Educational Resources
Exercise Your Power to Choose
Competition in any industry means more choices for customers. As a customer in a deregulated utility market, you can shop for electricity supply the same way you shop for other services – by comparing prices, and choosing options, terms and plans that best suit your needs.
Top Questions to Ask a Supplier
- What is your rate per usage (kWh)?
- What does this price include?
- Is this a fixed rate or does it vary depending on: market price, time‐of‐day, or after a certain amount of time?
- If this is a fixed rate, how long does it stay fixed?
- Are there any additional charges, like a monthly customer charge or other fees?
- What is the term of the agreement and what happens when my agreement comes to an end?
- Are your charges included in my utility bill or will I receive a separate bill?
- Is there a security deposit or early termination (cancellation) fees?
- Do you guarantee savings?
- When will I receive my first bill?
- Who do I contact about billing questions?
- What is your Customer Service phone number? Can I contact you by email?
Other Useful Resources
- RESA (Retail Energy Supply Association) Consumer Education Guide
- State Shopping Guides
- RESA (Retail Energy Supply Association) Glossary of Industry Terms
- THINK! ENERGY
California
- California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC): www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc
- “Go Solar”: www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/
- Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Smartphone App: www.pge.com/myhome/myaccount/waystopay/iphone/
Connecticut
- Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA): www.state.ct.us/dpuc
- Connecticut Energy Info: www.ctenergyinfo.com/
Delaware
- Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC): www.state.de.us/delpsc
- Delmarva Power Self-Service App (for iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry): www.delmarva.com/home/emergency/mobileapp/
District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Public Service Commission (PSC): www.dcpsc.org/
- Electric Customer Choice FAQs: www.dcpsc.org/Electric/Electric_FAQ.asp#A1
- Customer Bill of Rights Fact Sheet: http://www.dcpsc.org/pdf_files/hottopics/CBOR.pdf
Illinois
- Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC): www.icc.illinois.gov/electricity/
- Plug In Illinois: www.pluginillinois.org/
- Electric Choice and Aggregation Videos from Ameren Illinois
- Learn about your electric options and how Ameren Illinois fits into the picture www.ameren.com/sites/aiu/MyHome/Pages/ChoiceVideos.aspx
- Learn how to shop for a third-party energy supplier and steps to make an informed decision www.ameren.com/sites/aiu/MyHome/Pages/ChoiceVideos.aspx
- Understanding Energy from ComEd
- Electricity 101: www.comed.com/education/understanding-energy/Pages/electricity-101.aspx
- How the System Works: www.comed.com/education/understanding-energy/Pages/how-the-system-works.aspx
- Energy Terms: www.comed.com/education/understanding-energy/Pages/energy-terms.aspx
Glossary of Terms: www.pluginillinois.org/glossary.aspx
- ActOnEnergy (from Ameren Illinois for energy efficiency tips and access to programs, rebates and incentives): www.actonenergy.com
Maine
Maine Public Utilities Commission: www.state.me.us/mpuc
- Power Sources, A guide to renewable and non-renewable electricity sources: www.maine.gov/mpuc/electricity/archive/electric_restructuring/PowerSources.pdf
- Small Business Power Guide, A guide to Electric Restructuring for small businesses: www.maine.gov/mpuc/electricity/archive/electric_restructuring/Small%20Business%20Power%20Guide.pdf
Maryland
- Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC): www.psc.state.md.us
- Delmarva Power Standard Offer Service (SOS) price to compare: www.delmarva.com/home/choice/md/sospricing/
- Smart Meter 101 Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPi3kRRmkPU&feature=relmfu
- PeakRewards, a BGE Smart Energy Savers Program®: http://peakrewards.bgesmartenergy.com/
- Pepco Standard Offer Service (SOS) price to compare: www.pepco.com/business/choice/md/sospricing/
- Pepco Self-Service App (for iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry): www.pepco.com/home/emergency/mobileapp/
Massachusetts
- Department of Public Utilities: (DPU): www.mass.gov/dte
- DPU Electric Market Information: www.mass.gov/eea/energy-utilities-clean-tech/electric-power/electric-market-info/
New Jersey
- State of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities: www.state.nj.us/bpu
- New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program®: www.njcleanenergy.com/
- Residential Rebates and Promotions: www.njcleanenergy.com/main/rebates-and-promotions/rebates-and-promotions
- Orange & Rockland Customer Communications: www.oru.com/programsandservices/customercommunications/index.html
- PSEG Home Energy Calculator™: http://c03.apogee.net/calcs/rescalc5x/Question.aspx?hostheader=pseg&utilityid=pseg
- Follow JCP&L on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCP_L
New York
- State Utility Commission: www.dps.ny.gov/
- O&R’s PowerSwitch: www.oru.com/programsandservices/powerswitch/index.html
- O&R’s Rebate and Incentive Programs: www.oru.com/programsandservices/incentivesandrebates/index.html
- ConEdison the power of green tips: www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen/tips/001.asp
- ConEdison Power App (for iPhone or iPod touch): www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen/iphone.asp
- ConEdison the Power of Green (energy efficiency): www.coned.com/energyefficiency/
- NYSEG Energy Efficiency Programs: http://www.nyseg.com/Energyefficiencyprograms/default.html
- RGE Energy Efficiency Programs: http://www.rge.com/Energyefficiencyprograms/default.html
- Follow ConEdison, the Power of Green on Facebook: www.facebook.com/powerofgreen
Ohio
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO): www.puco.ohio.gov
- Electric Customers’ Bill of Rights: www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/index.cfm/consumer-information/consumer-topics/electric-customers39-bill-of-rights/
Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC): www.puc.state.pa.us
- PA Power Switch: www.papowerswitch.com/
- “Shop. Switch. Save”: www.papowerswitch.com/download/brochure-shop-switch-save.pdf
- Take Action at Home (learn about energy efficiency): http://thinkenergy.org/programs/take-action-at-home/pennsylvania/
Rhode Island
- State of Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC): www.ripuc.org
- Competitive Energy Suppliers – Q&A: www.ripuc.org/utilityinfo/electric/compfaq.html
Texas
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: www.puc.state.tx.us
- ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas): www.ercot.com
