Check your utility bills

[bjl584]

My electric bill had risen in the past few months, rather sharply. I assumed that, like everything else, it was just following inflation.
Then, the other day I took a look at the itemized bill. Turns out that I was getting a promotional rate through a third party energy supplier. The promotional rate expired, and now I was being charged triple the kilowatt hour rate that I could get by buying direct from my power company.

If you haven't done so in a while, vet out your utility bills to make sure you are getting the best rates.
You might be surprised how much you could save.

[rennigade]

We deal with this in PA all the time. Always have to pick new suppliers after contract runs out.

[myrdale]

I've tried a few different plans with Georgia Power. If you can make their non-peak usage times work there is some savings to be had, but if you don't follow their schedule, it hurts badly.

[ua_guy]

Lol...what? You don't get a choice here. If you want natural gas, water, electricity, you sign up with the single utility provider who services your area, and you pay their rate. Garbage is the same way. Use the contracted provider or go without service.

[bjl584]

Lol...what? You don't get a choice here. If you want natural gas, water, electricity, you sign up with the single utility provider who services your area, and you pay their rate. Garbage is the same way. Use the contracted provider or go without service.

You have a choice in PA with electricity. I don't have gas, so I'm not sure about that. Garbage, there is only one provider in my area, but some places have multiple service providers.
For electric, there are maybe 15 different providers that I could pick from. The introductory offer is attractive, but when it expires, you are better off just buying direct from the power company. That is where I am with things.

[disneysteve]

Lol...what? You don't get a choice here. If you want natural gas, water, electricity, you sign up with the single utility provider who services your area, and you pay their rate. Garbage is the same way. Use the contracted provider or go without service.

Yep. We get gas and electric from PSEG. That’s the local utility company. That’s the only option as far as I know. Same with water. NJ American.

Trash and recycling are provided by the township so we have no input or choice there either.

[kork13]

Lol...what? You don't get a choice here. If you want natural gas, water, electricity, you sign up with the single utility provider who services your area, and you pay their rate. Garbage is the same way. Use the contracted provider or go without service.

That's what I was thinking!! I've never had an option on utilities besides internet, and even that is generally only 1-2 real options. Lol

So in places with multiple, do the utility companies actually compete for customers, and you have to choose who/what you use?

[riverwed070707]

That's what I was thinking!! I've never had an option on utilities besides internet, and even that is generally only 1-2 real options. Lol

So in places with multiple, do the utility companies actually compete for customers, and you have to choose who/what you use?

It seems like it would drive competition and lower prices to have choice, but generally places with only one provider have a utilities board that regulates what they can charge and it works out better for consumers in the long run. Rate-regulated utilities have lower overhead because they own and maintain their own infrastructure rather than paying a transmission fee to the operator and they can sell excess generation to neighboring states/utility companies at a premium, ultimately offsetting the cost to provide service to the utilities direct customers.

Source: 15 years working for a utility company

[ua_guy]

It seems like it would drive competition and lower prices to have choice, but generally places with only one provider have a utilities board that regulates what they can charge and it works out better for consumers in the long run. Rate-regulated utilities have lower overhead because they own and maintain their own infrastructure rather than paying a transmission fee to the operator and they can sell excess generation to neighboring states/utility companies at a premium, ultimately offsetting the cost to provide service to the utilities direct customers.

Source: 15 years working for a utility company

This seems to make sense given bjl584's post. I just don't see how a 2nd or 3rd party could sell electricity any cheaper than the actual utility provider in the long run. Unless there are multiple companies producing electric power or gas, of course, which would be real competition. That doesn't sound like the OP's case.

The one instance where we had a different electric company than PSE/ Puget Sound Energy was when we lived in a remote area. The energy itself came from PSE, but the infrastructure, line crews/equipment, and administrative/billing were all handled by a Co-op (legal structure). There wasn't a choice, you had to buy through the Co-op. But actually, they did an absolutely fantastic job. Since they managed such a relatively small area, they were always johnny-on-the-spot to restore power during big storms. PSE crews would get backlogged, and customers near us at the far reaches of their service area had to wait and wait and wait.

[rennigade]

So in places with multiple, do the utility companies actually compete for customers, and you have to choose who/what you use?

I guess you could call it "competing.". Each company has different terms. For example, one may have a year contract at .08 per kilowatt or whatever at a fixed price. Next company may offer .06 per kilowatt for 3 months then it changes to variable. I always filter by fixed rate, no cancellation fee, no sign up fee. It's so dumb but if you don't look for the best rate after your contract is up you get royally screwed.

I like to find the longest contract at best price. Less I have to change the better. Years ago I did a 3 year one at .05, those prices and terms are long gone.

[riverwed070707]

This seems to make sense given bjl584's post. I just don't see how a 2nd or 3rd party could sell electricity any cheaper than the actual utility provider in the long run. Unless there are multiple companies producing electric power or gas, of course, which would be real competition. That doesn't sound like the OP's case.

The reason this doesn't exist is because of transmission. You could have multiple companies generating power and pumping it into the grid but the company who owns and maintains the lines is either direct selling to customers or receiving compensation for use of their gas/electric transmission infrastructure. Unlike other service providers, it would not be safe, economical or logistically feasible to have multiple lines running to each house. Same reason you don't get to choose your water company.

[rennigade]

I attached a screenshot of what it looks like to shop for a supplier, there are dozens of them. I said in an earlier post, we were locked in at $.05 per kWh for years...contract was up so had to switch. The best we could find for 1 year is $.08. Thats a big jump in price. I believe we have to search again in May, which will be the 1 year mark. I doubt prices will go down. Electric bills are significantly higher than previous year.

I will note...you do not have to select a supplier. You'll just be given the default which is $.1 right now I believe. By doing nothing you could be paying 20% more in electric.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

never heard of such a thing. I've always paid to the 1 provider option they say. Pay waste management, pay ziply, pay electric or city water. no choices.

[srblanco7]

We do not have a choice as it relates to electric & gas delivery (basically, the "delivery" to your residence) - that's thru the local utility. However, you do have electric & gas supply options to choose from - basically suppliers that compete with the local utility (which is the default supply option). Admittedly, I have not studied in detail, but have yet to see a supply option that struck me as a compelling deal vs the local utility and have heard, on more than a few occasions, horror stories related to various alternate suppliers who start with a low introductory rate and, once the intro period is over, charge high rates for supply. Definitely have to pay attention to the fine print.