Are you spending unnecessarily on your home or business energy bills this year? This week is National Energy Savings Week, which encourages consumers to monitor and manage their energy usage to not only save money but to also protect a precious resource.
So how can you make sure you’re getting the best value? It starts with determining if your home or business is located within a state or jurisdiction that allows consumers to choose their electricity and natural gas supplier. If your state is “restructured” which means it allows retail energy choice, here are some important tips about shopping current offers, what to consider before selecting a provider, and the ideal time to make a change.
If you notice your gas or electric bills rising, it’s probably a good time to start looking for other options. The best time to change energy providers is typically when the demand is low, which is during months with moderate or mild weather conditions. When weather conditions are extreme, for example during the dead of winter or a heatwave in summer, the demand for gas and electricity increases, creating a supply and demand scenario which may increase the cost.
RESA spokesperson, Dan Allegretti, recommends going online to compare various competitive energy options and in the video example, discusses how to shop for competitively-priced products and offers. States that are restructured have created websites with their Utility Regulatory Commission to streamline the process.
After you choose what type of energy you are interested in: residential or business, you will be asked to enter your zip code which will then show the basic service plans from all providers that service your area. Once you evaluate the plans, pricing, and services, you can choose the offer that best fits your individual needs
Following these tips can help you to shop for the products and services that best suit your needs. RESA recommends that you proactively search so you can make an informed decision on what is right for your home or business.
For more information about retail energy choice, the benefits and how to search for a supplier, please visit www.resausa.org.
