8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 18, 2005

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Connecticut	1-15052	06-1541045
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS Employer
of Incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
157 Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut		06506
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number,
Including Area Code		(203) 499-2000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

£Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

£Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

£Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

£Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On July 18, 2005, The United Illuminating Company (UI), a subsidiary of UIL Holdings Corporation (the Registrant), issued a press release announcing that UI has filed a formal application with the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control requesting an increase to its electricity distribution rate. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)Exhibits - The following exhibit is filed as part of this report:

99 Press release, dated July 18, 2005.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

UIL HOLDINGS CORPORATION

Registrant

Date: 7/18/05	By/s/ Richard J. Nicholas
	Richard J. Nicholas
	Executive Vice President
	and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit Index

ExhibitDescription

99Press Release dated July 18, 2005

EX-99

The United Illuminating Company

157 Church Street

P.O. Box 1564

New Haven, CT 06506-0901

203.499.2812 Fax: 203.499.3626

NEWS RELEASE

July 18, 2005	Analyst Contact:	Susan Allen:	203.499.2409
	Media Contact:	Anita Steeves:	203.499.2901
		After Hours:	203.499.2812

 

United Illuminating Files Rate Increase Application with DPUC

(NYSE:UIL) The United Illuminating Company (UI) today filed an application with the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC), requesting an increase to its electricity distribution rate for the first time in more than 10 years. If approved by the DPUC, residential customers using 500 kilowatt-hours per month will see their electric bills rise by approximately $4 per month in 2006.

“As we reported in our June 10 Letter of Intent to file for an increase, this requested increase is necessary to improve UI’s financial integrity, to enable us to prepare for the expected retirements of many of our highly skilled workers; to help us plan for the replacement of our aging electric distribution infrastructure; and to cover increased operating costs,” said Anthony J. Vallillo, president and chief operating officer of UI.

1994 was the last time UI’s distribution rate was increased, which was prior to the restructuring of the electric industry. Since restructuring, UI has engaged in the business of transmitting and distributing electricity to customers in the 17-town area of Greater New Haven and Greater Bridgeport. UI no longer generates its own electricity, but instead must buy power in the wholesale market to deliver to customers.

“We fully understand that because of increases in the cost of the wholesale power we must purchase, as well as increases in special charges mandated by the federal government to address energy congestion issues, many customers’ electricity bills have risen over the past two years,” said Vallillo. “Nevertheless, the total average price UI customers pay per kilowatt hour of electricity actually decreased by 0.4 percent between 1994 and 2004. At the same time, the Consumer Price Index rose by 27 percent.”

The application UI filed today sets forth amended rate schedules for distribution charges (and associated changes to the competitive transition assessment (“CTA”) rate) for each of four years that would result in additional revenues, compared to revenue requirements at then-current rates (i.e., what rates are expected to be absent this rate request), of approximately

·   5.1% in 2006,

·   0.6% in 2007,

·   1.8% in 2008, and

·   1.0% in 2009.

This equates to approximately $37.0 million in 2006, $4.4 million in 2007, $12.6 million in 2008, and $7.0 million in 2009.

The DPUC will establish a schedule, including public hearings, for the next steps in the rate request process.

The United Illuminating Company (UI) is a New Haven-based regional electricity distribution utility established in 1899. UI is engages in the purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and related services to more than 320,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Greater New Haven and Greater Bridgeport areas. UI’s web address is http://www.uinet.com. UI’s parent company, UI Holdings Corporation, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UIL.

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