Why Electricity Deregulation Matters

Here in Houston, like most parts of Texas, we have the power to choose our electricity provider. Despite having the option to switch providers in our area, most people I talk to around here either don’t know we are deregulated or don’t think switching providers is worth their time. Deregulation is actually a great opportunity for consumers, so I thought I’d help spread the word and take a minute here to explain why it’s worth knowing about and taking advantage of.

First, what is electricity deregulation? In a nutshell, deregulation takes a market served by one provider and opens it up for competition from multiple providers. Electricity delivery is still handled by the same ‘poles and wires’ company, but you buy electricity from a Retail Electricity Provider (REP) that handles customer service and billing. It’s as simple as that.

So why bother switching? Here are the top reasons electricity deregulation is good for you:

• Pay less for electricity – This is obviously the biggest benefit to energy deregulation. When providers compete for your business, you end up paying less for electricity service.

• Find renewable energy options – If being green is important to you, you have a much better chance of finding a green energy plan in a deregulated market.

• Get the best customer service – Let’s be honest, some providers are lacking a little in the customer service department. If you’re in a regulated market, you’re stuck with one provider, whether they have good customer service or not. In a deregulated market though, if you find a company with lousy customer care, you can drop them for someone better!

• Take advantage of promotions and loyalty programs – A regulated provider doesn’t have to fight for their customers, so they don’t have to offer any extra incentives. But in a deregulated market, providers will often times offer special promotions (like gift cards when you sign up) or loyalty programs (like getting cash back on your bills after a certain amount of time).

• Experience no interruption and quick turnaround – One of the most common things I hear from people not interested in switching is that they didn’t want to have to deal with shutting off their power and trying to time things right for a switch. In reality, switching is seamless for the consumer, with no interruption in service. Also, a switch to a new provider can occur in as little as three days!

Now that you know all about deregulation, you’re probably itching explore your options. To get started, just visit WhiteFence.com, enter your address and in seconds you’ll be comparing providers and on your way to a better plan.

Comments

[Amanda]

I definitely agree! Having had horrible customer experience with one electricity company, I am incredibly thankful I was able to switch to another provider!
Also, one my contract was up with my new providers, they provided a great loyalty incentive - the chance to lock in with a contract at a lower rate than is available to the public! How awesome is that?!