Groton Utilities (GU) is conducting curb box and basement inspections in our ongoing efforts to identify all service line materials connecting to our water infrastructure.

GU is currently developing a drinking water service line inventory to comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.

Potholing

Over the summer GU is potholing certain curb boxes. What is potholing? Potholing is the act of digging a small, precise hole to expose underground utilities like a water service line—without damaging them. This small excavation – the hole is generally 3 feet wide- will allow us to see two sections of the service line to confirm it material.

When potholing is necessary GU will notify you of the upcoming work and make all efforts to minimize disruption to the area around the curb box and improve access going forward.

Chill Out Without the Bill Shock: 5 Smart Summer Cooling Tips

People who don’t live in New England probably think that it doesn’t get that hot up north, but summer in Groton can bring the heat - and the electric bill to match. But staying cool doesn’t have to mean running your air conditioner full blast 24/7 (as tempting as that is). Here are five energy-smart ways to beat the heat and keep your electric bill in check:

1. Use Fans Strategically

Ceiling fans and portable fans use a fraction of the energy that ACs do. Set your ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise in summer—it pushes cool air down and makes rooms feel up to 4°F cooler. Just remember: fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave.

2. Block the Heat Out

Sunlight streaming through windows turns your home into a slow-cooking oven. Close blinds, curtains, or invest in thermal blackout shades - especially on south and west facing windows. You'll block out the heat before it even enters.

Summer Concerts run through the End of July

We have an exciting schedule of bands this year, packed with bands new to the park along with a few of our very favorites returning for another go. Additionally, our last show of the summer will be on City Day, our annual celebration of all things City of Groton.

The Friday Night summer concert series is held at Washington Park, Meridian Street in Groton. All concerts start at 6:30 pm and are co-sponsored and co-produced by Groton Utilities and the City of Groton Parks and Recreation Department.

The concerts are designed to be especially appealing to families for a fun, inexpensive night out. Spectators are encouraged to bring their families and enjoy the food trucks and concession stand. The concert site also has sufficient room on the basketball court for dancing. Food schedule will be posted on the City of Groton website as the summer approaches.

Energy Saving Tips

We need your help

Groton Utilities is a publicly owned utility and as such is not profit-drive. Our goal is simply to provide the best quality services at the lowest possible rates.

While we do the best we can, we'd love to hear back from you to learn what you think we do well, and where we could improve. We will then use the results to better service our customers.

We know that you are busy (aren't we all?) but please take a moment out of your day and let us know how we are doing. We swear it will only take a couple of minutes. We appreciate your help.

Take Survey