<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001082510</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UIL HOLDINGS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UIL</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024134</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHASE ARNOLD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHASE ENTERPRISES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE COMMERCIAL PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HARTFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06103-3599</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>1</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-15</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>73.18</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>41.00</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>73.18</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>5443.34</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>1</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-15</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>115.87</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>41.00</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>115.87</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>5559.21</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> The phantom stock units were accrued under the UIL Holdings Corp.  Non-Employee Directors Common Stock and Deferred Compensation Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> The units are to be settled in UIL Holdings Corp. Common Stock upon termination of the Reporting Person's service (other than by death) or termination of the Plan.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> 1 for 1</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Theresa A. Kasuga as Attorney-in-Fact for Arnold L. Chase</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

