Off-campus students can now sleep a little easier with the knowledge that they will now have a few extra bucks to supplement their usual meals of Kraft macaroni and tortilla chips with hummus. Effective Jan. 1, 2012, Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating will operate under reduced generation rates for residential and business customers, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority announced Monday.

CL&P’s residential generational rate will drop about 1.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, resulting in an impressive $9 of savings a month. Meanwhile, UI customers, many of whom live on Howe Street, Edgewood Avenue and the like, can expect prices to dip about 1.8cents/kWh, saving students and families around the Have $13.50 a month, based on an average usage of 750kWh. Get excited, Howe residents: that’s enough to buy one Tempesto sandwich ($7.95 at Book Trader), two bowls of black bean soup ($5.50 each at Atticus) or even an arepa (around $5.50 at Ay! Arepa, or around $13 at Ay! Salsa).