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One excellent choice you can make is to shop wisely—it is the best investment to save your cash. We know that sometimes Energy Choice can be a hard thing to understand, especially if you don’t have all the information you need to make the right choice. We’ll go through all the basics of energy choice, so you can better understand your options and how to shop around.
At Power Choice Now, finding a new energy supplier is straightforward. As a client, you benefit from competitive energy markets, and from making an energy choice by this, we mean you may choose the energy supplier that best suits your needs.
Until the late 1990s, most customers, satisfied or not, had no choice over their energy generator. They had to stick to their utility, as there were no alternative electric suppliers. This changed as new regulations came into place. Now, if you live in one deregulated energy state, you’re entitled to making your own energy choice. You can choose from different suppliers and get cheaper prices than you would get at your local utility.
Energy choice benefits are numerous. It allows you to choose the best deal, save money on your energy bills and act as your own energy expert.
So let’s find out how to shop around
1. Licenses and coverage
The first thing to check when you make your energy choice is to make sure you’re dealing with a licensed supplier that offers coverage in our property. There is no one-size-fits-all regulation regarding energy choice, each state, and even municipality, has its own pricing structures, laws, tax incentives, etc.
If one company wants to sell energy, the business entity must register within the state it’s applying for. By choosing one licensed energy supplier, you can make sure they fulfill some of the following common requirements:
- Clear financial statements
- Proof of relevant experience in the business
- Customer service
- Surety bond
- Utility company registration
Also, to make sure the good work of these companies, they must follow some requirements to keep their licensesactive. Your energy supplier must also be familiar with local laws and standards so they can guarantee you’re on a good track when signing up with them.
2. Check cross-references
With the growing popularity of energy choice, there is an enormous number of energy suppliers appearing on the market. With this number increasing steeply, we understand that choosing the right one can be tricky.
Before you make your energy choice, compare different electricity providers, check their reviews, their comments, what are the most common complaints from the customers.
Your neighbors can be a wonderful source of input as well. Check if they have a certain energy company that serves them, and how has it been their experience so far. You’ll be a new customer, so checking the most common customer pains will help you to plan.
Take a look at the company’s history: if you come across an energy supplier that has been in operation for a long time, this might be a good indicator. When you make your energy choice, it’s key to companies that have experience serving companies and families just like yours. They might be able to recognize your demands and provide you with better energy options.
3. Pricing options and length
With energy choice, there are different types of rates. The best way to take advantage of them is to assess your current usage to determine which rates are more beneficial for you, and how long you want to commit to be with the same supplier.
Fixed-rate plans:
You decide. You can have the same per-kWh cost, throughout the duration of your contract. No need to deal with different monthly rates and seasonality. Knowing exactly how much you pay per kWh will give you complete control over your monthly payment.
If you’ve ever experienced an unexpectedly large energy bill, you know how difficult it may be. You can forget about variable pricing offering you complete cost control with making your energy choice.
These often have contract terms that can vary from 6 up to 48 months in some cases. Typically, the lower the rate, the longer the term. Be sure you understand cancellation costs and the many hurdles to transferring providers; this way, you won’t be caught off guard if you decide to make a move.
Variable-rate plans:
The kWh pricing for your plan may change due to peak seasons, seasonality, or day periods. These plans operate on a monthly basis, making it difficult to anticipate or manage your monthly costs. On these ones, there are usually no contract terms.
4. Customer service
Customer service is key when you make your energy choice. Customers must be at the center of any business, so when looking for a new supplier make sure it has reliable customer service. Your utility company will remain the one that provides you the service, they’ll keep being your main key contact when there is a power outage. Your utility company is the one that performs the maintenance and owns the wires and poles that transmit and distribute the electricity.
Nevertheless, it is important to know how you can communicate with your energy supplier. You should check also how this customer assistance will be available to you. Do you have to contact them by phone, chat, or visit their office? When confronted with a tough scenario, this may make a significant difference. They must offer reliable and timely customer support when answering all your needs.
5. Energy choice between different energy sources
Another great way to empower your energy when you make your energy choice is to decide the source of it.This can be done by green sources of energy such as wind power, solar panels, hydroelectric power, or other sources that don’t produce carbon emissions nor pollute air or water. Your energy choice can also be a great first step towards the reduction of your carbon footprint.
If you prefer to remain “traditional” you can stick to non-renewable energy sources such as coal or natural gas. Whatever the choice might be, a good provider will offer you a variety of energy options. Bear in mind that your energy will still be delivered to you the same way, so regardless of your generator, you will end up receiving the same service.
Do you want to learn more about how you can benefit from Energy Choice? With Power Choice Now, you have everything you need. We compare electricity providers to make sure we give you: the best rates, easy enrollment, full control of your costs with fixed rates, no Hidden fees and an exceptional customer service!
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