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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What Is Deregulation?
  • Deregulation is occurring on a state by state basis. Where natural gas and electricity were previously provided by regulated utilities, now these utilities only charge for the delivery of gas and electricity over pipes and wires and energy marketers set the price of the gas and electricity and sell it directly to you. In deregulated states customers can decide who they want to provide their gas and electricity service. Click here to watch our video which explains deregulation for you.
  • Which States Are Offering These Savings?
  • There are currently 22 states which have deregulated electricity and/or natural gas for residential and small business customers. Almost all states have deregulated natural gas prices for large users, typically 50,000 therms or more annually.
  • How Much Can I Save By Using A Marketer?
  • That depends on the State and how the deregulation system is organized. In many states the local utility still sells gas and electricity in competition with marketers. If so the utility has a posted rate and marketers are often able to reduce that rate by 10% to 40%. Please remember that marketers will offer their lowest price only if they are in competition with other marketers for your business. Competition is the value that EnergyBidder brings to you.
  • What Is A Fixed Price Contract?
  • A fixed price contract provides a guaranteed price for a specific period of time. Fixed Price Contracts are usually the preferred way for customers to contract for gas and electric service in deregulated states. EnergyBidder provides you with competitive bids for one and two year periods. Having a fixed price provides you with price certainty and protects you from market spikes.
  • Are There Any Risks?
  • There are no risks! When you switch your utility service to a new provider, the switch occurs at the supply level, not at the local delivery level. This means that your current local provider will continue to deliver electricity and/or natural gas to your business or home without any changes. The marketer that is delivering the gas or electricity supply has been approved by the State Public Service Commission and meets the reliability standards of EnergyBidder.
  • Are There Any Changes In The Wires Or Pipes That Deliver The Energy To My Business?
  • There are no changes at all. Your new agreement to buy electricity from a different retail energy provider simply requires your local utility company to use the electricity and natural gas that is provided by the company you choose. The wires, pipes, and metering equipment that is used to delivery the electricity and/or natural gas locally stay exactly the same.
  • What Changes With My Current Provider?
  • Your local electric and/or natural gas provider will continue to deliver the same energy to you. The only change that occurs is that you will now receive their energy supply from the retail energy provider that offers you a lower rate. Your delivery service will continue exactly as it does today without any interruption. Your local delivery provider will continue to be your point of contact for any local delivery issues or problems that may arise at your business or home. Your current service will operate exactly the same, except you will now be receiving a discount on your energy purchases.

  • Who Do I Contact With Questions About My Bill?
  • You will contact the marketer providing gas or electric service for questions regarding price or usage. For questions about the delivery of your service such as outages, meter readings, etc., you contact your local utility company, who is responsible for delivering the electricity and/or natural gas to your business or home.
  • Who Do I Call If The Power Or Gas Is Out?
  • You call your local utility company, the same as you always have done. Your local utility is responsible for making sure the gas or electricity is delivered to your house or business.
  • What Happens If My Marketer Goes Out Of Business?
  • Marketers must pass strict qualifications including financial responsibility in their certification process with the particular State Public Service Commission. EnergyBidder also only selects reputable marketers to bid for your energy needs. In the unlikely event that a certified marketer goes out of business, there are consumer protections in place. In most states there is a “default provider” which automatically serves the customers of a marketer that leaves the marketplace. In some cases this “default provider” is the local utility and in some cases it is another marketer that has qualified to provide default service.
  • When Will A Marketer Switch Take Effect?
  • Utilities have different rules as to when marketer switches become effective. Typically the switch is based on meter reading dates for your particular account. Generally a switch will become effective from 10 and 45 days after a request to switch is made.
  • What If I Have A Current Contract With A Marketer?
  • If you have a current contract you will need to wait until that contract expires before switching. Failure to do so may make you subject to an early termination penalty which is contained in some marketer contracts.
  • Why Are Energy Savings Available?
  • Energy savings are now available because competition has been introduced due to deregulation. This means that the power companies that used to have complete control of an entire market now have to deal with competition. This in turn creates competitive discounts that are available.
  • Who Is Responsible For The Safety And Reliability Of My Service?
  • The local utility company who maintains the delivery system is still responsible for the service, reliability, and safety of the energy that you use. The local utility company maintains the power lines and natural gas pipes and repairs them as needed. The regulatory body that oversees utilities in your state will help to ensure that the local utility company continues to provide a safe and reliable delivery system for your use.