In deregulated markets, energy providers purchase electricity at competitive wholesale rates and sell it to customers through their plans. Utility companies deliver power to homes and maintain the poles and wires, so your monthly electric bill includes charges from both an energy supplier and a utility.
But knowing which provider is right for you can take time and effort. Learn what to look for in an energy provider, including their history, customer service, and rates.
What is an Electricity Provider?
An energy company Fort Worth is a company that buys energy wholesale and then sells it to residential and commercial customers in deregulated markets. They work with local utility companies, which manage the poles and wires that deliver power to buildings. By separating these roles, customers can shop its competitive electricity rates without jeopardizing their reliable power service.
You’ll see a supply charge on your monthly electric bill that lists the supplier you purchased your electricity from and your local utility. New York, this is called a retail energy provider (REP).
If you’re a home or business owner, independent energy providers offer customizable plans to save money on annual energy costs. These packages can include everything from traditional fixed-rate electricity to 100% green energy. You can find a list of options by entering your ZIP code on an online rate-search site.
While energy suppliers can offer competitive rates, they cannot control the electricity market or the power delivery to homes and businesses. Electric utilities maintain the power lines that carry high-voltage electricity from the sources that produce it, like power plants. They are also responsible for restoring power after severe weather conditions. In addition, they check meters for accuracy and set capacity tags for peak demand events.
How Do Electricity Providers Work?
In states with deregulated energy markets (find out if you’re in one here), electricity providers are competing for your business, driving electric rates down and offering a variety of plans. Your local utility company still delivers the power you use to your home or business, but they can’t sell electricity themselves in a deregulated market. Instead, you can shop for an electricity provider and choose the best plan for your budget and lifestyle.
Retail electricity providers often offer various plans ranging from basic fixed-rate electric plans to 100% green electricity. They also provide several incentives to customers, like gift cards and smart thermostats, in exchange for signing up for their service.
To make it possible for electricity providers to offer various plans, they buy power in bulk from generators like coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and wind. They then sell that electricity to end users through electricity plans. Once sold, the electricity is delivered from the generation point through a network of transmission lines and transformers to neighborhood distribution stations, plugged into homes and businesses.
Electric utilities are responsible for maintaining the electric infrastructure in their service area, including repairing downed lines and poles after storms. They’re the ones you call if there’s an outage or gas leak. They can also help you compare different providers’ electricity and gas plans, rates, and fees.
How Do Electricity Providers Charge?
It’s important to understand that when you choose an electricity provider, you are paying for two distinct services: power supply and electric delivery. These charges are billed separately and will be clearly identified on your bill. Your electricity provider will be able to provide you with detailed information on these rates, so be sure to ask.
Your delivery rate may vary depending on where you live, as will your supply rate. Electricity companies will also typically charge different fees to offset the costs of maintaining the lines, poles, and transformers transporting power to your home. These charges are based on distance and usage, and can vary by provider and plan.
You can choose your electricity supplier and plan in deregulated areas, but your utility company will still deliver the power. The utilities have regional monopolies and are responsible for checking meters, restoring power after severe weather or emergencies, and fixing gas leaks.
Your utility will also charge you a service charge, a capacity fee, and a customer peak demand charge. Your energy supplier will market these rates to attract new customers, so ask about introductory offers, bill credits, and minimum usage levels. Energy suppliers also often offer plans with a fixed rate for the duration of the contract, so you don’t have to worry about your rate fluctuating.
How Do Electricity Providers Compare?
Many consumers need help understanding the differences between their utility and energy providers. In the past, utilities were one-stop shops that generated and transmitted electricity or gas to homes and businesses. They also handled billing, service issues, and customer support. However, if your state has deregulated its electricity markets today, you can choose a third-party supplier.
These competitive energy suppliers purchase wholesale electricity from power generators and then sell it to customers in your area. They may also offer different rates, such as fixed or variable. They can help you determine what plan will best suit your needs by considering your usage patterns and comparing their rates with your current electric company’s offerings.
When choosing a new supply provider, you should ensure that the company is licensed in your state and offers the energy you need for your home or business.