Energy Articles | Energy Conservation and Electric Deregulation

First Energy's WARM Program for Low Income PA Customers

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:05:23 -0500

The WARM program is designed to help low-income residents in Pennsylvania save energy at home in order to decrease their electric bills. The changes that the program allows will make the customer’s home warmer in winter and cooler in the summer while decreasing energy loss in the home. This is done by using an in-home evaluation to find out where energy is being wasted in the home, and then making home improvements that will reduce that energy waste.

What does this really mean? One example would be that the evaluation determines that your attic insulation is really bad so you’re losing a lot of your home’s heat through your roof. The WARM program will pay for your new attic insulation. This will keep your home warmer and that means that you’ll need to use less heat to keep your home comfortable in the winter so your energy waste will be reduced and your bills will be lower as a result.

Some of the other changes that the WARM program might offer based on your home’s needs include:

- Weather-stripping and caulking
- Replacement of inefficient appliances such as water heaters and refrigerators
- Adding window tinting to keep the home cooler without running the AC
- Installing energy-saving light bulbs throughout the home

The WARM program is offered by First Energy, which means that it’s available to customers of Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power. Customers of these companies can qualify for the program if they have an average electric usage of at least 600 kWh per month and an income level at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Customers who qualify can contact a local social service agency and let them know they want to apply for the WARM program. At that time, a contractor will be sent out to check out the home and the energy-saving process will begin.

Source: https://www.firstenergycorp.com/save_energy/save_energy_pennsylvania/for_your_home/warm_energy-savinghomeimprovementsforlowincomecustomers.html

DP&L Rates Going Down Thanks to Competitive Bidding

Mon, 14 May 2012 15:10:12 -0500

There are changes taking place in the way that Ohio utility companies determine their rates. Those changes include competitive bidding that will allow the market to determine rates by 2018. In between now and then, the competitive bidding will start and companies are required to have a plan filed with the Public Utilities Commission to determine rates starting in January. DP&L has filed their five and a half year plan and it's expected that it will result in a small rate decrease for customers.

The utility companies in the state are all planning to put their energy supply requirements up for auction. This means that the folks who supply the power to the company will be able to bid to do that supplying. This competition creates lower and lower rates for the utility companies. The utility companies can then pass on those lower rates to customers. The first of these new auctions is set to take place in October and that will determine rates for the period starting January 2013.

DP&L has created a plan that takes this bidding process into effect. Their predictions into the competitiveness of the market say that customers should see a drop of between 3 and 5 percent on their monthly bills. This is true for both residential and business customers. By 2018 the whole electricity generation part of the bill (which is about 2/3 of your total energy bill) will be determined by the competitive market and it is expected that there will be a slight increase in 2018 but that's obviously subject to market changes.

Don't forget that as a utility customer you have the right to shop around to decide who supplies your OH electricity. You may be able to secure better rates than what DP&L can offer even though their rates are predicted to decrease slightly in the year to come.

Source: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/dp-l-electric-bills-expected-to-drop-by-2013-1354900.html

Con Edison Modlets Make Window ACs More Efficient

Tue, 08 May 2012 10:17:18 -0500

It is a hot, sweltering summer day in New York City. Residents across the city are turning their window air conditioners on high to try to beat the heat. The energy surge places too much demand on the electric grid and suddenly power goes down. Now you're sitting in the sweltering heat without relief and the rest of your electricity doesn't work either. What's the solution? Con Edison believes it could be a new device called a modlet.

The modlet is a small device that plugs into your existing outlets. You then plug your window air conditioner into the modlet. This effectively creates a networked energy-efficient system for those appliances that you can control from a smartphone or web browser whether or not you're at home. So, for example, you may remember that you left your air conditioner on when you left for work and you can just log on and turn it off. Or you may be someone who leaves the AC on when you're at work so it's nice and cool when you get home; instead of doing that you can control the temperature from work to reduce power waste but keep a cool temperature when you're about to arrive home again.

This ability to control the home's window ACs from anywhere is the first benefit that modlet users will see. The next benefit that they'll notice is a corresponding decrease in their monthly bills because of their improved control over their home cooling system. And although they may not see it right away, this reduced power waste offers benefits to the environment. Finally, it also means less demand on the electric grid so there should be fewer power outages.

In fact, Con Edison is using the modlet to help them monitor and control the electric grid to prevent outages. Customers who participate in the modlet program will be giving access to their window AC to ConEd so that they can reduce temperatures in homes when they see a high demand on the power grid. This may sound weird at first if you've never used a networked system but it's actually a simple and effective way to keep the power grid stable. Customers get a notification when the system is hitting its peak so that they know that Con Edison will be reducing their temperatures a bit. This is just one part of a program called coolNYC that Con Edison has implemented in conjunction with ThinkEco to improve smart technology in the city.

http://www.qgazette.com/news/2012-05-02/Front_Page/Con_Edison_And_ThinkEco_Launch_Window_Air_Conditio.html

Details Being Ironed Out to Improve CT Power Service

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:10:41 -0500

If you were in Connecticut in August or October 2011 then you know how devastating it can be when there is a huge power outage in the state. Big storms knocked out electricity leaving homes without energy for days. Connecticut lawmakers are working out a plan to make sure that the utility companies are held accountable for improving their service so that this type of problem doesn’t occur again. Everyone seems to agree that something needs to be done. However, the details still need to be ironed out in legislation and the final decision may not come until the end of May 2012.

Everyone agrees that both Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating need to be required to meet certain performance levels. Even the utility companies themselves agree on that point. Everyone also agrees that there needs to be some sort of punishment for any failure to meet those levels. What the lawmakers aren’t in agreement about are the details about the levels that must be met and the punishment meted out for failure to do so.

Some of the specifics that are still in the process of being worked out include:

- What minimum standards must be met by the utility companies
- How those standards will be implemented and measured
- How much discretion legislators should have when reviewing the companies’ success or failure in meeting the standards
- How rates will be affected for customers of the utility companies since meeting minimum standards does incur some cost for the business
- Who will pay the cost of improving the power systems if not the consumers
- Details related to staffing requirements at utility companies

As you can see, there are many specifics to work out. A primarily battle is really in determining how strict the regulation of the utility companies should be. Conservatives want to put a very specific plan in place that would determine how utility companies are expected to respond to outages based on their size and what length of outage will be acceptable. Liberals say that it’s okay to allow the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to have some discretion on a case-by-case basis. Either way, improvements are expected from the CT companies this year.

Source: http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news23388.html

Ohio Makes Leaps and Bounds in Natural Gas

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:34:22 -0500

Ohio has gotten a lot of bad press when it comes to natural gas thanks to the fact that it was recently confirmed that hydraulic fracturing for this resource was the cause of 2011 earthquakes in the state. However, not all is bad for Ohio. In fact, the state is opening a new natural gas processing plant that will take the state near the top of the pack when it comes to capabilities for natural gas processing.

The plant that we’re talking about here is a new processing plant to open in Columbiana County thanks to Chesapeake Energy. Once it begins operating, the plant will be capable of processing 600 million cubic feet of gas per day. Just by adding this large-capacity power plant, the state of Ohio will leap ahead to number 16 among all states in terms of natural gas processing capacity. The plant should be able to serve the power needs of two million customers.

In addition to the Chesapeake plant, Dominion has also announced plans to open a processing center along the Ohio-West Virginia line in Natrium, W. Va. This plant will have a capacity of 200 million cubic feet of gas per day with the ability to expand to 400 million.

Some people will eye this development cautiously because of the recent headlines about the Ohio earthquakes that were caused by natural gas drilling. However, the Chesapeake processing plant is an entirely different type of thing. Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial drilling process that involves injecting powerful streams of chemical-laced water into the ground to get to the gas inside. In contrast, this new processing plant is the first of its kind designed to develop Ohio’s Utica shale by gathering "wet gas", which is natural gas liquid that is stored in dense gas deposits in the state.

The new developments in the Utica shale also will push Dominion East Ohio into the forefront and make them a premier gatherer of "wet gas".

Chesapeake Energy will be taking care of both the extraction of the gas and the processing of it. The Ohio plant will take about five years to build. It will cost about $900 million. But it will bring many jobs to the area and will push Ohio closer to the forefront of the natural gas boom in this country.

Source: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/03/18/ohio-climbs-into-gas-processing.html

Pepco Businesses are Paying for Residential Customers

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:40:08 -0500

Maryland businesses have been footing the bill for residential energy costs according to Pepco. A rateincrease for residential customers seems like a fair way to help even the odds so that those small businesses are only paying for their own use. Of course, residential customers aren’t thrilled to hear that their rates are going up and there are opponents to any kind of rate increase.

The problem is that there has been a significant increase in the number of residential Pepco customers in recent years but there hasn’t been a corresponding increase in the amount of money the utility company makes off of those customers. In fact the cost to Pepco for providing those customers with energy is more than twice as high as the amount of revenue increase that has come from those customers. What ends up happening is that business customers are the only ones creating profit for the utility company and many believe that isn’t fair.

It has been suggested that any rate hike by Pepco should be applied only to the residential customers and not to the business customers. But it’s hotly debated that there should be any rate hike at all. Pepco has filed a request to be allowed to raise MD electric rates by almost $70 million, which means about a $5.50 rate increase per month for each residential customer. That sounds reasonable enough but opponents say that the reason that Pepco needs the money is because they need to replace an aging infrastructure and the regulators have already denied Pepco the right to place the burden of those costs on to its customers.

It’s not clear at this point what will happen. The company’s proposal is still being reviewed. What is clear is that there’s a problem and that local businesses are currently the ones paying for it.

Source: http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2012/03/residents-should-feel-bulk-pepco-rate-increase-metro-says/400621

JCP&L Tree-Cutting Program Moves Right Along

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:32:44 -0500

You hear a lot of news about utility companies that isn't good news. It's often not their fault that there are storm-related outages and other problems that can lead to some bad press (although admittedly sometimes it is!) It's always nice, though, when a company goes a bit above and beyond to make sure that the news about them is good news. That's what has been happening recently with Jersey Central Power & Light as the company moves forward with an aggressive tree-cutting program that was announced recently.

JCP&L said in late February 2012 that it would be investing $200 million this year in system upgrades and infrastructure improvements designed to improve service for all of its customers. This would begin with a $20 million investment into a big tree-cutting program. JCP&L admitted that many of the outages that upset customers in recent months were caused by falling trees and that they needed to nip the problem at its roots, so to speak, by trimming down trees to give proper clearance for their wires.

The utility company has made good on its promise by rapidly getting going with the plan. JCP&L reports that they've already completed work on forty miles of coverage area, which is nearly one quarter of the entire area that they plan to address with this improvement. The company had set a date of making sure that the project was completed by the end of the 2012 fiscal year but with their rapid progress they expect to have it done before the summer is over.

JCP&L is also making improvements in other areas to help keep customers happy. For example, they are setting up satellite staging areas whenever there is a storm warning or the risk of a big outage to create emergency crews that can rapidly respond to outage reports. And the company is also making website updates to help customers stay more informed about real time issues that affect them.

Source: http://longvalley.patch.com/articles/jcp-l-making-strides-in-upgrades-to-region

MA National Grid Natural Gas Customers See Rates Drop 13 Percent

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:02:33 -0500

Natural gas customers have a reason to be happy: their rates have been dropping steadily over the past couple of years. Customers of National Grid in Massachusetts can be especially happy since they’re going to see a 13% decrease in the cost of their monthly natural gas bills starting in May.

The average monthly National Grid Natural Gas bill is about $47. The rate decrease will drop that amount to about $41. This means that the average customer will save about $6 per month, which can be put towards something else. It may not sound like a lot but it’s almost enough for a monthly Netflix or Hulu subscription or it could add a little bit to your grocery budget. Every little bit helps, right?!

What’s more important is that these rate savings seem to be a continuing trend. Wholesale natural gas prices have been on the decline since 2009. When the company pays less for gas, they pass that savings on to customers. National Grid customers are currently paying about 10% less than they were last winter. The 13% decrease for the summer season (which is in comparison to last summer) means rates are decreasing even more.

There are a few reasons for the rate decline including an atypically warm winter that reduced customer use of natural gas. However, the main reason is because there is increasing availability of natural gas in the United States thanks to drilling projects across the nation. Getting this resource domestically decreases costs. This has led to an abundance of natural gas, making storage capacity almost full. Supply and demand dictates prices and so natural gas costs are going down.

The rate change for National Grid MA natural gas customers starts May 1st. It will continue through October. Rates are expected to stay stable through all of 2012 if not longer.

Source: http://readme.readmedia.com/Monthly-Bills-to-Drop-13-Percent-for-National-Grid-Natural-Gas-Customers-in-Massachusetts/3753267

Natural Shale Gas Pipeline Proposition for Georgians May Be Available by 2015

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:23:36 -0500

In a proposal given by Spectra Energy® representatives on Friday, March 2, a pipeline is being suggested to run from Tennessee through Alabama and into Georgia then to connect with another line to the east. The project, once known as the Renaissance Gas Transmission Project, will direct shale gas into Georgia by the latter part of 2015.

Those Involved

Spectra Energy is a FORTUNE 500 company who is vital to the collection, transmission, storage and distribution of natural gas. They have been in the industry for nearly a century. This recent venture of creating a shale pipeline into Georgia is being supported in this initial stage by the prominent AGL Resources.

Thus far, Spectra Energy has signed off on nonbinding letters with Atlanta AGL Resources, who transports large amounts of natural gas to its Georgia customers-even those who use various marketers. Each marketer first buys the gas from AGL, making AGL a key component in the electric industry.

"Any project that increases the supply of natural gas into Georgia is potentially good for our customers," an AGL Resources spokeswoman said.

Although early in the process and with unbinding commitment, there is potential for customers to save money once the pipeline is in operating order.

In addition, AGL has two subsidiaries: Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas. Both companies are near the new proposed pipeline and could seek rights to much of the project. Spectra is seeking contracts with all parties.

What’s Next?

In order to move forward to the State and Federal authorities, Spectra must acquire the commitments from marketers and utilities that also define the need for natural gas-enough to justify this pipeline. Natural gas is in high demand because of its low cost, but unfortunately, the gas formed from shale rock entrapments is a touchy subject that continues to drive other pipeline projects.

The Shale Battle

This affordable method for producing natural gas is under scrutiny by many groups that claim its negative impact on the environment.

"Shale gas is not necessarily a clean energy solution," said Colleen Kiernan, Georgia Sierra Club chapter Director. "This development is disappointing, and we will definitely watch it as it progresses."

The process, known as fracking, is causing an uproar because of its potential link to water contamination, toxic leaks and harm to animals; one such toxin being methane gas. Should fracking cause methane gas leaks into the water supply, water would become flammable as one homeowner in Pennsylvania proved late February of this year.

The proposal continues to move forward toward enabling the production of the pipeline from Tennessee to Alabama and into Georgia.

Yes, Fracking Caused Ohio Earthquakes

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:15:17 -0500

The land shook in Ohio last year again and again and again. After the initial fear of feeling the ground moving beneath them passed, people began to theorize about what was causing these earthquakes. Ideas ranged from the shifting of billion-year old rocks beneath the ground to the coming of the end of the world. A more likely theory, however, and one that has now been confirmed is that fracking (a form of natural gas drilling) was the cause of the 2011 Ohio quakes.

Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a controversial form of natural gas drilling. Basically the process involves using a high amount of pressure to send water, sand and various chemicals into the earth to shake up the rocks that are in the ground. This frees up the natural gas as a resource that can be used by energy consumers. To date it has been controversial primarily because of fears that it contaminates water sources. The controversy has only grown since fracking has been found to be a cause of the Ohio earthquakes.

The average person may presume that it's the high-pressure action of fracking that caused the quakes but it actually has to do with the way that the contaminated wastewater is being disposed of. In Ohio, as in many other states where fracking is allowed, the wastewater is injected deep into wells. Ohio's Department of Natural Resources studied the quakes and found that the contaminated water in the wells was leaking into a natural fault line that was previously undiscovered and this, combined with a variety of other unfortunate natural circumstances, caused the earthquakes.

In response to these findings, Ohio now has stricter rules about wastewater disposal in fracking. There are new rules about how and where this waste can be disposed. There are also new rules about drilling of new wells. New technology will be required that will include better data tracking / monitoring as well as automatic shut-off valves.

This is a complicated issue because natural gas is an important energy resource that the nation needs more of. But of course we can't be causing earthquakes to get it; that's not a fair trade-off. The new regulations should help to increase safety around this controversial OH natural gas drilling practice.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fracking-quake-20120310,0,3295304.story

Final Report: PG&E Owed $70 Million for Pipeline Explosion

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:55:23 -0500

Back in 2010 a faulty pipeline exploded in San Bruno California. Eight people were killed in the explosion. Dozens of homes were destroyed in the explosion and the fire that ensued. And it was determined that Pacific Gas & Electric was responsible. A final report has come down that says that the utility company must pay $70 million to the city of San Bruno for the tragic event. The cost will not be passed on to PG&E customers.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the cause of the explosion and it boiled down to a number of problems that PG&E could have prevented. Those problems included:

o The pipeline was inadequate when it was first installed more than fifty years ago.

o The inspection of pipelines was not sufficient throughout the years, allowing problems to build up.

o Poor record keeping by PG&E exacerbated the problems.

PG&E has already committed to repairing all of the problems caused by the explosion after it was determined in August 2011 that the utility company was at fault. This commitment includes making repairs to the neighborhood where the explosion occurred. It also includes paying the city of certain costs associated with rebuilding San Bruno’s city infrastructure.

The $70 million now owed is in addition to those repairs and repayments. The city of San Bruno will establish a non-profit organization specifically for the purpose of determining the proper use of the funds obtained from the utility company. The goal is for this money to benefit the entire community.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/12/us/california-pge-settlement/index.html

New York Natural Gas Drilling Bans Upheld

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:05:13 -0500

There are two towns in the state of New York that had hoped to be able to drill for natural gas but it’s not going to happen because bans on the drilling were recently upheld in court. This is happy news for the environmentalists who are opposed to the drilling, particularly a type of drilling called hydraulic fracturing. However, it’s bad news for NY natural gas companies. Luckily for them, the decisions aren’t final; they’ll go to the next stage of the court process and be considered for appeal.

The two towns

There were two different towns in New York dealing with this same issue. The first was Middlefield. The second was Dryden. The two cases were separate from one another. However they were both recently ruled on by different State Supreme Court judges with the same conclusion: natural gas drilling bans remain intact.

Many other towns

Although these two towns are in the spotlight right now, the issue is widespread across the state. The state itself banned hydraulic fracturing in 2010. Since that time, approximately twenty different towns have passed natural gas drilling bans.

What is hydraulic fracturing?

The main issue at hand with these two towns was the issue of hydraulic fracturing, a method of drilling for natural gas. In this method, "chemically treated water is forced underground to break up rock and free trapped gas". People with environmental concerns say that this affects the quality of the drinking water in the area and is therefore bad for residents.

Will natural gas companies look elsewhere?

The ruling in these two cases is likely to discourage natural gas companies from trying to work in the state of New York. It is believed that the affected region could supply natural gas to the United States for approximately seven years but there are other states with less tight regulation that those companies may decide to work in first. For now, the jury is still out when it comes to hydraulic fracturing as the state tries to figure out the environmental details.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-25/natural-gas-fracking-ban-upheld-in-second-new-york-town.html

ComEd Seeks To Appeal $36.7 Million Customer Refund

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:20:20 -0500

ComEd has been told that it must issue a refund to customers totaling more than $36 million dollars. This is due to the fact that they inflated customer rates in the past, costing them more than they should have. However, ComEd isn't happy about this decision and is seeking to appeal it.

The origin of this issue dates back nearly five years. In 2007 the issue went to court because consumer advocates believed that ComEd was cheating its customers out of money. They said that the way that the utility company was calculating the depreciation of its assets was inaccurate and unfair to the customer.

ComEd didn't want to settle on repaying that money back to customers. They decided to appeal. And it's been in the courts ever since. In 2010 the Appellate Court ruled that the consumer advocates were right about the depreciation issue. But then ComEd turned around and said that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) had never actually ordered a customer refund on this issue. So then it had to go back to the ICC.

The ICC has now made its decision. They've ordered a $36.7 million refund to be distributed to customers. However, ComEd is unhappy with the decision. They are seeking to get the ICC to re-hear the issue and if that doesn't end the way that they want it to then they are going to appeal again.

This means that it could take a little while before the refund actually gets into the customers' hands. Nevertheless, the issue is important because it settles the topic of depreciation and therefore saves customers money in the future because of the way that depreciation is now calculated.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-icc-orders-367-million-refund-for-comed-customers-20120223,0,1546822.story

OH Sees a Year of Lower Natural Gas Costs Ahead

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:18:54 -0500

Natural gas costs are going to drop for some Ohio customers on April 1st with a lower rate continuing at least through the end of March 2013. Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio customers are getting these lower rates thanks to a recent auction. However, it may be possible to get even better prices on natural gas in the area if you're a customer who is willing to shop around.

What you need to understand about this new Vectren rate is where it comes from. The lower rate is thanks to an auction that sets the default price for natural gas for customers who have chosen to remain with Vectren rather to switch to a lower cost retail supplier. Regardless of whether you shop with Vectren or an alternative supplier, Vectren is going to be responsible for distribution of your natural gas. However, some customers choose to also have Vectren remain their supplier and it is those customers specifically that are going to see the rate decrease.

The rate decrease is nice, but it's not huge. The price of natural gas makes up just over half of the average customer's monthly bill. The new rate decrease will mean that the average customer saves about $23 per year or just under $2 per month. Nice, but not amazing.

Customers who truly want to enjoy lower OH natural gas rates will make the smart move to not just accept Vectren as their only choice for natural gas supply. Sure, the company will continue to be your distributor, but you may be able to find lower rates on the actual supply of the natural gas by looking at switching to another retail provider. It's always worth a look. If you don't like what you find, you'll still get the $23 per year savings that Vectren is offering by sticking with them so it's a win-win.

Source: http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/natural-gas-prices-to-drop-april-1-for-vectren-customers-1322071.html

Mobile Electric Customers Take it To The Next Level Online

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:45:22 -0500

We do almost everything online these days. And much of what we do online isn’t done from a home computer but instead from our tablets and smartphones. Why would it be any different with our home electric bills? It’s not, especially for NIPSCO customers that now have access to a mobile version of the utility company’s website.

Not everyone understands this but the website that you see on your computer and the website that you see on your phone aren’t the same. The visual changes may be so minor that you don’t notice them but the mobile website has to be optimized for efficient use on a smaller device. That’s what NIPSCO has done with the release of its new mobile website. And it’s what other electric companies are doing as well.

Being able to fully access a mobile web version of an electric site means that you can do the following things from your mobile phone:

o Report a power outage. This is especially important since you can’t do that from your home computer if your power has gone out at home.

o Track power restoration updates after an outage. This means that you can leave home and go use the power somewhere else, checking in on your mobile electricity site to find out how the power restoration is going.

o See the extent of a power outage. Basically you have access to real time information about outages with mobile NIPSCO and sites like it.

o Streetlight outage reporting and tracking. Same thing but specific to streetlights, which enhances safety.

o Gas safety reporting. For example, if you smell something that you think might be a gas leak, you can leave the area and report it through the mobile website.

o Checking lines as needed. For example, let’s say that you want to dig in your backyard but you don’t know where the gas line is and obviously don’t want to affect it; you use the mobile site to check.

o Accounts and bill pay. Pay your electric bill while waiting in line somewhere using the mobile web.

The mobile web is the way we do many things today; it only makes sense that major electric and natural gascompanies keep up with the times.

Source: http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/customers-can-now-report-outages-access-safety-account-info-on/article_03e9d8cc-82b1-594e-a084-acfd4894f5be.html

Natural Gas Offers Affordable Energy Solution for NJ Customers

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:49:22 -0600

New Jersey energy customers pay some of the highest rates in the nation for electricity. However, a solution seems to be in sight. Many people are making use of the option of natural gas, an option with rates that have been decreasing over time. Numerous credits and rebate offers are causing more and more people to make the natural gas choice in this region.

Major natural gas suppliers in New Jersey have been offering discounts galore over the past year. Public Service Electric & Gas has offered eight different bill credits to their customers in the past year, reducing customers' bills by more than one third. And New Jersey Natural Gas is offering credits for the third month in the row, amounting to a 37% cumulative cost reducing in their customers' bills.

Customers can make the choice to reduce their own bills further by shopping around to get the lowest prices on natural gas in their area. With several New Jersey companies competing for business and natural gas hotter than ever in this area customers are currently able to find great deals on this energy option. And it's an option that is likely to be the forerunner for some time to come in this state if plans go as expected.

The state of New Jersey is working hard to make sure that natural gas is a primary energy provider in the immediate future by adopting an energy plan that has this resource at its center. The state is upgrading and expanding its natural gas pipeline infrastructure. It is converting large fleets of state vehicles to natural gas. And new natural gas plants are being developed to increase supply and further drive down prices.

That's all good news for the customers in this state. The people who aren't so happy about it are the folks that run the big energy companies that aren't placing NJ natural gas at the center of their business plan. Those people lose out by not offering what NJ customers are currently seeking and they're none too happy about it. Nevertheless, natural gas seems to be the plan for the future so it would be smart for such business owners to get on board!

Source: http://tomsriver.patch.com/articles/nj-natural-gas-customers-to-get-another-bill-credit

Knock Knock - Is That The Gas Company At Your Door

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:12:29 -0600

Imagine that you are just sitting down to watch some TV with your family when there is a knock on your door. You glance warily at it but get up and go to see who it is. There at your front door is a door-to-door salesman who wants you to switch energy suppliers today. You're not clear who he works for and he's asking to see your bills and other paperwork. What do you do? Many customers just shut the door on these folks but some customers are getting lured in to making bad energy company decisions in exactly this type of situation.

The problem seems to have started with Direct Energy, a Michigan natural gas supplier. This company chooses to use a door-to-door sales strategy to make customers aware of their right to choose their own energy suppliers. However, numerous customers are reporting that people from this company are showing up and saying they are with Consumers Energy, failing to show proper identification and legitimate paperwork and being very pushy in trying to convince the customer to show them documents.

Customers have been filing complaints with the State of Michigan Attorney General about the company's door-to-door sales strategy for the past five years. Company spokespeople say that they believe in this strategy but that they don't want their customers to feel pressured into making energy choices on the spot. Customers can always choose to ask that paperwork be left with them and then ask the person to leave.

Unfortunately, it's not always that easy for everyone. While some of us have no problem ignoring the knock at the door, others do feel that pressure. They may choose to show paperwork to someone in this situation, putting themselves at risk. It's great for people to be made aware of the fact that they have energy options and can choose their own provider but it needs to be done in a way that is safe. Customers should always take the time to shop around on their own for MI natural gas rates, not signing up with the first salesperson to show up at the door.

Source: http://fenton.patch.com/articles/gas-company-going-door-to-door-raises-eyebrows-in-fenton

PG&E Charged With Safety Violations and Unlawful Rate Increases

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:44:15 -0600

Utility companies just can't seem to keep themselves out of the media. Unfortunately for them, the kind of attention they're receiving tends to blacken a name. The past two years, for example, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has risen to the top of utility problem stories with charges of safety violations, unlawful rate increases and inappropriate dispersing of funds.

Safety Violations

PG&E is being deemed responsible for eight deaths, 58 injuries and the near destruction of 38 homes, according to the California Public Utility Commission's Consumer Protection and Safety Division (CPSD). This tragic event causing the listed destruction took place on September 9, 2010, where a 30-inch diameter pipeline exploded in a San Bruno neighborhood. This natural gas pipeline was owned and maintained by PG&E. Thus the National Transportation Safety Board agrees with the CPSD that PG&E's lack of maintenance and management is responsible for the havoc from September 9.

These and other claims are available for review in the CPSD's incident investigation report where it explains that, "PG&E's failure to follow accepted industry practice when constructing the section of pipe that failed, PG&E's inadequate record-keeping practices, the utility's failure to comply with integrity management requirements, deficiencies in PG&E's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System and inadequate procedures to handle emergencies and abnormal conditions, the utility's deficient emergency response actions after the incident, and a systemic failure of PG&E's corporate culture to emphasize safety over profits."

Rate Increases

Most residents across the country can recount a time when their utility rates increased in supposed efforts to improve service and quality. Customers of PG&E can certainly relate as the utility continued requesting CA natural gas rate hikes over the years to pay for many so-called necessary upgrades. However, within the beginning months of 2011 PG&E received a large rate increase only to request a $2.2 billion increase again in August of 2011-where did the money go?

Poor Money Management

Besides burdening customers with two rate hikes in a year, a recent report claims that the money from these increases has been unlawfully managed and actually never went to pay off the said necessary upgrades.

The California Public Utility Commission's report exposes that nearly a half billion dollars acquired from rate hikes over the past years surpasses what the utility is lawfully allowed to earn. Thus, the second set of charges being filed against this California utility.

Hearings are being planned and judges being chosen to oversee the proceedings. No dates have been set.

What You Save in Price You Make Up in Delivery

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:37:37 -0600

Have you ever come across a great bargain where you just can't believe you found it and wow how much money you're about to save? And then it hits you, the shipping and handling is more than the item even costs! Or, the shipping is so outrageous it just balances it out and you end up saving little to nothing. That's the same scenario as what is happening between CL&P and its customers.

The Background

After last September's heavy rainfall and October's unexpectedly harsh snow storm hauled through the state, CL&P has found refuge in the idea of its customers, as some say, "footing the bill." So, as the price for electricity is on the rise, the other part of the bill may be on the decline. But how helpful is this really?

In November, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) okayed a reduction in generation by about 1.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. Thus, an average home using 750 kWh can expect a $9 decrease. This reduction could be the way for CL&P to retain some customers who may have otherwise utilized a third party supplier. As Connecticut is a deregulated state, electric customers have the freedom to choose their CT electricity rates, plan and supplier.

Raise the Rates

Although the utility seems to feel justified in its decision to raise rates, many feel otherwise, including Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei. He has said that such a rate increase only condones the utility's inability to provide responsible and reliable service. Tesei remembers nearly half the state without power for more than seven days. He even wrote a letter laying out the track record between 2010 and this year.

"Based upon our experience with CL&P during the last two years, it is clear that they have a serious reliability problem," he continued. "Since PURA acts as the sole regulatory authority overseeing this monopoly, it is equally clear that the authority must initiate and take serious action to mitigate these shortcomings."

Prices Before and After Deregulation

Prior to the deregulation of prices in 1998, electric costs were actually less and more affordable. Now, ever since the deregulation, prices have grown steadily to achieve higher rates than before homeowners had a choice in supplier. In fact, for the same amount of electric use, a homeowner before deregulation may have been paying less than $80, but now pays around $125!

So, even without the storms of last year, would CL&P still raise the prices? That just might be the case. Unfortunately for Connecticut residents, who withstand some of the highest bills in the country, electricity is expected to be pricey. Although this is the same for all states, what Tesei is seemingly trying to prove is a lack of accountability on the part of CL&P. Constant rate hikes, unreliable service and storm or no storm, it seems fair to say the prices may have still increased.

Although there is some good news and relief, it is only subtle and will only influence those for whom CL&P generate electricity. All in all, is it really a good bargain or another way to make money? It's still up for debate.

NSTAR and NU Merger Moves Forward With Split Decisions in MA and CT

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:42:19 -0600

The turn of this year has proven quite intense for those involved in the anticipated NStar and Northeast Utilities (NU) merger, to be completed by April 16, 2012. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources had been immovable on their demand that NStar guarantee a rate freeze for five years-- such a hefty demand and with such little time. This was putting a serious damper on the merger deadline, until earlier this month when Governor Deval Patrick's administration retracted the demand. Unfortunately for the merger, MA loosened the reigns and CT recently announced its decision to omit its original decision to stay out of review and move into a review process.

Background on the Motion

The merging companies first heard of the MA officials' demands back in July of last year. It was announced that NStar must complete a formal rate review, which usually takes months to finalize. Thus, the merger seemed in a balance, with a proposed deadline of April 16. Connecticut officials indicated no jurisdiction over the matter, which has been changed.

However, the companies chose to move forward and hope for the best. They got their wish earlier this month when the motion from MA was dropped. In fact, Caroline Allen, spokesman for NStar indicated an agreement to the rate credit for customers and would work in a timely manner with the Department of Public Utilities. Perhaps it was this cooperation that has led to the official revocation from MA.

"We are pleased that the Department of Energy Resources has dropped its request for a rate hearing. We see this as a positive step for the merger, as a full rate proceeding can take several months to undergo and would have no bearing on the merger," Allen said.

Back and Forth for CT Officials

Meanwhile, when CT officials claimed no interest in reviewing the merger, the state has now announced a legal obligation to review the merger. The foundation of this change in review is based solely on the concerns about service. CT wants to ensure that its customers will receive "safe, adequate, reliable, and reasonably priced services."

The officials aim to finish this review in time for the anticipated deadline.

Although the utilities are a bit frazzled by this news, they comply with the state's decision- NU spokesman, Al Lara said.

"We believe that the Authority's initial ruling was the correct one. However, we comply with their new decision and submit a merger application for their consideration," said Lara.

The Outcome of Merging

NU, a Hartford Connecticut based utility, and NSTAR, based in Boston, have several aims for this merger. First, they hope to create a projected $17.5 billion utility spanning 3.5 million customer households. Such numbers would then make way for lower costs, and lower rates. The same intent that the MA governance was wanting with the formal review.

This merger will become one of the largest utilities, spanning from Connecticut, through Massachusetts and into Pittsburgh, New Hampshire.

What This Means for Customers

Aside the influence such a merger has on the utilities themselves, the above outcomes mentioned heavily influence the utility expenses of customers. With the ever changing electric industry, it seems a promising merger with the customers in mind. As such a merging of utilities will potentially bring a decrease to MA electricity rates, CT electric rates and costs.

Shale Reserves Lessen Natural Gas Prices: What's the Catch

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:47:07 -0600

It seems there's always some sort of controversy surrounding the new wave of natural gas generation. As efforts are making way for the future, skeptics are sure to be packing a punch. Is it a dose of reality or just differing methodologies?

Trouble in Paradise

While natural gas is best for the environment, it's becoming a very big expense for residents having to foot the bills. Power plants have to be revamped, which increases the price of electric. Although it seems a step in the right direction, it's costing a fortune.

Now, here's a way to lower the price of natural gas; fracking. It's an up and coming technology that makes use of shale reserves. The best part? It's a huge supply in comparison to the demand-so it's cheap. Unfortunately, it's a concern for environmental activists, and understandably so.

Fracking Brings a Change

In New Jersey, PSE&G has cut its natural gas bills by about five percent. In the past two years, there's been a total decline in price by about 35 percent. Other utilities like New Jersey Natural Gas, South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas Company are following suit. What's the cause of this money saver? Shale reserves.

The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has also noticed the trend and has no issue with making use of the reserves.

"The development of Marcellus shale has allowed New jersey utilities to tap into natural gas reserves locally, resulting in lower delivery costs and savings for New Jersey ratepayers," said a BPU statement.

High Supply

The shale gas production is at a wonderful place. The supply is higher, much higher, than the demand, and the government only predicts production to continue so that in 2035 shale will produce 47 percent of the gas being made in the U.S.

While other sources such as fuel oil or propane are seeing a jump in pricing, shale continues to run steady proving the more attractive resource. Well, it's more attractive to some. Meanwhile, many environmentalists are fighting to slow the shale race down a bit.

What's Wrong with Fracking?

It isn't necessarily the resource, it's how it's being generated. Many claim that fracking causes groundwater pollution, which is creating a debate to write rules to guard the Delaware watershed.

Some, including the executive director of Environment New Jersey has noted being hooked on natural gas as being premature.

Bottom Line

Most people involved in the energy business want to provide the best resource at an affordable cost. New ways are being developed, and there may be some kinks to be straightened out. But all angles must be considered. When it comes to fracking shale, though the supply is high and the cost is affordable, some fear the pollution the process may be creating in water supplies.

Is this new method really doing any good if it contaminates the water supply? Thus the debate surrounding fracking continues.

Smart Electricity Grid - The Future for America

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:55:21 -0600

Over the holiday season everyone, well most everyone, has purchased something from the slew of new electronics. From I-phones to tablets, everything is going touchscreen and the technology is far surpassing what may have seemed stellar even just a year ago.

Times are changing and the world of electronics and technology are certainly experiencing some of the most rapid advancements we’ve ever seen. However, one aspect of technology remains in its original state-the grid. Some see this outdated grid as archaic. It’s as if we’re trying to use our "old" charger to power our I-phone 4-it just might not work the best!

Meeting the Mark

As the standards are the upward increase, many are considering the value of the already proposed improvements to the grid. The so-called, "smart grid" is a part of the newest wave of updates. One of the master minds behind the design and idea, Mike McMahan, VP of smart grid and technology at Commonwealth Edison has likened the current grid to the analog clock.

"We have an analog grid in a digital age, the fact that we have to send somebody out to the side of your house to look at your electric meter and you don’t know how much electricity you’ve used until we send you the bill, that’s ridiculous. It’s time for a change."

Meeting Demand

While the local state municipalities are working to implement an upgraded grid system, it certainly comes at a poignant time-as demand for electricity is only projected to grow. In fact globally speaking, the demand for electricity is anticipated to double with the next 20 years.

As the inventors and great-thinkers put together this new smart grid, who is funding this work and how can we the consumers feel more comfortable with such a drastic change?

Change and Funding

With the digital system, messages will be sent through a high-speed communication network including wireless signals to help monitor use and repair outages. Unfortunately such advancements come at a price, as there are some concerns about privacy, terrorism, and funding.

Such a system may make personal information more readily accessible, and cause some real headaches should people begin hacking and stealing information. In addition, when everything goes digital, the hackers come out and make life difficult. Could there be a digital attack? It’s known that terrorists go after the power epicenters, and taking control of a smart grid may just make such an attack too easy.

As for funding, some states including Illinois have actually passed laws allowing the local utilities to increase their prices in order to pay for the expenses of creating such a grid.

Benefits of the Smart Grid

Wouldn’t you like to know when you can pay the least amount of money for the electricity you use while washing and drying your clothes or maybe running the dishwasher? Well, this is exactly what a smart grid can allow, empowering, right?

Could this new grid be comparative to Ebay? It’s certainly possible as some speculate that we may at some point be able to buy and sell our own electricity.

The Moral of the Story

The times are changing and the grid just might be experiencing an overhaul of its own. As Illinois is a forerunner in the approval process, it’s important that homeowners realize the importance and underlying message that energy efficiency and savings are very important and ultimately the effectiveness of any system depends on its user.

Let’s make the most of the new technologies on the way, and simply use the newer systems to fulfill old proverbs.

Recent Merger Makes AGL Resources Largest Gas-Only Distributor Network in Nation

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:53:25 -0600

The world of energy is ever-changing, although many changes appear to not exactly benefit the customers of large utility companies, a recent merger between AGL Resources and Nicor, Inc. may just prove the opposite. Within the first week of December, 2011 the Illinois Commerce Commission approved the merger, which has created the largest gas-only distribution utility network in the nation.

Servicing seven states and an approximate 4.5 million customers, AGL Resources has now reached the pinnacle by becoming the largest gas-only distributor-based on its customer approximation. This increase in size may have never created a good return for its customers, but this time customers may actually see some long-term benefits.

Gas-Only Distribution

For more than 150 years AGL has created for itself the reputation that they are the leader in the gas industry, and now that is almost indisputable! More than a century’s worth of experience has brought them to a point of expansion; something investors are predicting may become a Fortune 500 company.

As the largest gas-only distribution company, AGL Resources has become the managing force behind distribution and storage facilities, gas pipelines and their many millions of customers.

Of course, the AGL Resource customer has the choice between buying their gas directly from the utility or choosing a rate plan through an independent supplier.

What Customers Should Expect

According to the company officials, customers in Georgia should not expect any changes to their service-a relief to those fearing an increase in rates, service, etc. As the company is expanding and natural-gas is more readily available, it may be the right time for some homeowners to buy their gas from an independent supplier instead of the utility.

The deregulation of natural gas in Georgia began in 1997 and since has improved to provide better rights and options to customers looking for the most affordable GA natural gas rates and service. This deregulation is however, is only available to customers of the Atlanta Gas Light Company (AGLC).

That being said, there are a few options for those looking to best take care of their investments through deregulation. By choosing an independent supplier AGL customers have a choice of rates and plans that best suit their needs.

AGLC is also owned by AGL

About AGL Resources

This Atlanta-based energy services company is rapidly becoming the star player in the world of natural gas distribution. It owns Sequent Energy Management, SouthStar and AGLC, Jefferson Island Storage and Hub and Golden Triangle Storage. Such ownership only leads to the trust and understanding that AGL must be doing something right for their customers!

Columbia Gas of PA Digs Up 100 Miles of Piping: Homeowners Ask Who's Paying

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:25:40 -0600

While many are dotting their "I's" and crossing their "T's" when it comes to the money in their finances, some are fearing the local utilities may not share in that same financial conservatism. Such is becoming more and more apparent with the recent news that Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania is predicted to dig upward 100 miles of "outdated" iron piping by the end of this calendar year. So, what does this mean for local Pennsylvanian tax payers-more importantly, their hard earned and conserved dollar?

The Columbia Pipeline

The whole process thus far has created what General Manager of Operations for the Cecil-based utility calls a $1.2 billion investment. The project ignited in 2007 and each year since has proven very successful for the pipeline dig.

By last year, it's been estimated that about 19% of the original or "first generation" piping had been replaced with newer plastic or steel piping.

There is a bit of a history with this piping, as it isn't contrived of current materials. Much of the lines can actually be dated as far back as the 1880s. Outside of the fact that the engineering and mechanics are more than a century behind current science, which proves quite interesting to behold-these lines are prime candidates for corrosion and other like damage. Such breakage being the prime reason Columbia Gas of PA is investing in replacing this vast amount of piping. Not to mention these changes can also provide a better use of materials, as more gas can be generated with less piping.

Who's Paying?

Columbia customers have contributed $190 million to the endeavor, but they're not the only ones. It's been noted that neighboring gas utility customers are also contributing to the pipeline dig. Before a riot ensues, there is more to this than just the utilities "ripping off" their customers.

The pipelines need the repairs, and it's better the repairs be made before any serious emergency-work is necessary. By preventing such last minute work, the utility is avoiding causing mayhem for its customers. As such problems could understandably enable service issues for much of the local customers.

That being said, the utility is providing repairs to better the service they provide. As one utility leader said, the pipes are "their stock in trade" and they must be maintained to improve quality and safety. In addition, the efforts these past four years have created many much-needed jobs. To be specific, the work has created 800 jobs for contracted work, 60 full-time employees for Columbia Utility, who already employ 500.

A Change of Pace

Not every utility is having its customers help fund the work, some are even lobbying for a bill to be passed to change the way payment is currently regulated. Just in the past four years, Columbia utility customers have endured three rate increases, which in just a year can be anywhere from $2.45 per residence monthly bill to generate $17 million revenue.

The bill is now in review with the senate, after the house's approval with a 187-17 win.

New Jersey Heating Bills are Getting Lower

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:47:39 -0600

There are many wonderful things about winter. The magic of those first snow flurries, the excitement of the holiday season and the energy of the crackle in the air are all wonderful. What is often not wonderful is the huge increase that many people see in their heating bills during the coldest months of the year. This year, though, New Jersey residents can celebrate the little things because their energy bills are likely to go down instead of up this winter season.

The wholesale price of natural gas has decreased steadily in recent months. Utility companies’ rates are based on those wholesale prices. As a result, the utility companies are going to be able to offer lower prices this year. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has approved lower rates for all four natural gas distribution utilities in the state.

Things are a little tricky because at the same time that this rate decrease was approved, a separate rate increase was approved for all four utilities. That increase is allowed so that the companies can upgrade their infrastructure and improve their service. However, the rate decrease will offset the cost of the rate increase and will still lead to savings for customers. At the same time, customers should see better service in the future because of the infrastructure updates made possible by the rate increase.

Bear in mind that as a New Jersey customer you get your gas delivered from one of these major utilities but you can get it supplied from the company of your choosing. Your rates will go down as a result of the distribution rate decrease across the state. However, you can lower your bills even further by choosing a natural gas company that offers lower NJ gas rates.

Source: http://teaneck.patch.com/articles/natural-gas-customers-will-pay-less-to-stay-warm-this-winter-a9358380

Supporting Rose Hope Animal Shelter Waterbury CT

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:45:19 -0600

Many of you know that in our business model we always allocate money to help charities in the areas we serve. This December we are focusing on animals. During the holidays most people focus on people, we know the animals still need our help and we want to do our part. Thanks to all of the people who lower their CT electric bills through our site we are able to help others as well.

We are going to match the first $300 that Rose Hope earns at their next event or if you use the donation link below! Please come and meet the folks from Rose Hope, Elizabeth Richard Gifts and ShopForEnergy.com.

Event Details

Save the Date and Save the Animals!
Join Rose Hope Animal Shelter this Sunday for a holiday shopping event.

Sunday, December 4th from 3:30 to 6:00 pm at Elizabeth Richard Gifts located at 951 Chase Parkway, Waterbury

Shop till you drop, as a portion of every sale will go to benefit the Rose Hope Animal Shelter located at PetSmart in Waterbury. Enjoy wine, chocolates and hors d’oeuvres as you shop for a great cause.

Even if you can not attend please do your part and donate today!
We worked with the team from Rose Hope for years and they truly are angels!

Michigan Utilities and Local Senators Devise Plans To Help Residents in Need Of Assistance Funds

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:14:13 -0600

This winter is anticipated as one of the coldest! While some may look forward to the holiday cheer, the snow angels, and beautiful scenery that is a snow-covered landscape; many residents fear the inability to pay for heating.

Not only are Michigan residents concerned, but utilities may be in a worsening situation, as the heating assistance funding dwindles and the cold weather ensues-the funds have to come from somewhere.

Customer Uncollectibles

Some residents are beginning to plan ahead to make allowance for a hefty winter heating bill. Meanwhile, Michigan utilities such as DTE and Consumers are concerned that their many programs to help those in need just might fall short this season.

Already, one low-income assistance program has been cut and federal funding is rapidly decreasing. What more can be done?

Legislation in the Works

Some legislation is circling regarding a required surcharge on utility bills, a fee that just might supply $60 million for the much-needed assistance funds.

Here’s how it works, Chairman Kenneth Horn and Chairman Mike Nofs are working with the Senate Energy and Technology Committee to have the utilities start the fund with initial donations, or "seeds" as they’re being called.

They will be reimbursed, but this start will help and boost the potential to devise a plan for long-term help.

The Local Utilities

While the senators are working on legislation, the utilities are also making strides in improving the day-to-day workings that can either make or break them this winter.

Though all the more difficult, DTE in particular is becoming more consistent with their shutoff notices: if the utilities aren’t being paid for their services, they absolutely cannot continue providing. Especially now, utilities cannot afford to foot the bill for customers unable to pay. This only paves the way for more ruin and less support.

In doing so, DTE is noticing a decrease in uncollected payments. From 2008 to 2010, DTE has seen their uncollectible bills go from $213 million to $116 million! Although this year is predicted to increase, at least there has been some glimmers of hope.

Utilities Raising Funds

More cuts may be in the future, as there has been some talk of reducing the funds in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. But amidst the governmental instability, the utilities are doing their best to hold firm.

Consumers Energy and DTE are ready to fight! They continue to promote donating to the Salvation Army and PeopleCare assistance resources. Although the federal aid may be on the decline, the utilities are motivated to finding a source to help those in need. In fact, this year they aim to raise $1 million, more than $200,000 increase from last year’s impressive donations.

They will also offer a donation-match initiative-whatever is donated, Consumers will match!

Meanwhile, DTE is extending their annual weekend fundraising for the Heat and Warmth fund to now encompass an entire week. They too, aspire to raise $1 million to support those in need this winter.

Other Tips

The utilities are also providing customers with ways to conserve the energy they consume, and to lessen their personal utility bill. Identifying the key areas where a home is losing energy may just be one family’s ticket to big savings this winter.

Texas Receives Two Million Oncor Smart Meters

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:30:30 -0600

Smart meters are a relatively new thing. Although most consumers are familiar with the idea that these advanced energy meters are designed to bring better energy delivery to their homes and businesses, the meters are new enough that some people aren't entirely sure how they work. Despite being new, these meters are truly now prevalent in the state of Texas. In fact, Oncor Electric Company has just recently installed smart meter number two million in the state of Texas!

What is a Smart Meter?

In case you aren't entirely sure what a smart meter is, here are the basics:

o The smart meter is a replacement for the old meters that the electric company employees had to come on to your property to read.

o The smart meter is a high-tech meter that communicates with a central system to keep your energy company constantly up to date about what's going on with the energy system in your home and your neighborhood. This allows for a better response when an outage threatens your residence.

o The smart meter is something that you can read yourself to know how much energy you're using. This is a great tool because it helps you to limit the waste of energy in your home, keeping both your Oncor electric bill and your environmental footprint minimal.

o The smart meter is a tool that energy companies can use to help determine fair energy costs, offer deals for peak time reduction of energy use, etc. As its name suggests, it's truly a smarter meter compared to what we were used to for so many years.

Oncor's Smart Meter Efforts

Oncor has been a leader in helping to bring these advanced smart meters to Texas. They started installing the meters in 2008. They set a goal to install more than three million smart meters before the end of 2012. As we near the end of 2011, the company has achieved two thirds of its goal, having just installed meter number two million in the Dallas suburb of Carrollton. The company has also made extensive efforts to educate the Texas public about the benefits of these smart meters as well as to reward customers for using the smart meters to reduce their energy use.

Source: http://www.oncor.com/tech_reliable/smarttexas/NR_2MillionMeter_082211.pdf

How to Save Even More on Con Edison Winter Gas Bills

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:23:13 -0600

Con Edison customers will be happy to know that their residential heating bills are expected to drop nearly four percent this winter thanks to a lower cost in fuel. However, smart customers will find ways to get even more savings this winter.

Here are five options to save even more on this winter’s Con Edison gas bills:

1. Check for rebates. Many Con Edison customers qualify for rebates when they replace their home heating equipment with more energy efficient alternatives. You get the money back from the rebate and your bills will be lower since your new equipment will be more energy efficient.

2. See if you qualify for help with your bills. Did you know that low-income residents in the state of New York may qualify for HEAP, a Home Energy Assistance program that helps reduce the cost of winter gas bills.

3. Or maybe you qualify for a grant? There is a program called EnergyShare that Con Edison created to help their customers who may not qualify for HEAP but who are having trouble paying their winter bills. It’s a one-time grant of $200 or less to help offset winter heating costs.

4. Switch to a lower cost energy supplier. Just because Con Edison is the company that delivers your energy doesn’t mean that they have to be the ones who supply it. You can search around for a lower cost alternative in the region. Your energy will still be delivered through Con Edison but you may be able to secure a lower NY natural gas rate from a different supplier.

5. Winterize your home. No matter what energy supplier you use, make sure that you winterize your home to reduce heat loss and keep your bills low. Make sure that your heating system is cleaned and inspected so it’s working properly. Update the insulation, especially in your attic. And check for air leaks around window air conditioners, windows and doors.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/con-edison-eyes-lower-winter-gas-bills-2011-10-18

Seventy Percent of Illinois Residents Oppose ComEd Rate Hike

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:46:12 -0600

ComEd is pushing for a rate increase. They want their Illinois customers to pay higher energy rates and they say that they have benefits to offer in exchange. However, a recent consumer poll of Illinois residents that was commissioned by AARP and the Environmental Law and Policy Center shows that seventy percent of people oppose the rate hike.

Some of this is clearly a reflection of the fact that nobody wants his or her utility bills to go up. Half of those people who were polled said that they feel like their bill is already too high. However, consumers have been known to approve rate hikes if they truly feel like they’ll be getting a benefit from the exchange. In this case, they do not. ComEd says that a rate hike would allow them to improve reliability in service but those polled don’t believe it’s worth the trade off of a higher energy bill.

More importantly, the people who were polled don’t believe that the proposed bill should move forward as it is written even if a rate hike were reasonable at this time. Nearly half of all of the Illinois residents polled said that they felt that the bill should have more safeguards for consumers than it does as it is currently written. Only 11% said that they thought that the bill should move forward in its current form.

A major factor for the people who voted is that they believe that there is some funny business going on with the politics behind the bill. More than eighty percent of the people who were polled said that they felt that political campaign contributions by the utility company influenced those legislators who have showed approval for the bill.

What this boils down to is trust. ComEd customers clearly don’t trust the utility company to be honest and fair in their dealings with them and they are unwilling to contribute more money to them in the form of an IL electric rate hike without some stronger guarantees that the utility is working for the customer.

Source: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/8345893-418/poll-nearly-half-of-illinois-residents-want-better-comed-bill.html

Electrical Safety Tips to Remember During Storm Season

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:03:52 -0600

Sometimes we forget how powerful our electricity system is. We use it every day and it’s just a part of our normal lives. However, when things go awry, we are suddenly forced to remember how damaging electricity has the potential to be. One of the times when we are at greatest risk is during big storms. However, we can take many actions that help to keep us safe.

Here are some important tips to follow for electrical safety:

o Always have an emergency kit that is easily accessible during storms. It should include battery-powered radios and flashlights and should have extra batteries.

o Call 911 to report any downed power line that you see. Don’t assume that someone else has already called. Do your part to keep everyone safe.

o Know how to use your portable generator. If you’ve been in a lot of outages then you may use a portable generator for electricity during storms. Make sure that you know how to use it properly. This includes always checking your energy service panel to make sure that the main circuit breaker is in the off position when you are using your portable generator.

o Never go near a power line that has come down in a storm. Get far away.

o Never touch an object that is touching a power line. Some people don’t realize that a tree is touching a power line, for example. Look up and make sure that it’s all clear!

o Plug everything into surge protectors or else keep it unplugged during storms.

o Stay inside during storms. Don’t work outside when it is rainy, windy or stormy out and be especially cautious during lightning storms. Lightning is more dangerous than you realize. If you aren’t at home then find another building or shelter to wait out big storms.

o Turn off your air conditioner during storms. Avoid using other electrical appliances in the home until the storm has passed.

And here are some additional tips for dealing with certain emergency situations that you may find yourself in during a bad storm:

o If a power line falls across your car while you are in it, you must stay put. Your tires help to ground the electricity and keep you safe. Wait for help from 911.

o If it starts to storm and you are in water, you need to get out of the water immediately. This means that you turn off the bath or shower if you’re at home and it means getting to land if you are in a body of water.

o If you are stuck outside in a storm and can’t reach shelter, get as low to the ground as possible. Squat down, staying as far away from trees, poles and other objects as possible. If you are stuck in an area that is dense with trees, make sure that you stay close to the shortest trees.

Be smart during storms!

Tips provided by Oncor: http://www.oncor.com/safety/storm.aspx

Energy Comparison Site Donates to Texas Charity

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:54:30 -0500

Shop for Energy is announcing their intention to make a donation to an important cause. The energy offer comparison engine is committed to using its own success to help others through charity. Shop for Energy hopes its customers use its tools to make discerning choices about who to purchase their energy from. In the same way, Shop for Energy takes great care in choosing the organizations it works with for charity.

To achieve their goals of giving back to others, Shop for Energy is sponsoring a child in Bangladesh through the Shapla Foundation out of Texas. Through their sponsorship, a child in need will be receiving much needed clothing and healthy food. The funds will also go to support the child’s educational development to provide the skills necessary to become a fully productive member of the workforce upon adulthood. The Shapla Foundation works to make sure that one hundred percent of the amount that is donated goes directly to the child to truly help this growing person’s life.

"Shapla Foundation is the world’s only transparent child sponsorship program where the sponsor can see exactly how the money is being spent on a child. You can actually see how much food, school supplies, clothing or medicine is purchased for a child. As a sponsor you will be proud to know that your child is actually receiving every penny you donate.

"Thank you to sponsors, like Shop for Energy, for supporting our efforts in being responsible and transparent. Our children are bright, however, they are very poor and most of them cannot afford to go to school. With the help of our generous sponsors, we can give these children proper education and hope. To learn how you can help, go to www.shaplafoundation.org" said Evan Islam, co-founder of Shapla Foundation

Shop for Energy is the nation’s premier comparison engine featuring the rates of several independent energy suppliers. It is important for consumers to shop around to select the gas and electric companies that are right for them. Doing so provides people with the personal power to make a smart, affordable and responsible decision about their energy supplier. Doing your comparison with Shop for Energy will allow you to easily narrow down your choices when making this important decision.

Customers who choose Shop for Energy to compare TX electric rates can feel good about this choice. It will provide them with the tools that they need to make energy choices that benefit their homes. Of equal importance, it will help to benefit the larger community because of Shop for Energy’s actions in charity work. Shop for Energy takes giving back very seriously. They are always looking for new ways to give back to the world and they carefully consider their choices to allow their donations to go as far as possible. They are proud to be supporting the Shapla Foundation.

Storm Outages Call Northeast Utility Merger into Question

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:01:13 -0500

Northeast Utility and NStar, two huge utility companies headquartered in Massachusetts, are seeking a $4.2 billion merger of their businesses. However, some people believe that poor handling of the outages associated with Hurricane Irene on the part of Northeast Utilities and its subsidiaries suggest that a merger is a bad idea for the customers.

There are quite a few reasons for customers to be disgruntled with Northeast Utilities. Those reasons include:

o This company charges some of the highest utility rates in the entire country.

o Over the past three and a half decades, Northeast subsidiary Connecticut Light and Power has grown its customer base by more than forty percent and yet its line worker ranks have decreased by more than 20%, meaning that there just aren’t enough people to handle the work necessary to adequately serve customers.

o Northeast, and especially Connecticut Light and Power, handled the aftermath of Hurricane Irene poorly. Nearly a quarter of a million customers in towns and cities like Hartford and Waterbury still had no power five days following the end of the storm. This is due in part to the aforementioned shortage of workers.

Opponents of the merger with NStar say that Northeast Utility should be responsible for getting its act together before any such merger is allowed to occur. Mergers on such a large scale have big ramifications, especially since this will essentially create a regional monopoly on utility service. While customers can certainly choose to buy their energy from another company, the large utility is still responsible for providing the related services, including dealing with outages. If the merger is going to go forward, many people say that is should include clear benefits for customers as a key part of the terms. The decision, however, is up to Massachusetts’ regulators.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/business/stormy-weather-for-a-utility-merger.html?_r=1

BGE Charges Customers to Get their Power Back after Hurricane

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:57:49 -0500

Hurricane Irene was a devastating force that swept the nation and knocked out power. Baltimore Gas and Electric company customers were among those who suffered. The company did eventually get power back to its customers but it cost them more than $80 million and they are planning on passing those costs back to customers now that the storm is over.

More than three quarters of a million BGE customers lost power during Hurricane Irene. The average length of the power outage was 37 hours. Some customers were out of power for as long as eight days! The cost of getting the power back up and running was approximately $81 million. That bill was paid by company shareholders.

Although shareholders were the ones that took the financial hit, they may recoup their losses if BGE gets their way. They want to get approval for a distribution rate increase to recover the costs of restoring service after Hurricane Irene. Many people argue that BGE did not do a quick job of restoring power and therefore caused inconvenience to customers so it’s absurd to ask them to pay the price.

Several consumer advocates are pushing for the MD electric rate increase not to be allowed. While BGE concedes that they need to improve their electricity restoration process, they still say that it’s a common response to recoup storm losses with a rate increase. The Maryland Public Service Commission will have to decide whether or not BGE will be allowed a rate increase to offset the cost of dealing with the hurricane.

Source: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-09-21/business/bs-bz-bge-irene-report-20110921_1_bge-customers-central-maryland-customers-hurricane-irene

CenterPoint Fights Regulators to Raise Energy Rates

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:01:54 -0500

CenterPoint Energy desperately wants to raise rates on customers and they are willing to fight hard against Texas state regulators to make it happen. They recently had a rate increase approved by the state but they are appealing this decisions because the increase was not as high as they wanted. Yes, they got raised rates but they want them raised even more.

Back in May 2011, the Texas Public Utility Commission did approve a CenterPoint rate hike. The amount approved was nearly $15 million. For customers, this translates to approximately $1.32 more paid per month on the average residential electric bill beginning in September 2011. Most customers aren’t thrilled with a rate hike of any kind but we understand that sometimes rates do go up and this small increase probably won’t seem too bad to most customers.

However, it was significantly lower than what CenterPoint was seeking. They wanted a rate hike not of $15 million but of $110 million. That is a significant difference, more than seven times the amount that was actually approved. If the requested amount were approved, it would mean a huge increase in customer’s monthly bills, to the point where some customers may even struggle to make their electricity payments.

CenterPoint Energy didn’t like the result of the May 2011 decision. They want more money. They say that they need more money for payroll than what the PUC’s approved rate amount is providing. They also say that they have made some land sales that have benefitted ratepayers and therefore they should be rewarded with the right to a larger TX electric rate hike. The appeal is pending.

Source: http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/CenterPoint-files-an-appeal-over-rate-increase-2081400.php

PPL Electric Wants Customers to Save Money

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:52:53 -0500

Pennsylvania’s PPL Electric is seeking a rate cut that would reduce monthly energy bills for customers. That’s terrific, of course. However, it’s important to note that the rate cut comes in the area of energy costs, not distribution costs, so it’s possible that there may be even better options for you than what PPL wants to offer.

PPL’s Proposed Rate Cut

PPL has asked the state’s Public Utility Commission to approve a rate decrease of nearly 4% on the portion of a customer’s bill that reflects energy costs. This portion, called the generation rates, makes about 70% of the bill. If approved, the decrease would result in a small savings of $3-$4 per month for the average customer who uses 1000 kWH of electricity in the home.

Distribution Costs vs. Energy Costs

Although this decrease is nice, it is important to understand what it means. The decrease is for the energy cost portion of the bill as opposed to the distribution cost. The generation rates reflect the current cost of buying energy. This means that all suppliers of energy tend to lower their rates when the cost of buying energy is cheaper (passing their own savings on to customers) and this is what PPL is doing. The thirty percent of the bill that reflects the cost of the company distributing the energy to you will not change.

Consider Lower Cost Alternatives

Understanding the difference between distribution costs and energy costs on your electric bill is important because you have a lot more choice when it comes to your energy costs. PPL is going to charge what it charges to distribute your energy to you regardless of who you choose to have it supply to them. That rate is staying the same for every electric customer in the area. However, you can choose an alternative energy supplier for the "generation rates" portion of your bill. There may be suppliers offering an even lower rate than what PPL will be offering after the rate cut so it’s worth it to shop around. Don’t just assume that PPL’s decrease (proposed to go from 8.774 cents per kWH to 8.411 cents per kWh) is the best PA electric rate in town.

Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/index.ssf/2011/08/ppl_proposes_38_percent_cut_in.html

New York Electric Company Invests in Small Business Energy-Efficiency

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:46:40 -0500

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation in New York wants to help its business customers become more energy efficient. However, they need funding to implement energy-saving strategies for those customers. The New York State Public Service Commission agrees that saving energy at the business level is a smart move and has agreed to authorize the use of $3.5 million in funds to make this happen.

The majority of this investment is going to support customer incentive programs in the small business sector, although $1 million will be put towards programs for mid-sized businesses. To qualify as a small business, the customer must use less than 100 kW of average electricity. Businesses that use more than this but less than 250 kW are considered eligible for the mid-size business investment funds.

So what is being done with these funds? Features of the new energy-efficiency programs include:

o Interested businesses can receive an energy audit to find out how they are wasting energy and what things they are able to do to save electricity and money in their space.

o Businesses can receive installation and technical assistance in choosing and installing new energy-efficient lighting.

o Businesses may receive financial assistance to replace outdated inefficient lighting with cost-saving energy-efficient alternatives.

o Offers of various customer incentives and rebates that business customers can take advantage of to make energy-saving changes in the workplace.

o The creation of "green collar" jobs in the area to assist with the implementation of the program.

The program has already launched with approximately 650 businesses in the region receiving energy audits so far. Simply as a result of the audits, average annual electric usage by participating Central Hudson Gas & Electric small businesses has decreased by approximately 23%. It seems like this program works!

Source: http://readme.readmedia.com/Central-Hudsons-Efficiency-Program-Gets-Boost/2950444

Atlantic City Electric Seeks To Raise Rates

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:33:52 -0500

The last thing that any of us wants to hear is that our electric company is seeking to raise rates. Unfortunately, that’s precisely the news that is coming out right now for customers who are served by Atlantic City Electric in New Jersey. The company has requested approval for a distribution rate rake hike from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

What does this mean for you if you are an Atlantic City Electric customer? The rate hike means that your bills will go up, specifically in the portion of the bill that outlines the cost of delivering your power. Some details to know about this possible rate increase:

o The total rate hike for the company would result in an increase of approximately $60 million.

o This would occur by charging customers a monthly distribution rate increase of more than 4%.

o What this translates to is a monthly rate increase of more than $7.50 for Atlantic City Electric customers using an average of 1000 kWH of electricity per month in their homes.

o This would push the average residential monthly bill to nearly $200 for customers of Atlantic City Electric. Ouch!

o This rate hike is still pending approval but if approved would go into effect sometime next year.

Customers who are interested in keeping their Atlantic City Electric bills low should look at their options for reducing their energy use as well as the cost of their energy. Customers who get their electricity from alternative supplies will still have to pay the increased distribution cost if it is approved. Nevertheless, by choosing a supplier that offers the cost of energy at a lower price, monthly bills can still go down rather than up.

Source: http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/welcome/news/releases/archives/2011/article.aspx?cid=1797

Rate Cuts for New Jersey Natural Gas Customers

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:02:53 -0500

During these hot days of summer it may be difficult to think about heating your home. Nevertheless, winter will be here before we know it and those natural gas bills will climb as we all try to stay warm in our homes. New Jersey customers have some good news where that’s concerned; natural gas bills should go down this year assuming that recently filed rate requests are honored by the state Board of Public Utilities.

Four New Jersey utility companies have all filed rate requests that would reduce customers’ natural gas rates. The rate cuts vary dramatically between the four companies. For example, Public Service Electric & Gas customers are seeking just a 1.1% rate cut while New Jersey Natural Gas is seeking to reduce rates by nearly 10%. If these rate requests are approved then they will go into effect on October 1st for all of the utility companies.

What does this mean in terms of the actual amount customers are paying? If the rate requests are approved then Public Service Electric & Gas customers should see an average bill decrease of slightly more than $2 per month this winter. In contrast, the average New Jersey Natural Gas customer would see a monthly savings of approximately $13.35.

It is important to remember that the utility companies set their rates a few times each year based on market rates for natural gas. Market rates have decreased, which is what has allowed the utility companies to seek to offer lower rates to their customers. However market rates can go up at any time and the next rate request may be for a hike rather than a decrease depending on what’s going on in the market. One way to maintain your own low bills when dealing with changing market rates is to work with affordable alternative natural gas suppliers that are willing to lock in low NJ natural gas rates for you based on the contract terms you select.

Source: http://www.app.com/article/20110601/NJBIZ/306010042/Gas-utilities-offer-rate-cuts

Average Columbia Gas of MD Bill

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:51:35 -0500

Columbia Gas of MD is part of a company that was established back in 1885 (originally as Manufacturers Natural Gas Company). This long history means that the company is well-known and generally well-respected. Many customers choose to remain with the company despite the fact that customers now have the option of choosing alternative natural gas suppliers that may offer lower rates and contracts with better terms. Customers have the option of decreasing their average natural gas bill in Maryland if they choose to compare the costs of Columbia Gas of MD with the costs of other suppliers in the area.

It is important to understand that the way that Columbia Gas of MD calculates its costs. There are several different factors that go into your bill including a gas supply charge and a delivery charge. The gas supply charge is a number that is set by the market rate. However, a customer has the right to switch to a different supplier of natural gas. The delivery charge will remain the same because Columbia Gas of MD will still be delivering the gas to you. However the supply charge can decrease because the rate is determined by who the supplier is. An independent natural gas supplier can shop around to get the best current price on natural gas and can then pass that cost savings on to the customer.

When you look at your Columbia Gas of MD natural gas bill you can see that the delivery charge is only a small part of your bill. It is the gas supply charge that really costs a lot. If you switch suppliers and lower this portion of your bill then your average Columbia Gas of MD bill can decrease considerably. For example, let’s say that you use 2,000 ccf of natural gas per year. The average Maryland natural gas bill for this amount of usage is approximately $1700 for the year. Less than $40 of this is the delivery charge. The rest is the gas supply charge, which is the part that can be decreased if you choose a lower rate supplier of natural gas. Find a good price and that average annual bill could come down considerably!

Pipeline Planned for Jersey City Could Lower Natural Gas Prices

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:37:44 -0500

Residents who choose to get their heat from natural gas rather than coal are doing a great service to the earth. Typically they also save money, which is a nice added bonus. But of course natural gas isn't an option in all areas. A new pipeline that is planned for Jersey City would bring this option to a large area in New York and New Jersey and could even reduce natural gas costs for customers in the area who are already using this heat resource in their homes.

The project has been proposed by a Texas-based company called Spectra Energy. What they want to do is to build an underground pipeline through Jersey city. It would deliver natural gas to northern New Jersey as well as to Manhattan, New York. The pipeline would be underground, of course, and would extend for approximately sixteen miles, starting in Linden, New Jersey and traveling through Staten Island, Bayonne and Jersey City before ending in Manhattan.

There are some groups that are opposed to the planned pipeline. They don't want to deal with the construction disruption that it would bring to the area. However, it offers numerous benefits that should be weighed carefully by those who feel opposed to the project.

The main benefit for customers is that it has the potential to significantly reduce natural gas prices. If you are already a natural gas customer in this area then you know that the prices are high. They are approximately four times higher than the rates in nearby Pennsylvania, for example. A major reason for this is because a shortage of delivery pipelines causes bottlenecks that make it difficult and expensive to deliver natural gas to homes in the New Jersey and Manhattan area. This pipeline would free up those bottlenecks and reduce expensive problems, opening up the option for lower costs.

Additionally it is important to consider the eco-friendly benefits of using natural gas over coal. Air pollution is the major concern that natural gas can help alleviate. With more affordable natural gas available to more homes in the area it would be possible to reduce coal emissions through natural gas use. Of course, it will take some time for this to be implemented. In the meantime, customers in the area may consider looking into switching to a more affordable NJ natural gas provider in the area to do their part!

Source: http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2011/04/post_53.html

How to Switch Your Georgia Natural Gas Provider

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:32:35 -0500

Did you know that the company that you currently use to provide you with natural gas does not have to be the company that you continue to work with? There are multiple natural gas providers in the state of Georgia. These providers offer competitive prices, some of which are lower than the others in the area. As a customer in the state, you have the right to review your options and to switch providers in order to reduce the amount of your natural gas bill.

The first thing that you will want to do is to take a close look at your current natural gas bill and the plan you're on with that company. You will want to pay attention to a few key details:

o The per therm rate that you are being charged for natural gas. This should be stated clearly on your last bill statement.

o Whether this rate is fixed or variable. This should be on the bill as well although if you can't find it then you can contact your provider to get this information.

o The amount of natural gas that you are using. This will also be on the bill.

o Whether or not you're on a contract with this company. Contact your natural gas provider to find out if you've committed to staying on your plan for a certain amount of time.

If you are not under contract then there is a very good chance that switching to a different lower cost provider of natural gas will save you money. You can compare the offers that are provided by other companies with a specific emphasis on finding a company that offers a lower per therm rate than what you are currently being charged. Make sure that rate is applicable to the average amount of natural gas that you are currently using and make sure that you know whether it is a fixed or variable rate.

You will also want to find out if the new plan requires a contract before accepting the plan. Ideally, you will choose a plan with no contract so that you can switch providers again down the line if you find an offer with lower GA natural gas rates.

Energy-Saving Software Use Triples Across the Nation

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:22:32 -0500

OPOWER is a company that provides software that reduces energy consumption around the home in conjunction with smart meter use. The company has just signed contracts that triple the number of households nationwide that may soon be benefitting from this energy-saving software.

About OPOWER

Opower is a company that has a patent on software that works with smart meters to help save energy in the home. Research has shown that eighty five percent of consumers who are introduced to OPOWER through targeted efforts (presumably by their energy companies) are able to successfully reduce their energy use in the home. This is arguably due to the fact that the software provides easy-to-understand information about energy-saving actions that are specifically relevant to the consumer. In other words, using this software allows you to easily see what you need to change around the home to save energy.

The New Contracts

OPOWER has just signed two new contracts, the two largest contracts it has landed to date. One of those contracts is on the east coast with Baltimore Gas & Electric. The other is on the west coast with Pacific Gas and Electric in California. The combined total number of households that could receive access to this energy-saving software is 6.2 million. That’s more than twice as many customers as are currently using the energy-saving software meaning a big potential leap in energy-savings on both coasts.

Partnerships Save Money

It is important to note that by partnering up with large energy companies OPOWER saves money for the consumer. The large energy companies often already have smart meter technology in place or they have plans in the works to deploy this technology. The software enhances these existing smart meters without requiring additional startup costs. This means that all companies save money and therefore consumers will save money as well.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/number-of-households-using-opower-software-to-triple-with-latest-contracts/2011/04/08/AF4vSlFD_story.html

How to Choose the Best Energy Efficient Gas Stove

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:10:25 -0500

Buying new appliances is always difficult. Because this is a purchase that we don't make often, we aren't always sure what the right thing is to buy. And because it's a purchase that is expensive and needs to last a long time, we want to make sure that we buy the right thing. For example, when buying a new gas stove, we want to get one that's going to be energy-efficient in order to work properly while not wasting money on our gas bills.

I don't know about you but when I want to choose a new energy efficient appliance the first place that I look is with Energy Star. Typically anything that has an Energy Star label is going to be a really good place to start. Unfortunately, that's not the case with stoves. These are one of the few appliances that aren't part of the Energy Star labeling program. In fact, stoves are one of the few appliances that the FTC doesn't require an EnergyGuide label for so you really can't rely on labels to help you find the right energy-saving gas stove.

So if you can't go by the label, how do you choose the best stove? The first thing is to make sure that you select a gas stove that has an electric ignition. Energy Star reports that this uses forty percent less gas than a pilot light so it prevents a significant amount of energy loss. Narrowing down your choices to only those appliances will help significantly in your shopping although since all new gas stoves are now required to have this feature it won't narrow down the search completely.

The next thing that you will want to look for is whether or not your gas stove has a convection oven. You want to choose one that does. That's because this type of oven runs a fan that continuously heats your food. So what? Well this means that your cooking times are reduced and that means that you not only save on energy but also save your own time!

Finally, make sure that you select a new natural gas stove that has a self-cleaning oven. This type of stove tends to be more insulated than stoves without this feature. That means that the oven temperature is better maintained and therefore the appliance is more efficient.

It's not easy shopping for appliances that you don't buy often but it actually doesn't have to be that hard either. Shop smart and look for savings!

Source: http://www.greenyour.com/home/kitchen-cooking/cooking/tips/buy-a-gas-stove

How to Choose an Ohio Natural Gas Supplier

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:53:34 -0500

It is possible that you’ve heard the rumors by now. You’ve heard a neighbor say that they have lowered their natural gas bill, perhaps. Or you’ve overheard someone in a store saying that they no longer get their natural gas from a major Ohio gas company. The rumors are true. You are not required to get your natural gas from Columbia Gas of Ohio, Dominion East Ohio (DEO East), Vectren Energy or Dominion East Ohio West (DEO West). You can actually choose who supplies your natural gas, working with a smaller company that has a personal touch and offers better rates. Doesn’t this sound like a dream?

So how do you go about doing this? Switching to a new natural gas supplier is as simple as signing up with the new company that you want to work with. The tough part, of course, is figuring out who it is that you want to work with. The key here is to ask yourself why you aren’t happy with your major Ohio natural gas company and what you would like to be different.

Some of the key situations that people find themselves in are:

o Expensive. Many people feel like their natural gas bills are too high. They want to switch to a provider that will offer them a lower rate. In this case, you would choose an Ohio natural gas supplier that is offering a low per therm rate for natural gas.

o Changing costs. Some people don’t like working with their big Ohio utility company because they feel like their rates change too often and they never know what their bills are going to be. Perhaps then you want to switch to an alternative natural gas supplier that offers fixed rate contracts.

o Customer service. Some people feel like their big utility companies in Ohio just aren’t giving them the quality of customer service that they want. In that case, the person should choose a new Ohio natural gas supplier that emphasizes customer service as a key feature.

Making a smart choice about a new OH natural gas supplier is as simple as figuring out what you’re looking for and finding the company that can provide it to you.

How to Choose an Alternative Pacific Gas and Electric Natural Gas Supplier

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:27:02 -0500

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is a utility provider on the West Coast. If you live in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose or the upper two thirds of California then there is a good chance that PG&E is your provider of electricity and gas. They have a long history, first launching in the mid-nineteenth century as San Francisco gas. However, a long history doesn’t mean that a company is perfect. Like all utility companies, PG&E has its flaws and as a customer you may decide that you’re tired of dealing with those flaws. But what can you do? A lot, actually, because there are alternative natural gas suppliers in the California region that you can choose to work with instead of getting your natural gas from PG&E.

In order to choose an alternative natural gas supplier, you need to know what is out there and what they offer. You can go online to a site like http://www.shopforenergy.com to find out this information. For example, if you go to that site now and do a search for alternatives to PG&E, you will be provided with a chart of the providers that are currently available and the rates that they are offering. Then you just need to review the rates, decide which company is the one that makes sense for you and sign up for your new service.

When reviewing the alternative options, some things to look at may include:

o The per therm cost of natural gas. The lower this cost is, the lower your total monthly natural gas bill is going to be. This is important to most of us!

o The required length of the contract and whether or not the rate is fixed for this contract duration. It’s always important to know the terms of any service you sign up for.

o Reviews of the service provider. These always have to be taken with a grain of salt but it’s good to see what other people are saying about the PG&E alternative that you’re considering.

That’s how you choose your alternative CA natural gas supplier and get away from PG&E if you want to!

5 Ways to Save on your NY Natural Gas Bill

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:21:35 -0500

Is your New York natural gas bill higher than you want it to be? Are you already dreading the upcoming months when that chill gets into the air and you need to increase those bills even more in order to heat up your home? Smart preparation now can help you save money on your natural gas bill when those cold bouts inevitably arrive.

Here are five ways to start saving now on your NY Natural gas bill:

1. Invest time and little cash in sealing your doors and windows. When air can come in through your doors and windows, the house gets colder and stays colder despite running your heat. This means you are just wasting lots of money. Fix it now!

2. Close off your fireplace. It is great to use a fireplace to keep warm. However, when you're not using it, it's just a big open space that is letting all your warm air out of your house. Properly close off your fireplace when it's not in use to avoid wasting money on your heating bill.

3. Rearrange the furniture. All of your heating vents should be free and clear without anything blocking them in order to be most efficient and effective in properly heating your home. And moving your furniture closer together means that you can get cozy and warm with your family members instead of trying to warm up all of the individual spaces in the home. This helps keep bills low.

4. Add curtains. Simply by closing all of a home's curtains at night you can help to keep the home's heat in so that you aren't spending more than you need to be spending on your natural gas bill.

5. Switch to a lower cost NY natural gas provider. Why pay more than you have to for natural gas when there are providers that are more than happy to offer it to you at a bargain?!

Smart New York Tax Cut Could Lower Energy Bills

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:19:55 -0500

A couple of years ago New York residents may have noticed a jump in the cost of their energy bills. The bill statement didn't clearly explain what caused the jump but customers often take these things lying down and don't question whether or not the rate increase is fair. In this case, it probably wasn't fair, and Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to make things right.

The increase was due to legislation that passed in 2009 requiring utility companies to collect taxes in the form of what was called a Temporary State Energy and Utility Service Conservation Assessment. The purpose of this assessment was to encourage energy conservation by raising rates. The utility companies were allowed to pass those rate increases on to customers, which they quickly did. In fact, there was a six-fold tax increase because of this.

But did you even know that it happened? The problem is that most customers didn't know why their bills went up. And although a few energy-savvy folks probably did try to conserve more energy in order to save money on their bills, most probably didn't bother since they didn't realize that this was going on. The entire process lacked any education about the value of conserving energy, clearly an important issue in our world today.

When this "energy assessment" tax was put into place it was designed to last for five years. That means that the tax would continue through late 2013. However Cuomo wants to repeal the tax. He believes that the hidden NY electric rate tax increase is putting a burden on residential energy customers and isn't serving the intended purpose of the tax. In fact, more than one quarter of a customer's average energy bill in New York currently goes towards taxes and Cuomo says that's too much. Most New Yorkers would likely agree!

Source: http://blogs.forbes.com/williampentland/2011/07/01/new-yorks-radical-energy-policy-cut-taxes/

6 Quick Tips for Affordable CT Home Cooling

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:03:57 -0500

Refreshing. Isn't that a great word during these hot summer months? We need refreshing treats. We need refreshing activities. And we need a quick refresher on how to stay cool at home without wasting money on extra electricity.

Here are five quick tips to refresh your CT bill-reducing capabilities:

1. Open windows, close curtains. During the hottest months of the year you want to make sure that your windows are working for you. Make sure that your curtains are always closed during the sunny part of the day because this repels the heat and prevents it from coming inside and making your CT home hotter. When the sun goes down and the temperatures cool off, open up your windows and let the breeze in to naturally cool the home.

2. Give up the window air conditioner; use a fan instead. This will save you a shocking amount on your monthly energy bill and yet your home will still be cool enough to feel comfortable.

3. Keep the sun off of your window air conditioner if you do use one. It isn't terribly energy-efficient to use a window air conditioner but for one reason or another you may feel like it's your best option, at least this summer. If so then make sure that it is located in a shady part of the house or erect some shade to cover it because direct sunlight will make it work twice as hard.

4. Use a programmable thermostat for your central air conditioner. You should never be keeping the whole house cool all day long if no one is there! Be smart about keeping the house cool.

5. Get your HVAC equipment serviced by a qualified professional. Maintenance of your equipment will keep it efficient so that you waste as little money as possible on cooling off your home. An inefficient system will eat away at your bank account. This is one of those instances in which you should spend money to save money!

6. Compare CT electric suppliers. Compare alternative electric suppliers in your area to receive a lower CT electric rate. This will help you save even more during the hot summer months.

These little tips are easy to follow and we all know them but sometimes we need a bit of a refresher course to keep our CT electric bills on track!

Source: http://weston-ct.patch.com/articles/keeping-cool-on-the-cheap

How to Find the Most Energy Efficient GA Gas Water Heater

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:41:48 -0500

With the recent increase in Georgia natural gas rates, many homeowners in The Peach State hope to lower their gas bills by finding the most energy efficient GA gas water heater on the market. To do this, it's important to know the difference between the three main types of gas water heaters: storage (tank) gas water heaters, tankless gas water heaters, and indirect gas water heaters. Georgia homeowners must also understand the few important energy-saving secrets of water heating. Keep reading to learn how to find the most energy efficient GA gas water heater, and how to both save money and help the environment by maximizing energy efficiency in your home water heating system.

Storage Gas Water Heaters

Many residents of Atlanta and surrounding GA towns rely on storage (tank) gas water heaters to provide hot water for cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and taking showers. Unfortunately, storage water heaters can be particularly inefficient, because they experience standby heat loss. In a storage water heater, a gas burner heats water in a large storage tank that holds up to 80 gallons of water. A thermostat - often set to around 140°F - controls the gas burner. When the large tank of water experiences heat loss and falls below the preset temperature, the thermostat opens the gas valve so that the water can be reheated. This is a continuous process. Water in a gas storage water heater is constantly heated and reheated, whether or not the homeowner needs hot water or is even at home. This constant energy use can result in expensive GA natural gas bills and significant energy waste if proper energy-efficient methods are not followed.

The Most Energy Efficient GA Storage Gas Water Heater

Although they are inherently less efficient than other types of home water heating, GA homeowners can take a few simple steps to make their storage gas water heater more energy efficient. First, you can reduce the preset temperature on your water heater thermostat from 140°F to 125°F. This will keep your water hot and safe, reduce the risk of scalding, and save money on natural gas bills.

A GA homeowner can also maximize their storage gas water heater's energy efficiency by insulating its tank. On average, water heating accounts for roughly 25% of a GA home's energy expenses. If nearly half of that expense is a direct result of heat loss, you'd want to find a way to eliminate the problem, right? Something as simple as a water heater insulation blanket can significantly reduce a water heater's standby heat loss, and, in doing so, significantly reduce GA natural gas bills. To make your gas water heater even more energy efficient, insulate your hot water pipes as well.

Tankless Gas Water Heaters

Unlike storage gas water heaters, tankless gas water heaters do not experience standby heat loss because they lack a large storage tank. Tankless gas water heaters heat water only when needed (when someone in your home turns on a hot water faucet). In this way, tankless gas water heaters do not waste energy, water, or money.

A major advantage of tankless gas water heaters over tankless electric water heaters is that gas models have a higher flow rate. This is especially important for large GA families that require simultaneous hot water use. Although tankless gas water heaters cost more to install than storage gas water heaters, tankless models last nearly two times longer than storage models and can help save a homeowner hundreds - even thousands - of dollars in energy bills over the life of the unit.

Indirect Gas Water Heaters

Many Georgians want the energy efficiency of a tankless system with the storage capacity of a tank system. These consumers often choose to install an indirect gas water heater, which heats water using a home's furnace or boiler. The energy stored in an indirect gas water heater will help your furnace or boiler turn on and off less often, making the entire system more energy efficient and budget friendly. To make it even more energy efficient, don't forget to insulate the storage tank!

Homeowners in Atlanta and throughout Georgia can significantly reduce their energy bills by finding the most energy efficient GA natural gas water heater or heating system for their home. Whether you choose a storage, tankless, or indirect gas water heater, be sure to take the proper steps to conserve as much energy as possible. This will help lower your energy bills and also help reduce carbon emissions.

National Grid President Confident That Cape Wind Will Become Reality

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:57:55 -0500

Cape Wind is a controversial wind project. The plan is to build 130 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. However, it’s a plan that has been just a plan for more than a decade and it’s not really clear at this time when it’s going to move forward. As a result, when National Grid decided to invest in this wind power farm there was a rather large outcry. But Mary Reed, president of the National Grid’s Massachusetts operations, says that she’s confident in the project and will make no apologies for the investment.

National Grid agreed to purchase half of the power that the wind farm would generate once it is built. There is currently not yet a buyer for the other half of the power but Reed says that she’s certain that a buyer will come through.

Other than the lack of another buyer, one of the major barriers to the project’s completion has been opposition from the large industrial users of electricity in the area. The cost of electricity will increase to offset the cost of using wind power, which is still in its early stages of development as a useful renewable resource. Homeowners would likely see only about a $1 per month increase on their bills but large industrial customers would feel more of a pinch because of the large amounts of MA electric that they require.

Nevertheless, wind power remains an important part of the nation’s plan to move forward with renewable resources. Reed says that she believes that it is part of National Grid’s job to invest in large-scale projects like Cape Wind that will help to control climate change and improve energy security in this country. So she is happy about the decision to be a part of Cape Wind’s development despite the controversy surrounding it.

Source: http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/massmarkets/2011/06/29/national-grid-president-wont-apologize-for-companys-unabashed-support-of-cape-wind/#axzz1Rv83jnVE

Everyone Hates PEPCO

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:46:07 -0500

PEPCO is a large utility company that serves more than three quarters of a million customers in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. And you know what? Those customers are not at all happy with the company.

Why are people so dissatisfied with PEPCO? The primary reason is a lack of reliability in service provision. A reliability study found that PEPCO ranks near the bottom when it comes to keeping power on as well as bringing it back on after an outage. A 2009 survey found that PEPCO customers experienced 70% more outages than customers of large utility companies in other big cities and that it took twice as long for PEPCO to get the energy back on than it was taking these other businesses.

The real problem is that the company has not been getting better after continued complaints about the issue from customers. In fact, company officials acknowledge that they’ve known about the problem for about five years but that they’ve only recently started doing something about it.

The D.C. Public Service Commission says that that’s not good enough. They are requiring PEPCO to improve its reliability over the course of the next few years or receiving risk a hefty fine. Improvements must be made in the next two years although the company has a full decade to bring its reliability levels up to the same standards of the nation’s most dependable power providers.

Improvements are required to be made in terms of both the number of power outages and the length of time that power is out. Starting in 2013 the company must show that it has reduced the frequency of outages by nine percent annually and that the length of outages has decreased by 3.4% annually.

PEPCO says that it doesn’t have a problem trying to meet better standards but that it needs more money to do so. The company has requested a 5.3% MD electric rate increase that would result in an average of a monthly $5 bill increase for customers. The rate would affect DC customers but would not affect Maryland PEPCO electric customers at this time. It is still pending approval.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-regulators-get-tough-with-pepco/2011/07/11/gIQAxZFo9H_story.html

Why States Ask For Electricity Conservation During Peak Hours

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:19:11 -0500

Many states request that their customers reduce their electricity use during peak hours on certain days of the year. Some states offer incentive programs for this. Other states require it. Many states simply ask customers for their help. If you understand the reasons behind the request then you may be more inclined to reduce your own energy use during these times.

Consider for example the requests that The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) sometimes makes of its customers. They let customers know when peak demand times are going to be so that they can scale back energy use during that time. In fact, this main electric grid operator has a graph on its website home page that shows the current system load on its site as well as the forecast peak throughout the day.

So why do they do this? The electricity company wants to make sure that the grid doesn't go down. If it does then everyone is out of luck because there is a temporary power outage. By asking customers who are able to reduce their usage to do so they can reduce the drain on the system and make sure that everyone has the access to electricity that they need at any given time.

ERCOT uses a three-level system to issue power warnings that alert customers about the need to reduce energy usage. At Level 1 ERCOT starts bringing in power from neighboring energy grids to reduce system strain. At Level 2 they start dropping power on large commercial customers who have been paid to accept the risk of such interruptions in order to provide for the stability of the entire system. If the strain reaches Level 3 then the company has to start creating controlled temporary interruptions of electrical service that can mean your residence goes without TX electric power for up to forty minutes.

So as you can see, the power company asks for you to reduce your energy use during peak times for the good of the whole. If you're in a position to delay running your major appliances and turn off some of your lights at such a time then why not contribute to the good by reducing your own energy use in those ways? The added benefit is that the less energy you use the more you'll save in energy costs!

Source: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/06/28/conservation-encouraged-in-texas-today-but-dont-panic/

10 Reasons to Choose Natural Gas Over Electric in Your GA Home

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:46:25 -0500

Natural gas is the smart choice for a lot of people in the home. It can be better for the environment as well as better for the bank account. Take a look at these ten reasons to choose natural gas instead of electric in your GA home:

1. A gas furnace is likely to last twice as long as an electric heat pump before it needs to be replaced.

2. An electric clothes only dries one load of clothing for every two that a natural gas dryer can dry in the same amount of time.

3. An electric water heater only offers about half the hot water that a gas water heater does in the same amount of time.

4. It is more efficient to use gas than electricity in major areas of the home including space heaters, backup power generation and swimming pool areas.

5. It is possible to reduce your GA home's carbon footprint by as much as 40% by switching from electricity to natural gas!

6. Natural gas produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions than coal or fuel oil.

7. Natural gas stoves work more quickly and efficiently than electric stoves. You use them for less time, reducing your heating bills.

8. We can achieve energy independence with natural gas. There is enough local domestic supply of natural gas for us to have eighty years of energy independence at the current production rates.

9. When energy is made to make electricity only about 30% of that energy actually gets to your home. The number increases to 90% when it comes to natural gas.

10. You can save on your taxes. There are a lot of tax incentives for people who choose to make the switch to GA natural gas.

Source: http://www.atlantagaslight.com/Home/Appliances.aspx

California PG and E Fined for Safety Violations

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:49:37 -0500

Back in 2008 a natural gas distribution line exploded in Sacramento County, killing an elderly homeowner. The gas line belonged to California’s large utility company Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E). The state’s pipeline regulators intend to fine PG&E for safety violations associated with the fatal explosion. PG&E has agreed to the fine, which now must be reviewed by an administrative law judge and then approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

PG&E has admitted to five legal violations related to the explosion. Those violations included a failure by PG&E crews to follow proper pipeline installation procedures. It has been suggested that there are other problems associated with the blast including flawed record keeping and the use of substandard pipe lines. To compensate for these safety violations, the company has agreed to a fine of $26 million. This is a huge fine against a California utility company, second only to a $30 million fine that was levied in 2008 against Southern California Edison related to fraud issues.

If the state’s Public Utilities Commission approves the $26 million fine it will be the largest safety-related fine that the regulator has assessed in more than a decade. PG&E shareholders would be responsible for paying the fine, which is important to note because it means that the cost of the fine should not be passed on to PG&E natural gas customers in any way. The fine would go into the state’s General Fund when paid out. In addition to the fine PG&E may be responsible for paying the cost of the state’s investigation into the matter as well as the legal costs for proceedings against the utility in this matter.

Sources: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/21/MNV01K0AL8.DTL, http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_18320597

5 Key Ways to Save Money if You Own a Pool

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:26:38 -0500

There are many wonderful advantages to owning your own pool. You get to enjoy the opportunity to relax in a refreshing way at home. You can get some great exercise without having to head to the gym or local public pool. And pools are a great addition to summer parties that you may host at your home.

Pools do have their downside, though, and the biggest problem is that they cost a lot to maintain. The following five tips can help you enjoy the benefits of being a pool owner while cutting costs to limit that one major drawback.

1. Spend money to save money. The best thing that you can do to save money on pool maintenance is to invest in the type of high-quality equipment that makes keeping your pool clean easy for you. There are several different products on the market that will crawl your pool to keep it clean, providing you with the most relaxing and efficient pool. Over time, this saves you money.

2. Reduce the use of your pool pump. One of the best ways to reduce your ongoing monthly bills as a home pool owner is to reduce the amount of time and energy that the pool pump is using. There are two key ways to do this. One is to switch to a smaller pool pump. The second is to start limiting how many hours during the day the pump is actually active. Either way will reduce your monthly electric bills while still keeping the pool clean, especially if you've invested in one of those high-quality pool-cleaning devices mentioned above.

3. Invest in a pool blanket. This simple device does two key things that will save you money. First, it keeps the pool warm so you don't have to pay to heat the pool. Second, it reduces water evaporation, which reduces your water bill costs each month.

4. Heat the pool with solar power. If you are someone who wants to have a heated pool then the pool blanket isn't the only way to save money. Another key investment is solar power. By using solar panels to heat the pool, you are taking advantage of the power of the sun and will save yourself a bundle on monthly home energy bills.

5. Invest in energy-efficient lighting around the pool area. Many people have lots of bright lights around the pool to keep it safe out there at night. This is important but make sure that you're using the most energy-efficient lighting possible so that you don't compromise safety but also don't compromise your electric bill!

Energy Customers are Getting Savvy About Choosing Suppliers

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:18:42 -0500

Large electricity suppliers like PEPCO and Baltimore Gas & Electric used to have no problem getting customers. In fact, prior to energy deregulation customers didn't even have a choice other than to use big utilities like this. Even after the industry was deregulated many customers didn't understand the how-to's and value of switching to an alternative energy supplier. However, that is starting to change. Energy consumers are starting to get really savvy about choosing the right energy provider to meet their needs at an affordable price.

Both residential and commercial customers are beginning to really take advantage of the fact that the independent energy suppliers often offer lower rates than the big utilities do. Some customers elect to take advantage of long-term contracts to lock in low prices because they know that energy costs could keep on climbing in the years to come even with the better rates offered by smaller providers.

One question that many people still have is what it means that the big utility provider still delivers the electricity. For example, you may choose a lower cost provider that supplies the energy but it is still delivered through PEPCO. Many PEPCO customers have been unhappy with ongoing outages and want to know if switching suppliers will improve that problem. Unfortunately, since service is still delivered by the large company, these problems may still occur. However, you will be paying a lot less for your energy with the other company so at least you aren't being charged an arm and a leg for the big utility's poor delivery service!

Many states have several hundred different energy suppliers that you can choose from. However only a handful of them will be operating in your area. The trick is to find out what providers are in your area and then compare them to see which company offers the lowest electric rates and best contracts. Then you can be one of those savvy customers that switched providers!

Source: http://www.gazette.net/stories/05202011/businew194602_32536.php

Average Nicor Gas Bill

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:04:35 -0500

Nicor Gas is an Illinois-based natural gas distribution company that uses more than 30,000 miles of pipeline to deliver gas to more than 2 million customers in the northern third of the state. Just what is the average Nicor gas customer paying for this service?

Natural Gas Charges

More than three quarters of your annual average Nicor bill comes from the cost that you pay for natural gas. (The rest of the bill is from other types of charges). Nicor purchases gas on behalf of its customers and passes the cost on to the customer without marking it up. Customers who make the proactive choice to switch to a lower cost natural gas supplier can lower their bills. Obviously a reduced price in the cost of your natural gas can significantly lower your monthly bill.

Other Charges

The rest of your Nicor bill is made up of delivery charges and taxes. Nicor reports on their website that they charge an average of 14 cents per therm for natural gas delivery. They use a one-size-fits-all pricing scheme so that all customers pay the same price per therm for their natural gas. While this is good for some customers, it can mean higher-than necessary rates for other customers.

Average Bill Varies by Season

The average Nicor natural gas bill varies a lot by season. According to the Illinois Commerce Commission, customers use natural gas as much as ten times more in the coldest months of the year as they do during the warmest months. This means that the average Nicor bill may seem low right now because it’s summer but once the winter months roll around it will once again be very high. January’s bill may be nine or ten times higher than August’s bill.

Of course, every little bit of savings helps. That’s why it makes sense to seek out the lowest IL natural gas rates now rather than waiting for those higher winter bills to come around.

Source: http://www.icc.illinois.gov/ags/consumereducation.aspx

Average Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Gas Bill

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:58:41 -0500

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania was first established in the late nineteenth century, meaning that it is a utility company that many people know and trust. However, smart consumers change with the times and it is important to realize that this may or may not be the best company to provide your natural gas service. Customers who choose to shop around may find that there are better rates available than what is offered to the average Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania customer.

A Columbia Gas of Pennsyvlania natural gas bill is made up of two major charges. The first is the charge for delivery of the gas, which is the price that the utility sets. The second is the charge for the supply of the gas. This second amount is not dictated by the company but is instead dictated by the current market value of gas. A few times each year the average Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania bill will decrease or increase to reflect these market changes.

Customers do not necessarily have to rely on the whims of the market to determine their natural gas rates. It is possible to select an alternative PA natural gas supplier in the area that is serviced by Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. By shopping around to find the lowest rate on your gas supply, you can significantly reduce your average monthly Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania bill. Customers who choose to sign contracts can lock in that lower rate for a certain period of time so that they will be less affected by the ups and downs in the market.

Don't Let PECO's Rate Hike Put You Out of Business

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:07:53 -0500

Have you ever noticed that electricity costs are higher in the summer than they are during the rest of the year? Increased demand for electricity during the summer months is reflected in increased rates for that energy. Maybe you have come to expect energy rate hikes like the one that PECO Energy Co.’s commercial customers will be affected by starting on July 1st. However, it’s not something that you are required to put up with now that energy deregulation allows you to select a lower cost energy provider in your service area.

PECO customers that own small and mid-sized businesses are going to see a huge jump in their energy bills this summer. These customers are currently paying less than 9.5 cents per kWh for their energy but after July 1st the cost is going to go up to nearly 10.5 cents per kWh. This reflects a rate increase of approximately ten percent and means that the average small business customer will have a $40 per month higher bill for using the same amount of electricity as before.

PECO says that they can’t do anything about this rate hike. The increased rate is an increase to the commodity charge on the customer’s bill. This rate is set by contracts with power generators and PECO says that they just pass the cost along to customers but don’t mark it up or profit from it. This may be true but it doesn’t mean that you have to be a victim of higher energy bills.

Customers have the option of choosing a low cost PA electric provider to reduce their monthly costs. PECO customers can check online to find an alternative energy provider that offers a lower rate than what PECO currently offers, let alone what the company will be charging once the summer rate hike goes into effect. It only takes a few minutes to switch energy providers and it can be well worth the investment.

Source: http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-17/news/29552425_1_peco-energy-alternative-electric-supplier-commodity-charge

Average Columbia Gas of Kentucky Gas Bill

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:41:56 -0500

It was just recently announced that Columbia Gas of Kentucky decreased their natural gas rates for customers. This makes many customers happy, of course. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should keep on getting your gas from this company.

What you have to understand is that the 7% decrease in natural gas costs that was announced for May 2011 really has nothing to do with Columbia Gas of Kentucky. This company provides natural gas to customers and their rate is based entirely on current market conditions regarding the cost of natural gas. The company gets its gas from elsewhere and charges the customers a non-marked-up price for the service. Where they make their money is in charging for the delivery of the gas, not in supplying it to you. So while it’s great that the price in natural gas went down, it doesn’t mean that this company is a good or bad company but rather that current market rates have decreased. In September 2011 it will again be time for the company to review market rates for natural gas and the price at that time very well could go up again.

Understanding this can empower you as a customer. You see, where you can save money on your KY natural gas bill is not in who delivers your gas but in who supplies it. When you choose to work with a lower cost natural gas supplier then you can still get your gas delivered by Columbia Gas of Kentucky but it will be at a lower cost. Customers may even be able to lock in very low long-term rates with contracts, rates that will stay low despite the fluctuations in market conditions that can affect when Columbia Gas of Kentucky is charging its customers.

Source: http://www.lanereport.com/articles/fastlane_article.cfm?id=255

The History of Georgia Natural Gas Deregulation

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:30:31 -0500

Did you know that the state of Georgia has deregulated natural gas? This means that consumers have the right to choose who supplies their natural gas. Many customers don’t realize this and continue getting their natural gas from the major providers despite the fact that this can often be a waste of money. A brief understanding of the history of natural gas deregulation in the state can help you as a Georgia customer see why it is important to take the time to locate the best natural gas provider for you.

Natural gas deregulation in the state began in 1997. At that time the Georgia Legislature passed Senate Bill 215. This allowed Atlanta Gas Light Company to begin storing and distributing natural gas in its facilities. It also allowed marketers to begin selling this natural gas to consumers. Governor Zell Miller signed the bill into law and natural gas deregulation began in the Atlanta Gas Light Company service area on July 1, 1998.

In 2002 another important bill went into effect. It was House Bill 1568. This bill had the effect of charging the Georgia Public Service commission with expanding consumers’ rights in the area of natural gas deregulation. Ever since this bill went into effect customers in the Atlanta Gas Light Company service area have had a lot of power to select the natural gas supplier of their own choosing.

You may not have paid much attention to these important bills when they went into effect. However, it took some hard work to deregulate natural gas in the state and it is work that can pay off for you. Thanks to these bills you have the right to get your natural gas supplied to you by a low cost supplier that may offer you better rates than the current market rate offered by Atlanta Gas Light Company. Taking the time to seek out those better rates means that you empower yourself and save money each month on your GA natural gas bill.

Consumers Energy Bills Increasing

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:24:13 -0500

Michigan customers are getting some mixed messages about what is going on with their monthly bills. Some reports say that bills are decreasing. Other reports say that bills are increasing. What’s the scoop? The answer is that the company’s natural gas bills are increasing slightly in spite of the fact that there will be a decrease to a section of customers’ residential electric bills.

Consumers Energy is decreasing their residential electric customers’ bills by $1.85 per month starting in September. This is due to a change in a surcharge fee that shows up on customers’ bills. Back in 2008 Michigan passed an energy law that mandated increased development of renewable resource energy. Consumers Energy added a $2.50 surcharge to customers’ monthly bills to offset the cost of exploring wind energy development. However the costs for wind energy development have been lower than anticipated and therefore this surcharge will decrease to just sixty five cents per month beginning in September.

So that is the good news for Consumers Energy customers. The bad news is that the Michigan Public Service Commission has ruled that the utility company can raise its natural gas rates by more than $30 million, increasing the average customers’ bill by approximately $2 per month. So, although there is a small bill decrease due to the changed surcharge, there is a slightly greater increase due to the rate hike. This means that bills are going up for Consumers Energy customers.

Customers who are concerned about increasing rates can always shop around to find a lower cost provider of natural gas. The power of choice afforded by energy deregulation means that customers have the ability to keep seeking out lower MI natural gas rates instead of becoming the victims of rate hikes, however large or small those rate hikes may be.

Sources: http://www.mlive.com/business/jackson-lansing/index.ssf/2011/05/post_25.html, http://www.freep.com/article/20110526/BUSINESS06/110526016/Consumers-Energy-wins-rate-hike-gas-customers-see-2-month-hit

7 Tips for Atlantic City Electric Customers to Save Money

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:18:29 -0500

Atlantic City Electric customers are happy right now. That’s because their bills are decreasing. In fact, the average residential customer is going to see a $6 monthly decrease in their electricity bills, which is no small thing. However, a smart consumer will make an effort to lower their bills even more by taking money-saving, energy-saving actions themselves.

Here are 7 tips for Atlantic City Electric customers who want to save even more money than their neighbors:

1. Make sure that you have replaced the air filter on your central air conditioner. Check it throughout the summer to make sure that it’s still clean and working as efficiently as possible.

2. Make sure that you’ve had the AC unit professional maintained. This should be done as early in the summer as possible to guarantee that you’ve got the most energy-efficient machine possible.

3. Remember that 78 degrees is the ideal thermostat setting for your home during the summer months. Keeping it cooler than this is a waste of electricity and a waste of your money.

4. Never leave windows open when you are running the air conditioner at home. You are just paying to cool off the outdoors when you do this, wasting your money and not even having a cool home.

5. Make sure that your thermostat is free of heat-producing sources. When lamps and appliances are located too close to the thermostat they can make it seem hotter than it is and the thermostat will unnecessarily run longer, wasting your electricity.

6. Update your light bulbs. Nobody should be using traditional incandescent light bulbs at home anymore. CFLs and LEDs are now the way to go to save energy and money at home.

7. Switch to a lower cost Atlantic City Electric electricity provider. Atlantic City Electric may have decreased their costs but they aren’t the only game in town. Check to see if there is a provider that is offering an even better price and electricity and make the switch if there is!

Source: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/business/atlantic-city-electric-residential-customers-will-see-average-decrease-in/article_6220bb22-8330-11e0-ae9a-001cc4c03286.html

ComEd Rate Hike Means Electricity Bills are Going Up

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:08:12 -0500

Commonwealth Edison Co. (better known as ComEd) is a popular major utility provider in Illinois. Customers have been using this provider for a long time and feel comfortable with that choice, more or less. However a recently approved rate hike means that ComEd customers are going to see a monthly increase to their electricity bills. It may be the right time for ComEd customers to think about switching to a lower cost alternative energy supplier.

The Illinois Commerce Commission has recently approved a $156 million rate hike that ComEd requested. This reflects a 7.6% increase in the current revenues for the large utility company. More important, it means that the average residential ComEd customer is going to see a $3.15 increase on monthly electricity bills. This adds up to approximately $40 per year more in electricity bills, money that could stay in your pocket if you choose to switch to an alternative electricity provider.

In addition to the general frustration of increased rates, ComEd customers should be aware of the fact that watchdog groups say that the rate increase itself is unfair. The last time that ComEd faced a rate hike decision was in 2008 and at that time the Supreme Court ruled that ComEd’s profit margins were already high enough. Watchdog groups say that this information is still true and that ComEd should actually be significantly lowering their rates, not increasing them. This makes the approved rate hike seem grossly unfair to the customers.

The rate hike goes into rapid effect on June 1st. Customers who don’t want to pay exorbitant energy bills should begin shopping around to find a lower priced IL electric company. There are many companies offering highly competitive prices and switching to one of them is very easy. Why pay more than is fair for the energy that you use at home?

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chibrkbus-icc-set-to-rule-on-comed-rate-hike-request-20110524,0,2257394.story

How to Protect Yourself from Energy Sale Scams

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:19:33 -0500

Energy deregulation has provided customers with the option to choose their own energy providers. Unfortunately, whenever something good like this happens there are always bad people who come along and ruin it. There have been a number of reports recently about unscrupulous companies that are taking advantage of the fact that folks don't fully understand how to benefit from energy deregulation. It is important to avoid these scams and use only legitimate sites to switch your energy supplier!

Energy Seller Scams

There are several variations on energy sales scams but they all start with someone cold calling an individual to try to get them to switch energy providers. This may be done on the phone or through door-to-door sales. These sellers typically misrepresent themselves. For example, they may say that they are with the local large utility provider and that they are offering discounts on energy. That was the case recently with a group of people who went door-to-door saying that they were from Baltimore Gas and Electric and were authorized to offer discounts to certain customers (when in fact they were from another energy company that may or may not offer a lower rate).

These people are taking advantage of the fact that customers don't really know a lot about energy deregulation, yet. The horrible thing is that energy deregulation is designed specifically to give you a choice in who you get your energy from and if you fall victim to one of these scams then you actually are not exploring all of your choices. It defeats the entire purpose of having alternative energy suppliers.

How to Protect Yourself

So how do you take advantage of energy deregulation without falling prey to one of these scams? Here are some important tips:

o Don't sign up for anything that a seller approaches you about. Whether they call you, email you or come to your door, you should always say that you want to think about it. This gives you time to research who they are and how legitimate the deal is.

o Do your own research into energy deregulation. If you understand what it's all about then you'll be empowered to take advantage of it in the right way!

o Look for lower cost energy suppliers on sites that direct you to multiple options. There isn't just one single company in your area offering a better rate on energy; there are several. Make sure you get the opportunity to weigh the costs of each of them to choose the one that is best for you! Comparison energy shopping is important when it comes to choosing an energy supplier.

NIPSCO Customers Receive Important Home Energy Reports

Mon, 16 May 2011 08:49:45 -0500

What if you were to receive a report from your energy company providing you with helpful information about where you waste energy along with tips for reducing your energy waste? Would you listen? Most customers would probably find this information useful since it would assist them in lowering their utility bills. That's what Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) is hoping for as they begin their program of offering personalized Home Energy Reports to their customers.

NIPSCO has launched this program as part of their compliance with regulations in Indiana that require utility companies to assist their customers to reduce total energy consumption statewide. NIPSCO is the second largest electric distribution company in the state so if their efforts are a success then they could go a long way towards meeting the states energy consumption reduction goals.

So how does it work? Well, NIPSCO teamed up with a company called OPOWER that produces software that measures energy use in homes. This software produces a personalized home energy report that shows the customer the home's energy use over the past 12 months. The report then provides practical personalized tips about ways to reduce energy use in the home to increase savings.

But there's more. There is also a little bit of subtle peer pressure involved in these reports. They show you what your energy waste is compared to that of all of your neighbors (an average based on the bills of approximately one hundred homes in the same region). Moreover, they show you what the top 20% of energy efficient homes are spending in the same area. There's a human urge there to beat out your neighbors with energy savings each month!

The tips combined with the subtle peer pressure to beat out neighbors with a lower average household bill should encourage customers to start saving energy. NIPSCO believes that the Home Energy Reports will result in a $7 million utility savings bill this year.

But what if you aren't a NIPSCO customer? You can still find ways to reduce energy waste around the home, of course. If you feel like you need some guidance about where to start then you can always invest in a home energy audit. An audit shows you exactly where the energy waste is in your home so that you can take practical actions to stop wasting energy and start saving money on your energy bills immediately.

Source: http://www.nwitimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/article_e5e76ef4-0d80-5319-8f23-48682105cba6.html

6 Ways to Save on Georgia Natural Gas Bill

Thu, 12 May 2011 12:11:11 -0500

With the cost of nearly everything in today's world rising, including Georgia natural gas rates, it is vital to save wherever possible. What better way to save consistently than to shave some dollars off the price of your natural gas bill? Take a look at these suggestions to start getting in on the savings today:

1. Buy a Programmable Thermostat. While away at work for the day, why not have a thermostat that can be programmed to keep the temperature a bit warmer or cooler when no one is home? A programmable thermostat can do just that: set the temperature cooler than normal during colder months when you are away at work or tucked away, sleeping for the night. Set the thermostat to warm up again a half hour before you wake up or come home from work, and you'll never notice the difference. You can do the same during warmer months to give the air conditioning a break from constantly running. It's amazing how much difference a couple of degrees can make. On a side note, if you are worried about getting too cold during the night, try using electric blankets to keep warm - you'll never even notice the cooler temperature in your home.

2. Don't Heat/Cool Unused Rooms. Do you have a guest bedroom or basement that rarely get used? Shut the door, close the vents, and quit paying to heat or cool rooms where it isn't necessary. During the summer months, why air-condition a basement that already stays cool? Keep the vents closed and let the basement do its own cooling.

3. Watch Your Water Usage. The standard temperature for a hot water heater is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If your water heater is set at a hotter temperature, turning it down will cause a dramatic decrease in your Atlanta natural gas prices. To avoid losing any heat at all, try insulating your hot water pipes or wrapping an insulated blanket around your hot water heater. Only run the washing machine or dishwasher at full capacity instead of doing a half load or even try a low-flow shower head to avoid wasting water. Better yet, invest in a tankless water heater that only heats water when in use, as opposed to anytime the water tank drops.

4. Perform Routine Maintenance. Don't forget to keep up with yearly boiler and furnace inspections, which should be left to the professionals. Air filters should be changed regularly as well - each type of appliance should have a set schedule from the manufacturer listed to help you decipher when this needs to be completed. Proper upkeep can not only cause these items to last longer, but save money on your Georgia natural gas bill as well.

5. Replace Old Appliances. While it may be the most expensive option, this can also be the one that saves you the most money. Energy Star appliances are popping up everywhere, and replacing old, energy-sucking appliances with new, energy-efficient ones can make the Georgia natural gas rates seem like a miniscule dot on your radar of bills to pay each month.

6. Compare Natural Gas Rates. You no longer have to pay the high prices set by your local gas company. By comparing the gas rates of several low-cost GA natural gas suppliers, you can choose a rate and plan that is right for.

Do You Understand The Line Items on Your Electric Bill

Tue, 10 May 2011 13:08:57 -0500

Have you ever taken a close look at your electric bill? If you have then you might have immediately become frustrated at the gibberish that you see there. That is because your charges are broken up into numerous different line items that don't make sense to the average consumer. For example, did you know that the average Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) bill lists thirteen different line items? Do you even know what it is that you're being charged for when your energy bill comes?

The problem is that if you don't understand your line charges then you may not look carefully at each line every month. The risk is that different areas of your bill can go up and you may not realize it right away. For example, WMECO recently increased rates for the customers who use the most power. This rate hike affected at least five different lines on the WMECO Bill:

1. Transmission Charge

2. Customer Charge

3. Distribution Energy Charge

4. Attorney General Consultant Expense Charge

5. Storm Recovery Cost Adjustment

The increase on each line was small but of course it adds up over time and before you know it you are paying a higher energy bill each month and you can't even understand why. At the very least getting to know your energy bill line by line will let you know where your money is going. If your line charges are going to things that you don't want to support then you can look into the option of switching to another energy provider that puts your money into things you can support.

For example, a WMECO bill has a line called the Residential Assistance Adjustment Clause. What's that? Well, this energy company offers reduced rates to low income residents, which is great, but did you know that you're paying for that? That's exactly what this line means.

Take the time to look at your WMECO electric bill. When you think about switching to another electricity provider, ask for a break down of their line by line bill items so that you can compare information about where your money is going.

Source: http://www.masslive.com/business/republican/index.ssf?/base/business-6/130233331836870.xml&coll=1

Shocking 15 Percent Rate Increase on PPL

Tue, 10 May 2011 13:06:00 -0500

Pennsylvania electricity customers who get their energy from PPL should start preparing themselves for the shock of a lifetime. That’s because when they open up their June energy bills they will see that their normal costs have increased by a shocking 15%. There has never been a better time to get active about shopping around for a lower cost electricity provider in the Pennsylvania area!

Sure, we could complain about the rate hike. After all, there are a lot of reasons to complain about rates going so high, so quickly. Customers never look favorably upon a rate hike but this one is particularly offensive because it isn’t going to happen gradually. Many electric companies implement huge rate hikes but they phase them in over the course of a few years so that customers can at least adjust to budgeting for the new expense. This rate hike is going to hit quickly.

Complaining isn’t going to do anything, though. The rate hike has already been approved and is going to start as of June 1, 2011 whether you complain about it or not. So the only thing to do is to take advantage of the fact that electricity deregulation provides you with the right to choose a lower cost provider for your own energy. You don’t have to accept the high rates that are going to affect PPL customers starting in June; you can choose to empower yourself with a decision to find a fair priced company today!

Consider that the current default electric rate in Pennsylvania is already 9.766 cents per kWh. The 15% increase will result in a default rate of 11.22 cents per kWh. Why would you pay a default rate this exorbitant when there are electricity companies that are offering rates that are below even the current pre-increase rate? Some companies are offering rates that are as low as 6.49 cents per kWh, a rate that is nearly half of what the new charges will be after the rate hike in June. It simply doesn’t make sense to pay twice as much as necessary each month to get your electricity when there are other options available. Do something about it today and compare PPL low-cost electric suppliers!

MI Consumers Energy Customers Will save $428 Million through Energy Efficiency

Tue, 10 May 2011 09:24:23 -0500

In 2008 the state if Michigan implemented an important energy-saving law. It requires utility companies to actively work with customers to reduce both electric use and natural gas use with specific reduction standards to be met by 2015. Utility company Consumers Energy reports a great deal of success already with an anticipated $428 million customer savings resulting from the energy-efficiency measures that have been put in place.

Check out some of the impressive statistics that Consumers Energy is reporting:

o More than 200,000 residential customers participated in the company’s energy saving programs in 2010.

o Customers saved nearly $40 million last year as a result of participating in the company’s energy-efficiency programs.

o Customers saved more than 250,000 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2010.

o Customers saved more than 935 million cubic feet of MI natural gas in 2010.

o The energy saved is enough to provide annual electricity to 30,000 more homes and to provide natural gas to more than one quarter of those homes.

o These savings exceeded the legal requirements of the energy reform law by nearly 150%.

So what did all of these customers do that reduced their energy waste in the home? Simple things that you could do in your own home in order to reduce energy waste. For example, 1.2 million compact fluorescent light bulbs were installed to reduce the energy waste associated with traditional incandescent light bulbs. Another major action that was taken was to replace inefficient appliances, such as gas furnaces, with energy efficient alternatives. A related action was to get rid of second appliances that were no longer needed, such as freezers that had been sitting in garages. Some residents chose to participate in home energy audits to obtain more information about how to save energy at home.

Customers who choose to participate in the programs offered by the utility company are able to gain numerous benefits. In addition to general savings on energy bills, incentives are offered for those who participate in various parts of the program such as selecting to purchase efficient appliances. But remember, you don’t have to be working with a specific energy company to make changes that reduce energy waste today!

Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumers-energy-customers-saved-an-estimated-38-million-through-energy-efficiency-programs-121075744.html

Are You a Toledo Natural Gas Customer - Be Aware of Pipeline Upgrades

Tue, 10 May 2011 09:20:13 -0500

All across the nation natural gas companies are embarking on projects to replace old pipes with new pipelines. These projects are designed to increase safety and perhaps allow for more efficient natural gas delivery. However, the process of putting in those pipelines does affect the neighborhoods where upgrades are set to occur. If you are a Toledo resident who uses Columbia Gas of Ohio to get your natural gas then you should be aware of the fact that these pipeline upgrades are set to affect your area next.

The project requires replacement of 18,000 feet of natural gas main pipeline. The project began last month and will last for another five months, affecting residential and business customers in numerous neighborhoods throughout North Toledo. As construction takes place customers can expect that there will be some short-term power outages and service disruptions. Customers are supposed to be notified of anticipated outages before they occur and should be contacted by gas company officials to set up re-lighting and safety testing as soon as possible after the work is complete. Approximately 500 customers should expect to be affected in the North Toledo region over the next five months.

One of the most noticeable changes that customers will experience is the moving of meters. Right now many homes in this area have their meters inside of their homes (often in the basement). During this pipeline project the meters will be relocated outside. Ultimately this will allow gas meters to be read without inconveniencing the homeowner but of course there will be an inconvenience at the current time as the relocation occurs.

Less noticeable but ultimately more important is the replacement of the actual pipeline. The old steel pipelines are being replaced with new plastic pipes that are designed to be durable and long lasting. This particular project is actually only one small part of a larger Ohio natural gas pipeline replacement project. Columbia is planning to spend $2 billion over the next two and a half decades to replace and /or improve its entire underground pipeline system, which consists of 19,000 miles of Ohio pipeline.

Source: http://www.toledoonthemove.com/news/story.aspx?id=607667

Dominion East Ohio Charges Gas Customers to Replace Pipelines

Mon, 02 May 2011 16:14:14 -0500

Dominion East Ohio is a division of Dominion Resources Inc., which is America’s largest independent retail supplier of natural gas. It serves Ohio customers by delivering natural gas to their homes. However, this isn’t the only natural gas provider in the state and if you’re a customer of theirs you might want to think about what your other options are. That’s because this company is seeking to replace its existing pipelines and it wants to pass the cost on to customers.

It is certainly true that the pipelines need to be replaced. It is a problem that is plaguing gas customers all across the nation. The old pipelines that were installed decades ago are starting to show their age and safety requires that they be updated. The situation is dire for Dominion East Ohio; nearly one third of the company’s pipes are more than eighty years old and nearly two thirds are more than sixty years old. So replacing them is important.

However, replacing the pipes doesn’t come cheap. Dominion East Ohio needs to replace more than 5,000 miles of pipeline across its system and the cost could be passed on to customers. It is possible that consumers could see their monthly bills rise by about $2 per month this year if Dominion East Ohio gets its current plans approved. Customers could then see similar cost increases year upon year for as much as four years. A $24 annual increase over four years means that your annual gas bills could end up being $100 higher then than they are now. That’s no small chunk of change.

Customers do bear a brunt of the casts of pipeline replacement. If you take a look at your Dominion East Ohio natural gas bill then you will see that you are already paying $1.58 for that service. But should customers be asked to pay even more of those costs or should those costs be considered a burden that the company must bear after not replacing those pipes for more than 60 years? Customers who don’t want to pay those costs may consider switching to alternative Ohio natural gas providers to get lower monthly bills without these rate increases.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/dominion_east_ohio_wants_to_sp.html

Natural Gas Safety Tips to Protect Your Home

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:53:34 -0500

Do you use natural gas in your home? If you do then it is important to make sure that you know how to be safe about it. Although there are rarely problems with residential natural gas, the results can be devastating when there are. That's why you want to keep natural gas safety in mind.

Here are some important safety tips that you need to know:

o Gas smells like rotten eggs. A nasty smell is added to natural gas so that you can immediately tell if there is a leak. If you smell this then you should not ignore it. You should immediately call your natural gas provider and advise them that you may have a leak. They will send someone out to take care of the problem. In the meantime you should stay out of the house.

o Gas flames should always be blue. If you see a gas flame (such as on your stovetop) that is yellow or orange then you need to contact your natural gas provider because it could mean that there is a problem with venting or combustion.

o Look at your draft hood. Pay attention to the draft hood on your indoor gas heater. If it exudes a hot gas or has soot falling from it then you may have carbon monoxide building up in your space. This is dangerous!

o Make sure that your house has proper circulation. It is especially important to make sure that there is airflow throughout rooms that have gas appliances (such as the kitchen). Check to make sure that your chimneys and vents are open, unblocked and clean. If your home ever feels unusually stuffy then you may not have proper circulation and you should get it checked out.

o Put all flammable items far away from all gas appliances. Make sure that your household cleaners are not placed anywhere near your gas furnace, for example. In general you should keep the area around your gas appliances free of all clutter.

o Never use electrical appliances if you think that you might have a natural gas leak. Anything that can create a spark can cause a whole house to go up in flames if there is a gas leak. If you have any reason to think that there is a leak then make sure that you don't turn on light switches, use phones or computers or activate any other electrical appliances or gadgets until the problem has been resolved.

o Never use gas appliances for purposes other than intended. For example, never use your gas stove to heat your home because it wasn't intended for that. Always make sure that you've read your manuals and know how to properly operate natural gas equipment.

o Keep your gas appliances up to date. Make sure that your equipment is operating properly and that it is serviced regularly and repaired as needed. If you need to replace gas appliances in the home always look for the American Gas Association Blue Star seal of approval, which shows that the new equipment is designed to meet current safety standards.

o Know the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you experience headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea and / or heart palpitations then there may be a carbon monoxide buildup in your home. Get out of the house and get a professional over to come check it out.

Carbon monoxide poisoning and natural gas leaks are rare but they do occur so be aware of the ways to best protect your home.

Indiana Gas Lines Need Replacing

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:17:26 -0500

Many of the gas lines throughout our great nation are starting to get old. There is a nationwide push to identify gas lines that need replacing and to get them replaced in order to bring our gas systems up to date. One of the states where replacements will occur is Indiana.

Vectren Energy Delivery reports that they are launching a $1.75 million gas line replacement project in northern Terre Haute, Indiana. The gas lines in that area were installed 50-70 years ago and are among those in the state that are in dire need of upgrading.

The old lines that are currently installed in that area are bare steel cast iron pipelines. The new lines will be plastic. Plastic is the preferred option for durable gas pipes today. That is because it is less likely to corrode over time than metal is and therefore has the potential to last longer so that extensive pipeline replacement like this isn't necessary again in the foreseeable future.

The company is planning to replace 18,000 feet of pipeline. There will be 350 service lines that are replaced. Service lines are those that run from the street to the home so these are lines that directly affect delivery to individual customers. The upgrade is designed to make those lines efficient for a long time to come.

This is not actually the first pipeline replacement project that Vectren has done recently. They started working on their upgrades about two years ago in other areas of Terre Haute. They will continue working on upgrades for approximately the next decade and a half, replacing as much as 1700 miles of gas pipes throughout Indiana as well as Ohio.

When the company comes to your area to do upgrades, you may experience a short disruption of service. Additionally, the workers may need to dig into your yard to get at the pipes that need replacing. Customers are supposed to receive advance notifications before this occurs so if you're a Vectren IN natural gas customer you should keep an eye out for notices.

Source: http://tribstar.com/news/x1623043398/Vectren-plans-upgrade-work

The Three Largest Wasters of Atlanta Natural Gas

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:14:19 -0500

The United States is one of the highest consumers of natural gas in the entire world. Unfortunately, much of that natural gas can be wasted if proper precautions are not taken in your home. Finding a great, low-cost Georgia natural gas supplier is a simple task using our convenient tool to compare Georgia natural gas rates, but if you haven't taken the proper measures in your home to ensure you aren't wasting natural gas, you will end up losing money in the long run.

1. Poorly Insulated Homes. Not having the proper insulation on your home can easily lead to hot or cold air leaking out, and in turn, a huge waste of energy and natural gas. Through doors and windows that aren't properly sealed, air can effortlessly escape. In order to combat this, relatively inexpensive weather-stripping can be purchased to take care of exposed gaps that air can seep out of. Extra insulation can also be added to areas like the attic or basement, which are commonly known to lose hot and cold air.

2. Old Appliances. In today's world, one of the biggest crazes has become to use eco-friendly cars, materials, and even appliances in our homes. While it can be a costly investment, this is one of the best ways to save money on your natural gas bill. Energy efficient appliances are manufactured by all major brands and are also simple to find. Even though you may pay more money up front, these appliances will easily save you money long-term, and they will limit the amount of natural gas wasted in your home.

3. Out-of-date HVAC Systems. This can be another costly change made to your home that will be beneficial when it comes time to pay your Georgia natural gas bill. Heating and cooling can actually total almost half of your entire natural gas bill for the month, so it makes sense to devote some time to your heating and cooling unit. If you can't afford to update your home's entire system, you can keep up with changing the air filters regularly or sealing off the ducts around your system to avoid any hot or cold air leakage.

In order to avoid wasting natural gas and money, following simple steps to better equip your home against the loss of natural gas can easily save you plenty of money in the long run. The worst part of wasting natural gas is that it can be prevented. So, if you've already found a low-cost Georgia natural gas supplier, the next logical step to take is to guard your home against the loss of natural gas.

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Customers May Have Too-Thin Pipes

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:23:52 -0500

Are you a Pennsylvania resident who receives your gas through Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania? If so then you may experience an interruption in your service in the months to come. That is because the company has discovered that the pipes it installed last year throughout its system are too thin and need to be replaced.

In 2010 Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania installed more than 4000 pipes throughout their system. Many of them were purchased to connect residential homes to gas mains. It came to the company’s attention in June that the pipes had a defect in them and were too thin to be up to standard. The company’s standard pipes are designed to last 100 years. This pipe is only expected to last 50 years. The company wants to replace all of the defective pipes so that they will be up to par and last the full 100 years that the company expects.

Unfortunately, tackling this isn’t going to be easy. The too-thin pipes are located all over the state. A worker must go to each individual site where pipes were installed last year. That means that 4000 different sites need to be visited. At each site the worker needs to dig a hole, look at the pipe, check the date of installation and see if it is one of the pipes that needs to be replaced. If it needs replacement then the work will need to be done at that site.

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania is one of the largest gas utilities in the state so a large number of people may potentially be affected. If a pipe needs to be replaced the company may have to shut off gas service during replacement. Customers may experience several hours of service disruption if this occurs. However customers can expect to receive advance notice in the mail before the workers are expected to arrive to check out the pipes. There is currently no estimated date for when this process will begin.

Source: http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/5035129/gas-company-ready-to-replace-4-000-too-thin-pipes

NYSEG Re-Launches Rebates for Energy Efficient Appliances

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:13:24 -0500

New York gas and electric provider NYSEG has re-opened its rebate program for residents who want to upgrade their natural gas equipment to more energy-efficient models. This means that you will save money on the purchase of your equipment. Plus since the equipment is more efficient you will save money throughout the year while using it.

One item that qualifies for this rebate is a high-efficiency natural gas furnace. Customers can enjoy rebates between $115 and $340 for such a purchase. To get the higher rebate the natural gas furnace that you buy must have an electronically controlled motor and offer annual fuel utilization efficiency of 94% or higher. That’s a great investment for people who want to have an eco-friendly, budget-friendly natural gas furnace in the home! Additionally you can receive a rebate of $340 for duct sealing if it is performed by a contractor at the time that you replace qualifying NY natural gas furnaces.

Natural gas furnaces are not the only items that qualify for rebates through the newly re-opened NYSEG program. Other items that qualify for rebates include:

Water boilers - rebates up to $560 depending on the annual fuel utilization efficiency rating

Steam boiler - rebate of $280

Indirect water heater - rebate of $170

Boiler rest control - rebate of $56

Programmable thermostats - rebate of $15

The rebates can be accessed through an online rebate reservation system that is set up on the NYSEG website. It has already opened and will remain open until customer demand exceeds the available program funds. For those of you who used the program before it closed down in November 2010 you know that there is a huge customer demand for the rebates so you will want to get yours early!

Source: http://www.newschannel34.com/content/developingnews/story/Residential-Natural-Gas-Equipment-Rebate-Program/UhR2x83DwEaF2TnRaFtFfQ.cspx

New Jersey Electric Rates are Going Down

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:02:01 -0500

New Jersey electricity customers have something to be thankful for starting on June 1, 2011. Their electricity rates are going down! The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently held power auctions that resulted in a decrease in energy bills for many New Jersey residents. This is a much-needed energy rate decrease due to the fact that New Jersey residents pay significantly higher per kWh energy rates than the average energy customer nationwide.

New Jersey customers who get their energy from Atlantic City Electric should see their energy bills decrease by about 4.5% as a result of the power auctions. This means that the average energy customer using 650 kWh per month will see their energy bills go down by about $5.64 monthly.

What about if you get your New Jersey energy from Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G)? Your monthly energy costs will go down as well thanks to these public auctions although they aren’t going to decrease quite as much as the costs for Atlantic City Electric customers. PSE&G customers should see a 3.5% rate drop resulting in an average monthly bill decrease of $4.27.

These rate decreases are definitely good news for New Jersey energy customers. After all, every little bit helps when it comes to reducing your ongoing monthly expenses. Nevertheless, customer shouldn’t leave it up to the major utility companies alone to make sure that they are spending less money on energy. There are many things that customers themselves can do in order to decrease their monthly energy costs.

Common actions New Jersey electric customers may take in order to further reduce their energy bills include:

o Engage in energy-saving activities around the house. Turn off lights that aren’t in use. Install a programmable thermostat to reduce AC and heat waste. Use proper insulation in the home.

o Implement renewable resource energy in the home. Install solar panels, for example.

o Compare NJ electric rate prices and switch to a lower cost energy supplier. Atlantic City Electric and PSE&G are just two New Jersey energy companies. There is a sea of other options including suppliers that offer much lower New Jersey electricity rates even though they actually deliver their energy through these other major utility companies.

Source: http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/wire-news-display/1356691570.html

Com Ed and Ameren Want Energy Customers to Pay More

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:43:56 -0500

Illinois state residents typically get their energy from one of the state’s two main electricity providers: Com Ed and Ameren. This is disconcerting because the two businesses are both interested in raising rates on customers through a legislative proposal designed to raise money to improve the energy grid in the state. While it’s great to look towards creating a smart grid that can help customers save money on energy in the future, it’s always disconcerting to hear that your own energy bills might be about to go up.

If Com Ed gets what it wants then customers will see an average bill increase of $3 per month. It sounds like a little bit but that’s nearly $40 per year that you could be putting towards something other than your energy bill. It’s enough to start upgrading some of the appliances in your own home to reduce energy costs! The rate increase for Ameren customers is smaller at just $5 per year but it’s still money that’s going to the energy companies instead of staying in your pocket.

What is really unnerving about the rate hike is that it is a separate proposed charge from the standard rate hikes that the companies are allowed to ask for. This means that you might see a $3 per month increase right now but then an additional bill increase for standard maintenance and energy costs. The amount could easily double and wind up costing Illinois residents more than the anticipated amount (if additional rate hikes are also approved).

So what can be done about this? Well your best bet is to get proactive and to protect yourself by taking advantage of electricity deregulation in the state. Because of deregulation customers have the right to choose their energy providers. You are not obligated to get your energy from the big names like Com Ed and Ameren. You can select to work with smaller energy companies that offer you cheaper Illinois electric rates than their big name competitors. It doesn’t cost you anything to switch and you can immediately start saving money on your energy bill while avoiding potential rate hikes from Com Ed and Ameren. It’s definitely worth looking in to!

Source: http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/article_5542a942-4acd-11e0-b7e2-001cc4c002e0.html

How to Switch your NY Gas Supplier

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:57:34 -0500

In case you haven’t heard, New Yorkers can now drastically lower their natural gas bills by switching to a low-priced NY gas supplier. Thanks to a government initiative known as deregulation -- which has been adopted by some of the most populated U.S. states, including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Illinois -- consumers can now choose the company that supplies natural gas to their home or business and, for the first time, have a say in how much they’ll pay for it.

So how do you switch your NY gas supplier? It’s simple. Our website is a free and helpful resource for budget-conscious New Yorkers wanting cheaper natural gas for their home or business. Rather than visit numerous websites to compare NY gas suppliers serving your town, we’ve compiled all of the information you need to know. From our single website, you can compare natural gas rates and NY natural gas suppliers in your town or county. Then, simply request a free transfer in service to the New York gas supplier offering the best natural gas rates and service plans suited for your budget and needs.

Some independent gas suppliers offer fixed monthly rates, while others offer variable-rate plans. Some suppliers require a 6- or 12-month contract, while others require no contract at all. Our website lists all of the details, facts, and figures you need to know to make an informed decision. But in most cases, New Yorkers just want to know how much money they’re going to save. Here’s the good news: transferring to a low-priced NY gas supplier can save New York homeowners hundreds of dollars a year, and NY business-owners even more!

While some consumers are admittedly hesitant to switch gas suppliers, their doubts are quickly relieved within the first month of service with their new supplier. When you initially request the transfer, you will not receive a disruption in service. Rather, you will continue to receive the same safe and dependable natural gas you always have. Your local utility company will still respond to any service-related issues, and you’ll still receive just one natural gas bill -- only now it will be much cheaper.

We’ve already helped thousands of consumers in deregulated states drastically lower their natural gas bills, and we’d like to help you! Transferring service is fast, easy, and 100% free, so start today. Compare NY natural gas rates and suppliers, and drastically lower your natural gas bill!

The Three Largest Wasters of Natural Gas

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:53:39 -0500

A majority of the natural gas consumed in a typical New York home is used for heating purposes (space heating or water heating). That being said, if your NY home's central air or water heating systems are inefficient, outdated, or just plan wasteful, it's costing you a lot of extra money each year. Read below to learn the three largest wasters of natural gas, and how to make your NY home more efficient and less expensive to maintain.

Natural Gas Waster #1: Improper Insulation & Drafty Windows and Doors

A major natural gas waster in a NY home is improper insulation. This includes your attic and basement insulation, as well as your home's windows and doors. If a single pane window or cracked door is the only thing protecting your warm home from the cold winter elements, you're in trouble. Up to 40% of a home's heated or cooled air can escape through unsealed windows and doors. Fortunately, there's a simple and inexpensive DIY remedy: simply caulk or use weather-stripping to cover any cracks along your home's windows or doors. For a more permanent (but expensive) solution, invest in double pane, energy-saving windows and efficient doors, which help keep costly warm or cooled air inside your home... where it belongs.

To use even less natural gas in your NY home, ensure that attic and basement insulation falls within the recommended R-Value range (for an attic, the range is R49-R60; for floors, it's R25-R30).

Natural Gas Waster #2: Outdated HVAC

One of the largest wasters of natural as in a New York home is an old or outdated HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) unit. While many people think, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," they couldn't be more wrong when it comes to one's HVAC unit. The truth is that updating your HVAC to an energy-efficient system could reduce your monthly natural gas bill up to 50%! If you act quickly, you may even receive a federal tax rebate up to $1,500 for the cost of your new HVAC unit.

When shopping, look for an HVAC with a SEER rating of at least 14. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficiently the unit will heat or cool your home (and the more money you'll save). Updating your NY home's HVAC also means shoring up leaking air ducts so that heated or cooled air can flow freely throughout the home. Also remember to change your air filter(s) once a month to avoid wasting energy and natural gas.

Natural Gas Waster #3: Hot Water Heater

The final waster of natural gas to make our list is your hot water heater. There are a few ways to ensure that your hot water heater is not wasting natural gas. First, insulate the tank with a water heater blanket. This will reduce your tank's energy usage up to 15%. Second, insulate the room the hot water heater is in. If, for example, the tank is in your garage, keep the garage doors closed!

Another way to use less NY natural gas is with a water heater timer, which can turn off the heater when you go to work or to bed, and turn it back on when you return home or wake up in the morning (note: NY homeowners should also invest in a programmable thermostat for their central air system). There's no reason to heat water or heat your home if you're at work, asleep, or out of town. Lastly, maximize your hot water heater's efficiency by turning down its thermostat to 120° (the default setting is typically 140° degrees, which is often too hot and poses a risk of scalding).

5 Ways to Save on your NY Gas Bill

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:38:09 -0500

Many New Yorkers dread the winter months -- not because of anticipated snow or frigid temperatures -- but because of expensive gas bills. Luckily there are a number of simple yet effective ways to save hundreds of bucks a year on natural gas. Continue reading to learn the five best ways to significantly lower your NY gas bill.

1. Turn down the thermostat. If you don't already own one, invest in a programmable thermostat to save on your NY gas bill. Studies show that the average home saves 3% on heat for every degree the thermostat is set back. So if you program your thermostat to set back ten degrees when you go to work and ten degrees when you go to bed at night, you can save up to 15% on your NY gas bill each month. After all, there's no reason to pay for heat when you're not at home or asleep in a warm bed.

2. Insulate! Insulation is perhaps the best way to save energy and reduce your NY gas bill. In the average NY home, improperly insulated windows and doors can lose up to 30% of the home's heat. And with the high price of natural gas, this is like throwing money out the window, literally. To significantly reduce your NY gas bill, ensure proper insulation in both your basement and attic (for a New York uninsulated attic, the recommended insulation R-Value ranges from R49-R60), and install weather-stripping on windows and doors. Also be sure to check your air ducts, and, if your home has a fireplace, close the damper so that heat cannot escape.

3. Invest in efficient windows. Though expensive, efficient windows can save a NY homeowner thousands of dollars in natural gas over a lifetime. If you're in the market for new windows anyway, make the budget-friendly, "green" choice and purchase efficient windows. If, however, you cannot yet afford to replace windows on your home, use curtains to reduce heat loss and keep your home warm during winter months.

4. Heat only the rooms you use. Remember that it's much more expensive to heat your entire home with a central air system than it is to heat only the rooms you use. If, for example, you typically occupy just two or three rooms on a given day, consider heating those rooms with a portable space heater to save money. If you're determined to use a central air system, you can save on your NY gas bill by closing off unused rooms and shutting the air vents inside.

5. Lock in a lower natural gas rate. The #1 way to save on your NY gas bill is to lock in a lower natural gas rate. How do you do this? It's simple. Now that NY has a deregulated utility industry, independent natural gas suppliers are able to offer lower natural gas rates to consumers like you. Transferring your service to an independent, low-cost natural gas supplier in NY is fast, easy, and free. Simply compare NY natural gas rates and suppliers in your NY town, and then request a transfer in service. By combining lower natural gas rates with the energy-saving methods above, NY homeowners can drastically reduce their gas bill.

CT Customers Are Getting Savvy About Electric Rates

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:49:24 -0500

The state of Connecticut deregulated the energy industry way back in 1998. What this means is that consumers in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury have the right to select the provider from whom they get their energy. This stimulates choice in the market, increasing quality of service and decreasing costs. It’s taken a surprisingly long time for Connecticut customers to embrace this great opportunity but research indicates that the state’s residents are finally truly getting savvy about saving money on energy through the power of choice.

The Retail Energy Supply Association reports that the number of customers in the state who switched to a price-competitive energy supplier nearly doubled in 2010! At the beginning of the year only about 20% of the state’s customers had made the money-saving change. By the end of the year the number had climbed to 38%. That’s great news and it means that more than half a million people in the state of Connecticut are now saving money on their energy bills just be choosing a provider that will give them their electricity at a lower rate.

The two leading electricity providers in the state are Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating. These two companies have default rates that are often rather high. However there are many other options to choose from, most of which have a lower cost. If you want to jump on the money-saving bandwagon then switch to an energy supplier that can offer you a lower CT electric rate.

When switching your Connecticut energy bill, make sure that you consider all of the options. Do you want to pay a fixed rate fee or a variable rate fee? Are you interested in getting your energy from 100% renewable energy resources or is that not a factor that is of importance to you? The really great thing about the deregulation of the energy industry is that customers now have a lot of choice. You have the power to personalize your home energy experience. Other Connecticut customers are doing it so why aren’t you?!

Source: http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news17302.html

How to Switch your Kentucky Natural Gas Bill

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:33:29 -0500

How much are you paying for your natural gas bill each month? Regardless of the specific number that you gave as your answer, the amount can be summed up with the phrase "too much"! What if someone told you that you could take just a few moments of your time and immediately lower those monthly bills? It sounds like something too good to be true but it's actually a very real (and simple) thing that you can do.

The reason that you are able to easily lower your Kentucky natural gas bill is because of the fact that there are multiple providers available in this state. This means that you are allowed to select the natural gas provider that offers you the lowest rate. This means that you can use the same amount of natural gas at home that you're already using and yet pay less because the amount you pay per therm used is lower.

If this all sounds a little bit confusing, consider the example of filling up your car with gas. You can go to the gas station on the corner and pay one rate or you can go to the gas station on the next block and pay a lower rate. Either way it will take the same amount of gas to fill up the vehicle but the total bill will be lower at the place that offers the cheaper rate. It's the same thing with your natural gas bill and the choice of where to shop truly is yours in this industry.

So how do you switch your natural gas bill? All that you need to do is go online to http://www.shopforenergy.com. You can select the state of Kentucky from the dropdown menu on the residential side of the site. Then you can select your current natural gas provider. You will receive a list of alternatives to your current plan. From this list you can select a new provider that offers a better plan and a lower rate than what you are currently paying for natural gas.

Once you've selected your new provider you simply need to head to their website and sign up online for your service. Your gas bill will be switched to this new provider and you'll start paying the new, lower KY natural gas rate.

How to Switch your Illinois Natural Gas Bill

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:45:33 -0500

What went through your mind the last time that you opened up your Illinois natural gas bill? Many people take one look at their monthly bill and think, "how am I going to pay this?" The question that you should be asking yourself is what you can do to lower your natural gas bill costs. And you’ll be happy to know that there’s an answer. The answer is to switch to a lower cost natural gas provider.

As a resident of Illinois you have the right to choose the provider from whom you get your natural gas. There are some providers that offer considerably lower costs than other providers so that you can immediately lower your bills. These are the steps that you need to follow if that’s something that you want to do:

o Go online.

o Navigate to http://www.shopforenergy.com/.

o Identify whether you are seeking to change your natural gas provider for a residence or a commercial building.

o Select the state of Illinois from the dropdown box under either "residential" or "commercial".

o A new dropdown box will appear. Select the utility company from which you currently get your natural gas (such as Nicor Gas Company).

o Press search.

After you press search you will be given a series of results to review. These are laid out in a convenient chart to assist you in determining what company and plan will provide you with the lowest cost natural gas bill. The most important thing to look at in this chart will be the per therm cost of natural gas since the lowest rate per therm is going to give you the lowest bill. However, you may also want to consider the contract term and whether the rates are fixed or variable before you make a final decision about which plan you want to choose.

Once you do select the plan that seems right for you, you should press the "continue" option associated with that plan on the chart. This will take you to a site where you can get additional information about the plan. If you like what you see then you can go ahead and sign up for the plan. This effectively switches your Illinois natural gas bill to a new lower cost provider.

Once you’ve asked yourself how you can lower your IL natural gas bills and taken action to do so, you’ll no longer need to ask yourself each month how you’ll possibly be able to pay that bill!

How to Switch your Indiana Gas Bill

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:43:17 -0500

Are you sick and tired of paying a fortune every month for the natural gas that you use in your Indiana home? It would be nice if you just didn’t need to use natural gas and therefore didn’t have a bill each month but that’s not reasonable for most of us. What is reasonable, however, is to switch to a new natural gas provider that offers you a lower cost for the natural gas that you do use.

If this sounds appealing to you then you’ll be happy to know that you can switch your Indiana natural gas provider in 5 easy steps:

1. Go online to http://www.shopforenergy.com/.

2. Select the state of Indiana from the dropdown box under the side of the page that says "residential". (Of course, if you are seeking to switch your Indiana natural gas bill for a business then you would instead select Indiana under the commercial side of the page. The process is similar for both residences and businesses.)

3. Select the name of the utility provider that you currently use from the dropdown box underneath the state name. For example, you might select NIPSCO. Press "search" to continue.

4. Review the chart that appears on the next page. This is a chart that shows you what alternative natural gas providers are available in your area and what types of plans they offer. You will want to look at the rate per therm, whether that’s a fixed or variable rate and whether a contract is required for the plan. Ideally you will select the lowest rate per therm plan but if you require a variable vs. fixed rate or a shorter contract term then you may choose to pay slightly more per therm instead.

5. Press "continue" button on the right side of the plan that you think will save you the most money on your Indiana natural gas bill. This takes you to a page that provides additional useful information about the plan. This is also where you can sign up for the new provider and plan that you want.

That’s it! You’ve switched your IN natural gas provider to a lower cost option and from now on your bills should be lower.

9 Most Expensive States for Natural Gas

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:41:54 -0500

How much are you paying for the natural gas that you use to heat your home? Some states are far more expensive than others when it comes to this resource, meaning that you could be paying a lot more than people in neighboring places are paying just so you can stay warm.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has created a report showing the average price of natural gas sold to residential consumers from 2008 - 2010. The report breaks down the amount of dollars paid per thousand cubic feet for each month of the two years studied. It is all broken down by state. It also includes a total average price for the state for the entire two year period covered in the report.

The report shows that the average price paid for natural gas per thousand cubic feet is $11.19 across the entire nation. But you could be living in a state where the average price is considerably higher. Here’s a look at the nine most expensive states for natural gas according to this report:

1. Hawaii. Residents of this stay pay a whopping $44.62, almost four times as much as the national average price for natural gas.

2. Florida. If you get natural gas in this state then you pay an average of $18.14.

3. Vermont. The average natural gas price in this state is $16.14.

4. Arizona. Although it’s warm in this state in the summer, it can get a little bit chilly during the winter months. If you warm up with natural gas, you’ll pay $15.86.

5. Alabama. Here the average is $15.82.

6. Georgia. This southern state has an average natural gas price of $15.56.

7. Connecticut. Are you living in this North Eastern state? Did you know that you’re paying more than $3 higher than the national average natural gas rate at $14.93 per thousand cubic feet?

8. Maine. Another Northeastern state with a high natural gas price is Maine with a rate of $14.14.

9. New York sneaks onto the list with a rate of $14.04.

Notably there are some states for which the average data wasn’t available so it’s possible that you’re paying a high rate even if you aren’t living in one of the nine states on this list. You can do something about this, though. Compare natural gas providers in your area and switch to a provider offering a lower rate so that you can start paying close to or less than the nationwide average rate for your heat.

Source: http://www.eia.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/data_publications/natural_gas_monthly/current/pdf/table_18.pdf

How to Dispute a Utility Bill

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 11:37:49 -0500

Have you ever received an electric bill that you knew was way too high? Most people that experience this grind their teeth and pay the bill because they don't know what else to do. However, you can actually dispute a too-high utility bill if you genuinely believe that the amount that you have been charged is in correct.

The first thing that you want to do is to get your paperwork in order related to the bill. You want to have a copy of the current bill in front of you. You should also have copies of past bills as well as any canceled checks or records of the payments that you have made. This helps to prove that your bill is likely incorrect. For example, if you always get charged approximately $50 for electricity each month and suddenly your bill is $150 then you probably have a valid complaint.

Ask yourself what you want before you try to dispute the bill. You need to know what you're asking for before you try to get the bill reduced. Know exactly how much you want them to take off of the bill. In the above example, you would probably want them to take off the extra $100 and charge you only the $50 that you always pay for electricity.

After getting your paperwork and "demands" in order, you're ready to call the electric company. Contact them when you have plenty of time to talk because you never know how long you're going to wait on hold. Let the representative know what the problem is and what your expectations are. If need be, ask the representative to go through the bill with you line by line to determine why you have been charged extra. Ask what the new price will be, when the new bill showing this price will arrive, what your case number is and what the representative's name is. Write all of this down.

Follow up immediately in writing. You should summarize the entire phone call including the date and time of the call. Send this to the utility company via email or mail and retain a copy for your own records.

If the problem is not resolved in a timely manner then you need to get an advocate to assist you in getting the problem taken care of. One option is to contact the National Association of State Utility Advocates. Another option is to contact your state's public utilities commission. In some cases the attorney general's office can help. Be persistent in finding someone who can help advocate for you. As a last resort you may need to hire an attorney and take the case to small claims court. Although this seems like a hassle, it's worth it to stand up for your rights if you've truly been given an unfair electric bill.

How to Calculate your Natural Gas Bill

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:44:43 -0600

In order to budget your money properly, you need to have exact information about how much money you are spending. Many people simply guess at the cost of their utility bills each month and then end up going over their budget because of it. Make sure that you know how to calculate your bills properly in order to avoid this problem.

In order to calculate your gas bill, you need to have the following information available to you:

o Location of your gas meter and how to read it. It is very important for you to understand how to find and read your gas meter. This is what your provider looks at to determine how much gas you’ve used. They look at what your last meter reading was and what your current meter reading is and then calculate the difference to see how much gas you used during a pay cycle. If you can do this yourself each month then you’ll be able to accurately calculate your gas bill.

o How much you pay per therm. Your natural gas bill is based on a per-therm rate. To determine the amount of your bill, you need to multiply the number of therms that you used in a month by the rate per therm.

o Fixed rate fees. To get an accurate total for what your gas bill is going to be, you also need to factor in any fixed rate fees that your gas company charges. Maintenance chargers, meter reading and gas delivery are some of the fixed rate charges that your company may require you to pay. To determine what this amount is, check out your last gas bill. It should have the number clearly stated on it. You’ll need to add this number to your gas bill calculation each month for an accurate bill prediction.

o Additional charges at time of payment. You typically have several different options for how to pay your natural gas bill. For example, you may have the fee automatically taken out of your bank account each month or you may pay by phone. Some methods, such as phone payments, can cost a fee. You should avoid these options if you want to keep your gas bill down but of course you need to factor them in to your gas bill calculation if you use them. Also, make sure that you’re aware of any late payment fees and add those into your final calculation as well if they apply.

o Weather normalization adjustment charges (WNA). Note that some natural gas companies use a WNA system that can affect your calculations. You get a bill credit if the temperatures are colder than normal and a bill surcharge if the temperatures are warmer than normal. Find out if this is an issue for you and learn more about it to adjust your calculations accordingly if it is.

Keeping track of your natural gas bill each month is a smart thing to do. Read it and make sure that it aligns with what you calculated that it should be. That way if your gas company makes an error, you’ll catch it and get your money back!

Don't Let The Duquesne Light Rate Hike Hurt You

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:19:32 -0600

Pennsylvania residents who receive their electricity from Duquesne Light Company are understandably worried about what’s going on with this electricity provider. That’s because Duquesne Light has been seeking to raise rates for awhile and the requested rate hike was just recently approved. Customers of this company may actually already be paying more than their neighbors for electricity so this new rate hike is really adding insult to injury.

There is a little bit of good news to soften the blow for Duquesne Light customers. The company had been seeking a rate hike of more than 6.5%, which would have added a huge cost to the average customer’s electric bill. The good news is that the rate hike that was approved by the Public Utility Commission is about half that at just 3.5%.

That said, however, the rate hike does mean that customers’ bills are going up. The average residential customer who uses 600 kilowatt hours of electricity per month has been paying $82.83 per month for that service. That customer will now be paying $87.10. That means an increased cost of more than $50 annually for the average customer.

Duquesne Light Company is justifying the rate hike by saying that it’s absolutely necessary. They say that they $45.7 million that the rate hike is supposed to raise will go to improve the company’s infrastructure, provide pensions to its workers and assist low income customers in getting affordable electricity.

That’s all fine and dandy but what about the average customer who really can’t afford even the slightest increase in his average monthly bill? If that customer is you then you need to look out for yourself in the face of this rate hike. It’s already been approved so you need to take action now! Compare PA electric rates and find an electricity provider that can offer you a lower per kilowatt hour electricity rate than Duquesne Light Company is now charging. You’ll get your service from Duquesne Light Company but you’ll get the electricity at a lower price, one that you can afford!

Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_724525.html

7 Ways to Lower your JCP and L Bill

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:04:48 -0600

New Jersey customers who get their electricity from JCP&L often cringe when that bill comes in each month. Energy costs in New Jersey are high and JCP&L is guilty of playing a part in these high costs. However, there are things that you can do to lower your JCP&L bill so that you’re paying a little bit less and pocketing some of that money for yourself.

Here’s a look at seven ways that you can lower your JCP&L bill:

1. Refused to accept estimated energy bills. If for some reason your JCP&L meter reader can’t read your meter then the company may estimate your energy usage based on previous bills. This can mean you pay for more energy than you actually used. You can submit a request that your meter be read instead of accepting these estimated energy rates.

2. Get information about qualifying for low-income energy assistance programs for New Jersey residents. If you are a low-income customer of JCP&L then you may be able to get help reducing your energy bills through various programs that include the Universal Service Fund, HEAP and New Jersey SHARES. JCP&L can assist you with information about these programs.

3. Check to see if you qualify for the Comfort Partners Program. This is a free energy conservation and education program that is offered to low-income JCP&L customers to assist them in reducing their energy bills.

4. Get your own home energy audit. If you don’t qualify for low energy assistance, it may be worth it to invest in a home energy audit of your own. This will reveal numerous ways that you can reduce energy waste in your home, immediately reducing your monthly JCP&L bills.

5. Use the company’s Home Energy Analyzer. First Energy, the company that JCP&L is a subsidiary of, offers a "home energy analyzer" on its website. While this won’t provide you with information as detailed as a home energy audit, it’s a free way to get an assessment about specific ways to reduce your own home energy usage.

6. Pay your JCP&L bills from your checking account. Many people make the mistake of paying their energy bills with their credit cards. If you can’t pay the total in full each month then you end up paying interest on your energy bills, driving up your energy costs even further. Don’t make this mistake!

7. Switch to a lower cost NJ energy supplier. JCP&L will still provide you with your energy and you’ll call them if there are problems with your service but the energy will cost less. You’ll see an immediate decrease in your monthly electricity bill just by taking this simple action.

New Jersey BPU Seeks to Balance Subsidies with Energy Bill Savings

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:40:38 -0600

The state of New Jersey is sorely in need of additional power plants. New Jersey energy customers pay some of the highest per kWh rates in the entire nation and this is due in large part to the fact that there is congestion on the energy transmission lines in this state. The reduced congestion allowed by installing more power plants could help to decrease the expensive price of energy in New Jersey according to a NJ Spotlight report on the issue.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is working to find a way to allow for the construction of these new power plants without incurring additional energy costs for consumers during the construction phase. They are doing this by trying to balance subsidies with consumer savings.

"Our goal is to make sure the amount of savings for ratepayers is greater than the cost of the subsidies," said BPU President Lee Solomon. (source)

The situation is complex. BPU has approved a bill that allows for the construction of 2000 megawatts of new energy capacity in the state but only if there is a balance between subsidies and consumer energy costs. The utility companies are fighting this bill because they don’t want to have to incur the additional costs of construction themselves (they’d rather pass costs on to New Jersey’s energy consumers). Major New Jersey utility companies including Atlantic City Electric and PSE&G have decided to fight the bill in court, calling it unconstitutional.

It could be some time before the entire issue is worked out in the court system. In the meantime, the energy lines in New Jersey will remain congested and New Jersey electricity customers will continue paying a fortune for their energy. However, as an energy consumer in this state, you do have some options. Energy deregulation allows you to select your own energy supplier and it doesn’t have to be one of the major high-cost players in the state. You can compare NJ electric rates and switch to a more affordable energy supplier to get New Jersey electricity at a fair price despite the ongoing issues between the BPU and the New Jersey electric companies.

Con Ed's Manhole Covers Exploding All Over NYC

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:03:42 -0600

New York City is a dangerous place to be in the winter, especially this winter when shocking measurements of snow have been falling all over the city. It’s not just that the temperatures are cold or that traffic accidents are more common. No, New York City residents have something much stranger to worry about right now - exploding manhole covers!

New York City electric company Con Ed reports that there have been more than five dozen incidents of manhole covers exploding in 2011 so far. Some serious examples of how this problem is threatening the people of New York City include:

- "A huge fireball erupted from a manhole cover, and the sewer beneath, and completely engulfed an
SUV parked over it." (source)

- A 15-foot skewer of flames exploded out of a manhole in the West Village of Manhattan.

- "A pair of East Harlem manhole fires spiked carbon monoxide levels at the Shield Institute, a center
for people with developmental disabilities, forcing an evacuation and closing several blocks. Some
75 handicapped clients waited it out on buses before being transferred to another facility." (source)

This is a particularly big problem in 2011 but it’s not a new problem. In 2008 a 26-year-old Con Edo worker was killed in one of these manhole cover explosions. (source) In fact, Con Ed representatives have been quoted as saying that this is a winter problem that happens every year. They explain that the salt used to melt ice on the roads runs into the sewers, hits a utility box or a corroded underground cable and BOOM.

Con Ed has plans in the works to prevent the problem from happening as frequently in the future. The utility company is working on replacing all of their solid manhole covers to vented covers, which would allow gases to escape from the sewer and reduce the likelihood of serious explosions. This is nice, but it brings up two important questions:

1. Why wasn’t this issue dealt with sooner? If it’s an ongoing problem then why didn’t ConEd replace
those dangerous manhole covers before now?

2. Who is paying for these replacements? Everyone knows that increased costs for a utility company
    often result in the company requesting rate hikes in the future to limit the impact of expenses on
    their profit margins. Con Ed customers are already paying more than New York electricity
    consumers who use other low-cost NY electricity suppliers. Let’s hope that the costs of these
    repairs don’t get passed on to them!

How to Find the Best Natural Gas Rates for your Home

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 10:21:29 -0600

Residents of many states now have the power to choose their natural gas suppliers thanks to deregulation of the gas industry. This means that if you use natural gas in your home or business then you can shop around to find the best price in your area. You can also influence the service quality of natural gas companies in your area by choosing to shop with those providers that offer the best service at a fair price.

It is important to understand that there are many different factors that affect the cost that you pay for natural gas. Consider each of these factors carefully to choose a provider and plan that work for you:

- Fixed rate vs. variable rate. Many gas companies offer you the option of choosing a variable rate plan or a fixed rate plan. The benefit of a fixed rate plan is that you know what your natural gas rate is going to be month after month so you can budget accordingly. The benefit of the variable rate plan is, of course, that if natural gas price go down then you can get the lower price. Note that the rate for natural gas is charged per-therm. For example, you may pay 9 cents per therm and if this is on a fixed rate plan then it will always be this rate for the duration of the fixed rate contract.

- Contract length. Whenever you are shopping around for the best price on utilities you need to consider whether or not you are going to be locked into a contract. Contracts are typically common for fixed rate natural gas plans but not for variable rate plans. The benefit of deregulation is that natural gas companies can compete against each other to offer lower prices so you don't want to get locked into an extended contract that would prevent you from taking advantage of lower prices down the line. For example, if you have an option between a 6-month and 12-month fixed rate contract then you may find it cost effective to choose the shorter term even though the per-therm rate may actually be slightly higher. Pay attention to the natural gas industry news, though. If you see that prices in general are likely to rise for awhile then you may want to lock in a low fixed rate for a longer period of time.

- Additional charges. Natural gas companies add their own customer service charges to bills. These are based on many factors including your credit history in some cases. Companies also add their own maintenance charges for activities such as meter reading and gas delivery. Make sure that you know what these charges will be before you commit to a natural gas plan. A low rate plan can still cost more than the competition if the fees are unusually high.

If you're interested in comparing natural gas rates in your area then make sure to check out our gas plan comparison tool. It allows you to select a state that has deregulated gas prices and then enter your zip code to compare gas plans, rates and companies in your area.

Average PSEG Bill

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:31:35 -0600

People who are living in the state of New Jersey commonly get their energy from Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G). Although it’s a popular energy company, it’s not one that people are necessarily happy with. The average PSE&G bill is too high and it’s only climbing.

PSE&G Rates Going Up

PSE&G rates increased slightly in 2010 after The Board of Public Utilities approved a small rate hike. The increase only added about one dollar per month to the average PSE&G bill. Nevertheless, it’s a sign that the company is interested in charging its customers more as time goes on. This doesn’t make sense during a time when electricity deregulation has increased competition in the energy industry and many companies are lowering their rates to compete with others.

PSE&G Rates Are Higher Than Competitors

This energy company charges as much as nearly 13 cents per kWh for their energy. There are energy companies in the area that are charging closer to 10 cents per kWh for energy. That 3 cents can make a big difference on the total cost of your monthly energy bill. People who are choosing to get their energy from lower cost suppliers are seeing that difference.

PSE&G Has Overcharged Customers

PSE&G got in trouble not that long ago when customers realized that the company was actually overcharging them. The average monthly PSE&G bill was already high and then the company went and charged more than they were supposed to. The company is repaying some of that money back to customers but only because The Board of Public Utilities is requiring them to do so.

Ways to Lower the Average PSE&G Energy Bill

If you’re a PSE&G customer who wants to decrease your average energy bill then some of your options include:

1. Reduce your use of energy in the home.
2. Request a lower rate from the company if you qualify as a low-income household.
3. Compare PSE&G NJ electric rates and switch to a lower cost energy company.

Orange and Rockland Plan To Raise Your Rates

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:29:07 -0600

Customers living in southeastern New York, northern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania often rely on Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) for their electricity. However, there are other electricity suppliers in this area. O&R customers may want to start taking a closer look at those suppliers since the company is hoping to increase rates steadily over the next three years.

O&R filed for approval of an electric distribution rate plan that would increase the company’s total revenue by approximately 11.9%. This large increase in bills would take place in three phases. The first increase would be reflected on customers’ bills starting in July 2011. That increase would be the largest of the three with additional increases taking place the following two years. O&R has proposed another option, a multi-year option that would divide the rate increase evenly over the three-year period (increasing by approximately 4% per year instead of seeing a larger increase in 2011). Nevertheless, the end result would still be nearly a 12% increase in energy bills overall.

Customers in this area are already paying a lot for their electricity. O&R reports that their average residential energy customer currently uses approximately 677 kWh of energy per month for a monthly bill of $131.31. After the first rate increase that monthly bill would rise to $144.97. By the time that the rate increase is done being phased in, the average energy bill for O&R customers would be a whopping $152.60 per month.

Most of us can’t imagine how we would pay that much money for energy every month. The good news is that you don’t have to. Even if the rate hike does get approved, you do have options. You can elect to get your energy from a lower cost energy supplier that isn’t going to expect you to pay a shocking $152.60 per month for your electricity. By comparing NY energy rates that are available from different suppliers in your area, you can find a company that offers a much lower cost for electricity. Some companies offer rates even lower than O&R’s existing rates, meaning that you can start saving money now even before you know if the rate hike is going to be approved. Take control over your energy bills in this way so that you aren’t stuck reacting to the whims of big energy companies.

Source: http://www.oru.com/documents/customerpublications/0810ElectricFiling.pdf

How to Avoid Paying the NY Con Ed Rate Increase

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:46:05 -0600

New York energy company Con Ed is raising rates. This isn’t just a small rate increase, either. It’s a huge 12.6% increase in the cost of electricity for the residents who rely on this company for their energy. Although the increase will be phased in over the next three years, many residents will struggle to pay the higher costs. Luckily, there are things that can be done to avoid paying this rate increase despite the fact that it’s approval means that it’s definitely going to take place.

The three best ways to avoid paying the full rate increase are:

1. Apply for low-income status. A low income program that helps keep Con Ed rates down for customers has been expanded to help counter the effects of the rate hike. This program should reduce Con Ed bills by approximately $8.50 per month. Approximately 375,000 customers are eligible for the program. The average residential customer’s bill is going to increase approximately $3-$4 per month each year for the next three years (as the rate hike takes effect). The $8.50 saved per month by gaining low income status won’t offset the entire cost of the rate hike when that final increase occurs in the third year but will help to reduce energy costs especially over the next two years.

2. Reduce your energy use. You can’t stop Con Ed from raising their rates. However, you can reduce your own use of energy at home. You’ll still be paying more per kWh for electricity thanks to the rate increase but by using fewer kWh of energy per month you’ll be able to reduce the total amount of your energy bill.

3. Switch to a lower cost energy supplier. You aren’t obligated to get your electricity from Con Ed. You have the right to switch to an electricity supplier that can offer you lower rates. There are companies that already offer rates that are lower than what Con Ed currently charges. These low rates will seem even lower in comparison with the growing rates charged by Con Ed.

The Con Ed rate increase starts this year with a 4% spike in energy rates. Another 4% increase will occur in 2012 and yet another one in 2013. It makes sense to take action now to avoid paying these additional Con Edison electricity rate increases.

Source: http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/115861/con-ed-customers-to-see-12-percent-rate-increase

How to Lower Your Winter Heating Bill

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:16:26 -0600

We have a long winter ahead of us. It may not be as cold as some past years but it’s still going to be chilly and that means that many of us are going to spend a lot of money trying to get our homes warm. What can you do to lower your winter heating bill without spending the winter shivering in your home? Here are five key ideas:

1. Stop heating the whole house. Most families do not spend the majority of the day spread out throughout the entire home. If you do, change that habit for the winter. Congregate in the main living areas of the home and heat only those areas. Use a space heater or close of the ducts to the rest of the house.

2. Don’t heat the house when you are not at home. It is so tempting to keep the house warm when you’re away so that you can come in from the blustery cold and immediately feel that warmth. However, it’s silly to heat a home all day just for that little moment of comfort. One option is to wait until you get home to turn on the heat. Another option is to use a programmable thermostat to make sure that the heat only kicks on right before you actually come home rather than being on all day. Making this change can lower your winter heating bill by as much as twenty percent.

3. Stop heating the outdoors. A lot of electricity is wasted during the winter months because the home’s heat is leaking outside. You want to make sure that you have properly sealed all windows and doors, installing storm windows as necessary. Make sure that the home is fully insulated especially in the attic and basement areas. Close the fireplace up when it’s not in use so that your heat doesn’t escape through the chimney.

4. Make sure that your heating system is efficient. It’s important to make sure that your furnace, hot water heater and radiators are up to date and working properly. They should be serviced annually. All filters and ducts should be replaced /cleaned out monthly during the winter months to keep them as efficient as possible. This allows your home to get warm quickly without wasting electricity.

5. Use the right home accessories. A ceiling fan set on low and reversed in direction will drive warm air downwards so that you don’t waste heat trying to fill up the room with warmth. A humidifer will make the air in your house moist; moist air retains heat better than dry air and so will reduce your need to use extra heat. And simple things like blankets, socks and sweaters keep you warm without requiring you to heat the whole house. By following some these tips you can lower your winter heating bill.

Pay Less for the Electricity that New York Con Ed Delivers

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:37:02 -0600

Did you know that you could continue receiving electricity from Con Edison but pay a lot less for it than you are currently paying? And no, you don't have to turn off your electricity or cut down drastically on its use to make it happen. You simply need to choose a better electricity supplier. This is the magic of electricity deregulation.

Here is how it works:

- You choose an affordable utility company to serve as the supplier for your electricity. You should compare the different rates available in your area and select a supplier that offers an energy plan that makes sense for your home.

- You pay the new supplier the low per kilowatt-hour rates that they charge for electricity. By selecting the supplier with the lowest rates, you significantly lower your monthly bill.

- The electricity is still supplied to you by New York Con Ed. If you have a problem with electric service (such as a power outage then you contact them for assistance just like you have always done.

It seems hard to believe that simply asking another company to supply your electricity would significantly lower your rates. However, it's true. In fact, New Yorkers can save up to twenty percent by doing nothing different other than switching to a lower cost utility company.

Of course, it's certainly smart to cut down on electricity use if you're wasting energy in the home. But if you're already conserving energy and still wish to lower your bills then getting a better electric rate is the only answer. Compare NY Con Edison electric rates today to find that low rate and cut your New York Con Ed bill significantly.

If You Want Electricity In Baltimore Then Stay Away from PEPCO

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:07:57 -0600

Maryland residents in Baltimore as well as throughout the rest of the state have a lot to say about Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO). Most of what they have to say isn’t good at all. Although the company has been in operation since the 1920’s, they haven’t been keeping their customers satisfied. The core problem is that they fail to deliver solid and reliable electricity. However, their rising rates certainly don’t help the issue.

Winter storms have PEPCO customers especially worried. Terrible storms can knock power out in any area, no matter how good an electric company is at their job. However, PEPCO is worse than most and they don’t seem to be in a hurry to get problems fixed. This is evidenced by the fact that PEPCO region president Thomas Graham recently said that people need "level their expectations" about how long they may be without power if another winter storm hits.

But storms aren’t the only problem that PEPCO customers face. In fact, it’s really the day-to-day troubles with the company that have most of the company’s customers upset. The company is one of the least reliable electricity companies in the entire United States. Customers report that their electricity goes out an average of three times per month and will stay out for as long as two hours without any apparent cause for the problem. This is in addition to problems caused by storms.

PEPCO hasn’t made a clear statement about the cause of their bad service. In terms of storm damage, they say that downed trees are the problem although a report indicates that nearly fifty percent of outages in 2009 were actually caused by problems with equipment failing.

What PEPCO has been clear about is that they need money from their customers to make the problem go away. The company is seeking a rate hike that would have customers in Baltimore, D.C. and the surrounding areas paying a total of $190 million to help better the delivery of electricity. The company does note, however, that even these costly improvements can’t prevent many outages caused by storms.

So what do you do if you are a Baltimore electricity customer who wants affordable service? It’s worth it to take the time to compare PEPCO area electricity rates so that you can find a lower cost electric provider in the area.

Source: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/pepco-rates-to-increase-for-better-reliability-120610

The Number 1 Secret to Avoiding PECO's 2011 Electric Rate Hike

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:21:27 -0600

You’ve probably heard of or read about PECO’s impending electric rate hike, an increase that’s expected to affect more than 1.5 million consumers in the greater Philadelphia area. Rather than become overwhelmed by statistics, figures, and irrelevant percentages, let’s take a look at how the rate hike will affect you, as well as the #1 way to avoid paying more for electricity.

How the Rate Hike Affects You

For more than 10 years, the Pennsylvania state government has controlled the electric rate prices of major utility companies through rate caps. This helped to keep prices reasonable and utility customers satisfied. These customer-friendly electric rate caps are set to expire on January 1, 2011, however. Experts project that the impending rate hike will increase the average PECO customer’s electric bill by between 5 and 10 percent each month. Although that may seem like a small increase, it will add up over time.

The Number 1 Way to Avoid the Rate Hike

Years ago, Philadelphians had just one option regarding their electric supplier. Large electric utility companies, such as PECO, were monopolies that had sole control over their service area. This lack of competition resulted in increased rates and disgruntled consumers. Now, thanks to a government initiative known as electricity deregulation, consumers have electric choice. They can switch their service to an alternative PA electric provider offering lower electric rates. The end result? An electric bill that is cheaper each month.

With PECO’s electric rate hike looming, alternative PA electric suppliers are busier than ever before. More than 12 local suppliers are now competing for the business of current PECO customers. This elevated competition has resulted in extremely low electric rates throughout the Philadelphia area, more affordable billing options for consumers, and environmentally-friendlier, cleaner energy options that will help protect the environment.

Finding an alternative, low-cost PA electric provider is the #1 way to avoid PECO’s rate hike in 2011 and beyond. Switching your service is fast, easy, and 100% free. There is no disruptions in electric service during the transfer, and you can switch back to PECO at any time. Start today and join the tens of thousands of PECO customers that have avoided the impending rate hike and have already recieved a lower PECO electricity rate!

How Do Electric Companies Calculate Your Electric Bill

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:55:48 -0600

Does your electric bill seem like a mystery to you? Understanding how electric companies calculate your bill can help eliminate the mystery, making it easier to understand how to decrease your bill.

The Basics

Electric companies charge a specific rate per kilowatt-hour of electricity that is used in the home. To get the total cost of your bill, they multiply the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity that you have used during the billing period by this rate.

For example, if your electric company charges 10 cents per kilowatt-hour and you’ve used 1000 kilowatt-hours in the month (which is about average in the American household) then your bill will be $100.

Peak Times and Seasonal Charges

Note that many electric companies charge different rates per kilowatt-hour depending on the time that your electricity is being used. There are peak times during the day when prices may be higher than the rest of the day. Weekday and weekend rates may also differ. It is important to understand this because if you use your electricity primarily during off-peak hours then your electric bill will be lower compared to someone who uses electricity during peak hours.

Stepped Rate

Some utility companies use a stepped rate system in which the rate charged per kilowatt hour decreases as more electricity is used. For example, you may be charged ten cents per kilowatt-hour for the first 200 kilowatt-hours that you use and then charged only nine cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 200 kilowatt-hours that are used. This isn’t a common practice but it’s something to pay attention to if it’s the way that your electric company works.

Additional Charges

Note that the utility companies also add some additional charges to the cost of your bill. These additional charges include taxes and "administrative costs". These should be the same from month to month and should be explicitly outlined on your electric bill. If you have any questions about these charges, don’t hesitate to ask the electric company what they’re all about.

Same Monthly Payment

Many electric companies offer the option of switching your bill payment system so that you pay the same amount each month. In this case, they calculate your average monthly usage based on the number of kilowatt-hours you generally use throughout the year (and then dividing the number by twelve to get the monthly amount). They multiple the hours by your kilowatt-hour rate and that’s your charge every month.

Average Massachusetts Electric Rates

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:35:37 -0500

There are many wonderful things about living in Massachusetts. The scenery is beautiful. The people are smart. You are in close proximity to numerous major cities and historic landmarks. However, there is one drawback to life in this state. It’s that you may find your cost of living to be higher than in some other parts of the nation. This is due in large part to the fact that Massachusetts’ residents are often overpaying for electricity.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration released a report showing the average cost that people paid for electricity in each state in July 2010. The national average for the entire United States was 11.45 cents per kilowatt hour. However, the average rate in Massachusetts was considerably higher at 15.26 cents per kilowatt hour. This means that these residents are paying more than other U.S. citizens for the same access to electricity.

Many people don’t realize that they’re overpaying for electricity in this state. That is because they are often paying less than their neighbors. The average cost of electricity in New England is 16.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Massachusetts actually has the lowest rate of all of the New England states. However, that’s not saying much since this part of the nation ranks among the highest when it comes to the cost of electricity.

Those extra few cents per kilowatt hour above the national average can really add up. This is particularly expensive in winter when heating bills in New England naturally climb. However, there is some good news if you live in this area. You don’t have to pay this high average rate that your neighbors are all paying for electricity. You can switch to a lower cost electricity provider and save a lot of money on your energy bills each month.

Many residents find that if they switch from the state’s main electricity providers (which are National Grid Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts Electric Company) they can actually lower their MA electricity bill without reducing their energy use at all. There are electricity suppliers charging as little as 8.9 cents per kilowatt hour, well below the local average and even lower than the national average.

Average New York Electric Rates

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:31:09 -0500

Take a look at your New York electricity bill. Look for the portion of the bill that tells you how much you are paying for electricity. It will be labeled in "cents per kilowatt hour". What you will most likely discover is that you are paying more than eighteen cents per kilowatt hour for your electricity. You may not realize it but that's outrageous!

The United States Energy Information Administration regularly releases statistics about the average cost of electricity in each state. Residential New York residents were shown to be paying 18.55 cents per kilowatt hour on average just to power their homes in July 2010. This is significantly higher than the national average, which was only 11.45 cents per kilowatt hour. This means that for every kilowatt hour of energy that the average New Yorker is using, he or she will pay seven cents more than the average person throughout the United States. That's absurd!

No one should be paying more than average for their electricity. This is something that we all need to have in our homes and none of us can afford to spend more than the minimum on it. We need to use our money for other more important things! And yet, New Yorkers are consistently paying more than a lot of other people for home energy.

Smart New Yorkers reduce their energy bills by limiting their electricity waste in the home. That's definitely a great thing to do. It's good for the earth and keeps your bills low, too. However, it doesn't change the fact that you're paying more for the amount of electricity that you are using than other people are. But what can you do about that?

The answer is to switch over to a lower cost electricity supplier. Despite the fact that the average cost of electricity is so high, there are providers out there that are charging a lot less for electricity. There are providers that are actually charging less than ten cents per kilowatt hour for New York energy. That's not only a lot less than the state's average but even less than the average cost nationwide. Thanks to the power of electricity deregulation, you as a resident of the state have the right to compare NY electric rates and choose one of these lower cost providers.

Average New Jersey Electric Rates

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:28:01 -0500

We typically consider it a negative thing to be "below average". However, that’s not the case when it comes to paying for electricity. There are average rates that people pay per kilowatt hour for the energy in their home and being below that average is a great thing. It means that your energy bills will be lower than the average bills for people around the nation. We all want to spend less on utilities, don’t we?

People who live in New Jersey may need to search around a little bit in order to find electricity rates that are lower than the average for the United States. A report on July 2010 electricity rates by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that the average person is paying 11.45 cents per kilowatt hour for their electricity. You can check what you are paying by looking closely at your electric bill. If you live in New Jersey then you may find that you’re paying more than sixteen cents per kilowatt hour to power your home since the average for this state is 16.39 cents.

If you think about that, you may start to feel like it is really unfair. You’re right; it is. Electricity rates vary a lot from state to state. Perhaps it is understandable for rates to be higher in Hawaii and Alaska where it’s tougher to get energy set up. However, why should rates be higher in a state like New Jersey, which isn’t all that different from Midwestern or Southern states where electricity rates are actually a lot lower? They shouldn’t be.

Unfortunately, you can’t do a lot about what the main electricity providers in your state are charging. However, you do have a lot of power to control your own NJ electric bill. The best thing that you can do is to look for an electricity provider that charges less than average for electricity in your area. There are some New Jersey electricity providers that are charging less than eleven cents per kilowatt hour. Choose one of these providers and you can be paying lower electricity rates than the people in your state as well as the average price nationwide. That’s a "below average" that you want to strive for!

Average Pennsylvania Electric Rates

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:25:25 -0500

Have you ever wondered whether your electric bill is higher or lower than your next-door neighbors? Most of us think about this type of stuff now and then. We want to know if we're being as responsible as possible with both our energy and our money. However, most of us don't go so far as to ask our neighbors what they're paying for electricity. We assume that it's probably about the same as us. We may be assuming wrong, though.

Electricity rates vary widely not only from state to state but from provider to provider within the state. Electricity deregulation means that you can choose a provider that will offer you low cost rates. Electricity is measured in kilowatt hours. You want to select a provider that offers a low price per kilowatt hour. What is a low price to pay for electricity? Somewhere between eight and ten cents per kilowatt hour is a good price to aim to pay. There are electricity providers in Pennsylvania that can offer you those low rates.

Unfortunately, many people in the state don't realize this. In fact, if you peeked at your neighbors' electric bills then you would see that the average rate of electricity paid in this state is 12.71 cents per kilowatt hour. This is lower than some of the surrounding states where electricity can cost upwards of eighteen cents per kilowatt hour so that's good. However, it's higher than the national average of 11.45 cents per kilowatt hour (as reported by the United States Energy Information Administration for July 2010).

And it's higher than what you could be paying if you switched to a low cost electricity provider in the state. Making the switch can save you as much as three cents per kilowatt hour compared to the state average cost of electricity. That may not sound like a lot of money at first but it adds up over time. You can use that savings to invest in other areas of your home instead of wasting it on paying a high PA electric bill. Make sure you aren't paying more than your neighbors for the electricity that you're both using!

Average Electric Rates in Texas

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:42:41 -0500

Some states have really low cost rates for electricity. Other states charge a lot for people to power their homes. Unless you plan on moving out of state, you can’t do a lot about what the average electric bill is in your state. However, you can do something about your own personal bill. You can find out what the average electric rates are within your state and make sure that you’re working with an electricity supplier that is charging you lower than average.

First things first, you need to understand how electricity rates are charged. You are charged per kilowatt hour for the energy that you use. The average residential customer uses somewhere between 500 and 100 kWh of electricity per month (although this varies depending on the time of year, the location of the home, and the size of the home).

According to a January 2010 report by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the average price paid per kilowatt hour by Texas residents in 2009 was 12.26. This was slightly higher than the national average. However, the report goes on to note that the average priced paid by Texas residents who were living in areas where electricity had been deregulated was only 11.01, an amount that was lower than the national average.

What this means for you as a Texas electricity consumer is that you want to work with companies that are offering competitive pricing thanks to deregulation in the area. Doing so will allow you to pay less for electricity than what your average Texas neighbors are paying. Ideally, you want to be paying less than the approximately eleven cents per kWh that is the average among competitive electricity suppliers in the state.

In fact, there are a lot of energy suppliers that are currently offering much better rates than this statewide competitive average. Some of the best local energy suppliers are able to provide rates that are between 8 and 9 cents per kWh. By comparing TX electric rates and switching to one of these truly competitive electricity suppliers, you can immediately lower your own bills. You can also rest easy in the knowledge that you are paying less for electricity than your neighbors are!

Average Electric Rates in MD

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:38:48 -0500

Did you know that Maryland has higher average electric rates than any other state in its region of the United States? Electricity is measured in kilowatt hours. When you compare the price per kilowatt hour of Maryland with that of the surrounding states in the region, you see that Maryland residents are paying a lot more for electricity than their neighbors are. And if you're paying higher than the average in MD then you're really paying more than your neighbors!

A report on June 2010 electricity rates issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that the average electricity rate for the South Atlantic Region is only 10.76 cents per kilowatt hour. However, the average electric rate in Maryland is much higher at 14.57 cents per kilowatt hour. Maryland has higher average electric costs than all of the either other states in its region (including Washington DC).

In fact, the total average electricity rate for the region is actually lower than the national average of 11.32 cents per kilowatt hour. Maryland, Delaware and DC are the only areas in the South Atlantic that exceed the national average in terms of average rates for electricity. Maryland's rate is almost a full cent per kilowatt hour higher than either of the other locations.

So does this mean that if you live in Maryland you are doomed to pay high electric bills? Of course not. Electricity has been deregulated in this state which means that customers can choose to purchase their electricity from the supplier of their choice. Many MD electricity companies are offering rates that are much lower than the average rate for the state. In fact, some companies are offering rates that are lower than both the national average and the region average.

By switching to a lower cost electricity supplier, you can reduce the total amount that you are paying each month when the energy bill comes. You'll also reduce the actual amount you spend per kilowatt hour. Let your neighbors in Maryland and the surrounding states pay those high average rates. Just don't let that high paying customer be you! Compare electric rate prices and receive the best MD electric rate.

Average Electricity Rates in CT

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:33:39 -0500

Would it offend you to know that you were paying higher electricity rates than your next door neighbor? Most people believe that they should be paying the same amount for electricity as the people living around them. However, electricity deregulation has made it possible for individual residents to choose their electricity suppliers. This has resulted in some people getting better rates than their neighbors. Don't you want to be one of those people? Of course you do. That's why it's important for you to know what your neighbors are paying for electricity so that you can shop around for a rate that is as good or better than theirs!

A report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that the average monthly retail price of electricity for New England consumers in June 2010 was 16.58 cents per kilowatt hour. That is considerably higher than the national average of 11.32 cents for the same month. Connecticut residents may not be happy to know that their average rates were the highest of the region at 19.42 cents per kilowatt hour. The only state where the average electricity rates were higher than CT was Hawaii.

What does this mean for you as an electricity consumer in CT? It means that you really need to make sure that you are paying less than average for your electricity. After all, with rates these high, even your less-than-average rates are going to be higher than the rates that a lot of people are paying for electricity in the United States. Luckily, electricity deregulation does allow you to find prices that are significantly lower than average if you take the time to look.

There are Connecticut energy companies that are charging less than ten cents per kWh for power. This is approximately half the price that the average CT resident is currently paying for electricity! It is also even lower then national average that people are paying throughout the country. Why be on the high end of the price spectrum just because you live in Connecticut? Get yourself a good deal on electricity by comparing CT electric rates and selecting a provider that can give you a fair price.

CT Businesses Struggling to Pay Electric Bills

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:12:40 -0500

Connecticut residents are starting to get really savvy about how to lower their electric bills. Unfortunately, Connecticut businesses aren't finding it nearly as easy to reduce their energy bills. Businesses can make a lot of changes to lower their energy usage but ultimately they do have to operate a lot of energy-draining devices in order to keep their businesses active. The good news is that CT businesses can switch to lower-cost electricity providers to reduce their costs even if they can't lower their energy usage any more than they already have.

Difficulty of reducing business energy usage

Businesses struggle to reduce their energy usage because of the fact that so many of the things that a business needs to run are things that use energy. The most obvious example is a business's computer system. A company today simply can't operate without a good computer system that is up and active. Even if a business uses green computing methods, the system inevitably does require some energy to be used. A business can only reduce its computer usage so much before no more reductions ca be made. Lighting, heating and cooling systems and other standard business needs are similar in this way.

As business grow, so do energy costs

One of the biggest problems when it comes to reducing energy use for a business is that energy use inevitably grows if the business grows. Of course, you want your business to grow. But every time that you extend your hours or staff, you increase your business energy costs. Your actual growth profits suffer because you have additional energy costs to run your business.

The added cost of taxes

CT businesses get a small tax exemption each month on the sales tax for the supply and delivery of electricity. However, the entire bill minus the exemption is taxed monthly. This can add up to hundreds of dollars per month in CT taxes alone for some businesses. Of course, the higher the business energy bill, the more taxes are charged. Again, growing your business and increasing your energy use results in more charges.

Switching electricity providers

Electricity deregulation has made it possible for business owners to decide who they want to supply them with electricity. CT residents are already beginning to take advantage of this option and it's something that CT businesses should be doing as well. By choosing a supplier that offers better CT electric rates and deals, businesses can lower their electricity bills even if they don't find it possible to lower their energy usage at work.

Top 5 Ways to Compare Electric Rates

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:41:55 -0500

Electricity deregulation has been a wonderful thing. It means that electricity providers can compete against one another to offer lower prices and better service. But how do you figure out which providers in your area are offering the best prices? You need to compare electric rates. Use the following top five methods to do a comparison.

1. Use a website with a user-friendly price comparison tool. Check out Shop for Energy. As you’ll see, you simply need to enter your state and press "search" to receive important information comparing electricity rates in your area. The site will then show you each company available, what their different plans are (along with type and term) and what the current rates are.

2. Create your own spreadsheet. If you want to do your own research then the best way to compare electric rates is to create your own spreadsheet. The table will probably look similar to the one provided on the aforementioned site. It can also include any other information that you want to compare, such as current deals. You’ll then need to research all of the available providers on your own and fill in the spreadsheet yourself. Once you’ve completed the research, you should be able to easily see which company and plan is best for your home.

3. Check your state’s local websites. Some areas have energy price comparison tools on their websites. Others have links to those tools or at least links to the different providers that are available in your area.

4. Check with larger government websites. Another option is to access tables and data on major government websites. For example, the U.S. Energy Information Administration provides a table showing the average retail price of electricity in each state. If you’re planning a move then doing a state energy comparison is a good idea. That said, you should also check the range of prices by different providers within the state that you’re considering moving to.

5. Check in with your local social networks. Let other folks give you some hints as to what the best electricity providers may be in your area. Reach out to your social media networks and ask what companies others are using, how much they are paying and what their experience has been. You can compare their responses to make a decision about the companies that you’d like to research further on your own.

How to Find the Best Electric Rates for Your Home

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:05:14 -0500

Electric rates can be as unpredictable as New England weather and help develop in some consumers somewhat of a concern about whether you’re really getting your money’s worth each month. But, with the right help you can be certain of one thing: you’re electric bill will decrease, you’re bank account will begin to grow and at no cost to your home’s comfort.

Some parents say their kids aren’t adults until they pay their own electric bill. Perhaps that’s some parents’ way of saying, "It’s a tough world out there...full of corruption, fighting....and high electric bills."

It’s no wonder some cultures are known for permitting and even recommending that children stay with their parents until marriage, or even later.

Okay, so electric bills may not really be all that bad, but they became bad enough to encourage the government to deregulate the electric industry.

What is deregulation you may ask? Well, deregulation is something that, the government in particular, will utilize to control consumer spending by increasing industry competitiveness. Some healthy competition encourages more options for the consumer to choose from and provide a clear distinction between the best and the worst prices.

Many of us, especially the majority of college graduates, are so naive to the world of electricity that we cause most of our own energy bill splurging. In fact, many of us wouldn’t even know where to begin when searching for a good price for electric.

Besides deregulation, companies are finding other convenient ways to better serve consumers and their electric service needs.

Price comparing is one such service that is offered to consumers seeking for the best electric company and prices in their area.

Just as there are websites that make a breeze out of searches that could be complex and time consuming, such as flights and auto insurance, now there are websites that compare electric companies and prices in your particular zip code.

However, what’s the difference between the comparison done by the electric companies themselves, and that of a third party? Well, in a family recipe contest, if you were asked to compare your family’s prized recipe to that of a competitor, you would maneuver your defense in such a way that focuses only on your recipe and how it outshines the competition. But, if there was a recipe better than yours, you would avoid discussing that recipe.

Everyone knows that the best way to evaluate a product is to have the opinion of an unbiased judge, or a third party. So, in this said family recipe contest, a judge would have the final say.

Similarly, although some electric companies compare their services to those of their competitors, be aware of the unavoidable and expected bias behind the information. Everyone will say their price is the best. Each company will also always find a company to outshine, but is this truly an accurate route to finding the best electric price in your hometown? No!

When it comes to saving money on your electric bills, you must seek out the third party. With a little bit of research you are sure to find a reliable site to compare electric rate prices in your area.

Once you’ve found a great site, you will have two options to choose from: residential and commercial rates. Make your decision and ascribe the appropriate zip code for the area you are searching. After doing so, you will receive a list of the best priced electric services for that zip code. In addition, any available special offers from companies regarding services will also be pointed out to you.

With the company and plan names, type, rate, and term, you will have all the necessary information for making the best decision and to begin saving money on your electric bill!

Don’t fall into the trap of a biased company opinion and its persuasive banter. But instead, take the advice from those who aren’t trying to sell you a service, but are trying to help you save money on your monthly electric payments.

Fill Your Cart with The Best Electric Rate

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:50:42 -0500

A so-called "consumer mentality" can be the death of a relationship, but when needing to purchase a service or product you want to be sure to have a consumer mentality and the ability to shop around for the best deal.

Although shopping around for the best spouse may be a bit shallow to some, shopping around for the best electric rates is anything but shallow, and in fact would be a wise investment of your time.

Before you put the energy into seeking for the best deal, there are some important things you should know about electricity. Without knowledge about the industry and products your decision making is going to be a bit skewed and naïve, to say the least. No one wants to be taken advantage of, or blinded by a lack of knowledge.

So, here’s an introductory course to better prepare you when shopping for the best electric company and rates in your area.

Typically there are about five unique electric plans that are available for purchase. Whether you’re renting or own your home, don’t just make a commitment to the first electric company that you are able to find. But, instead, do a little shopping and you’ll be sure to have the best electric plan in your shopping cart.

The Five Plans:

1. Fixed Rate: This is a plan well-suited for those who want to plan out their monthly spending in a budget, and are extremely comfortable with the rate they have found. A fixed rate is sort of a catch-22. Though you will not have to worry about the constant fluctuating rates, this means that you will not only miss out on being charged more, but also miss out on any decreased prices. So, if you believe you won’t look back and regret the rate you have settled with, then go for the stability of a fixed rate plan.

2. Variable Rate: Is similar to having a new rate each month, so if you like to gamble or enjoy the waiting game, then a variable rate may not be a bad idea. It will give you the potential to save money each month if prices were dropping, but it is also a bit difficult to plan for in a budget.

3. Indexed Rate: If you only make decisions based on fact, then this is a great option for you. The indexed plan is based on a predetermined and published rate formula that defines the rate per kWh.

4. Prepaid: Similar to a prepaid phone, prepaid electric plans are great for those renters who aren’t sure how long they will be staying at a particular location. There isn’t a long contract or commitment, but instead you are free to pay a fee upfront, and always receive notification of bills prior to the next cycle.

5. Green: Of course there is a green option. This plan means that the energy you are buying is the same as anywhere else, but you are potentially supporting certified renewable energy credits. Simply put, this plan will limit your gas emissions.

So, after deciding upon the plan that best suits your current financial and living situations, be sure to stick to your guns and choose the plan that best meets your electric needs. Next, you can confidently contact electric companies in your area, if a company doesn’t meet your expectations, do not feel bad, and move to the next company.

If you want to lessen the stress and time simply utilize one of the finest websites for electricity consumers, a comparison site. This site will give you an unbiased assortment of the best electric rates in your area. With the click of a button you can compare electric rates and will be on your way to saving money on your monthly electric bill. Although you had to invest some time into shopping for the best rate, it sure beats rushing into a commitment that in the end will do more damage than good.