| The spring season is a great time for small | | | | track with natural gas costs, and natural gas is |
| business and residential customers to take charge | | | | traditionally lower in shoulder months during the fall |
| of their Texas electricity costs. | | | | and spring season, before consumer demand |
| Have you ever changed your cell phone rate plan? | | | | increases during the hot summer Texas heat. |
| If you are like most people, the answer is yes. | | | | Each deregulated area of Texas has more than |
| But the funny thing is - More than half of Texas | | | | 10 retail providers, including several incumbent |
| consumers have not taken advantage of | | | | utilities to choose from. Customers should shop |
| competitive electricity prices made available | | | | around to find the best rate and best plan for |
| through deregulation and they continue to be | | | | their home or business. Some people may feel |
| served by their incumbent utilities. That’s like | | | | more comfortable with a shorter term, while |
| staying on the same cell phone rate plan from the | | | | others may want the insurance of a fixed rate |
| day you got your first cell phone. It simply | | | | for a longer period of time and want to sign up |
| doesn’t make sense. | | | | for a long-term plan. Either way, consumers in |
| The Texas deregulated energy marketplace | | | | deregulated areas should get to know their |
| enables customers to more easily and confidently | | | | options and select a plan that fits their needs. |
| evaluate options for selecting a new Retail Electric | | | | Just like cell phone providers – like AT&T or |
| Provider (REP) based on lower rates, the use of | | | | Sprint - Retail electric providers bid on |
| “greener” power sources, different | | | | customers’ electricity business and may |
| contract lengths or other offers. For consumers, | | | | personalize their bids to each customer or modify |
| switching is free and without risk. If consumers | | | | their offers and terms as often as they wish. For |
| see an attractive offer they want to accept, | | | | instance, electricity retailers may offer |
| they can make the switch to a new REP without | | | | exceptionally competitive rates tied to longer |
| worrying about a loss of power or change in | | | | term contracts to attract customers in a |
| customer service levels. The wires company that | | | | targeted geographic area or offer a renewable |
| maintains their wires and delivers the electricity to | | | | energy product for the same price as you are |
| the home will continue to be the same company | | | | currently paying. The number of retail electricity |
| – the only thing that changes is who sends | | | | providers has steadily increased since deregulation |
| you a bill. | | | | began in 2002 so you will need to do some |
| Just as the Internet has made it easier for people | | | | homework to find the plan that suits your needs |
| to compare mortgages, travel rates and other | | | | the best. |
| services, has developed a compare and buy site | | | | Just as you change your cell phone rate plan, with |
| that offers a trusted and objective comparison of | | | | deregulation in the Texas electric market, you |
| available Texas electricity providers for residential | | | | need to do the same with your electric bill. Shop |
| and small commercial customers. Plus, the spring | | | | around and lower your rate before the summer |
| season is a great time to lock in a lower Texas | | | | heat forces you to use more electricity and your |
| electricity rate. Texas electricity prices usually | | | | electric bill gets out of hand. |