Did you know that you may have a choice to decide who supplies electricity to your home? If you’re one of the lucky ones to live in a state where you have the power to decide on your electricity provider, you can save a substantial amount of money.
Since there’s increased competition between electricity suppliers, how can you be sure that you choose the right one for your business?
Keep reading to find out.
Which States Offer Choice?
Before you get too excited about saving money on electricity bills, you want to make sure that you live in a state that offers a choice. These are the states where you can choose your provider:
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Ohio
- California (On a Limited Basis)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Virginia (On a Limited Basis)
Some states may have a number of choices, while others don’t offer much of a choice. The rules for companies to be able to serve customers will be different in each state.
States that say they offer choice, may make it very difficult for companies to enter the market, which will limit the number of providers.
Understand Your Rights as a Consumer
When you have the power to choose your electricity supplier, you have to do a little more homework to really know what you’re signing up for.
That starts by knowing what your rights are as a consumer. In states that offer consumer choice, the rules are set by that state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Things like rate increases and consumer’s rights are overseen by this commission.
You should take a look at your state’s PUC to learn about the different providers and what rights you have as a consumer.
Shopping for Electricity Providers
The hard part is to find the right electricity supplier. You want to look at your wants and needs first. Do you want your electricity to come from renewable sources only? How much electricity do you really need?
These are important questions to ask yourself. They’re just as important as the rates that electricity suppliers offer.
There are sites that review suppliers in various states, whether you’re looking for Texas electricity or New York suppliers.
Read the Fine Print Before You Sign
You want to get everything in writing before you agree to sign up with an electricity supplier. Some providers will offer a lower rate as an incentive to sign up with them. This rate won’t last forever, and you don’t want to be surprised with a high bill.
If you’re being asked to sign a contract, read the contract carefully before you sign anything.
Finding the Best Electricity Suppliers
If you’re in a state that offers a choice of electricity suppliers, you can save money on electricity as long as you make a smart choice.
You should do your research and learn as much as you can about the different suppliers. You also want to make sure that you know your rights as a consumer. That makes shopping for a provider that has great service and lower rates easier.
Check out this site often for more tips on how to save money.