Atlantic City Electric customers are finding that they can lower their electric bill by shopping for competitive priced power. The southern New Jersey utility serves over 480,000 residential customers. However with the passage of the New Jersey Energy Competition and Choice Act, the role of Atlantic City Electric has changed.
Prior to New Jersey energy choice Atlantic City Electric was responsible for all phases of power consumption for almost all citizens living in the bottom half of the garden state. This included the purchasing of electricity generation for their customers, and then the delivery of the power to businesses and homes. Atlantic City Electric was also of course responsible for responding to power failures and emergencies, as well as reading the meter and billing.
Now that energy choice is in full effect, Atlantic City Electric still maintains the majority of the roles they had before. They are still responsible for power delivery, responding to emergencies, meter reading, and billing. The aspect that has changed is that they are no longer responsible for buying the electricity generation supply for their customers. Energy choice allows customers to purchase their own generation supply, meaning that they can shop for the lowest electric rate or choose to buy power that comes from a specific generation type, such as wind power.
Customers who do not shop for low electric rates pay a default rate for their electricity supply through Atlantic City Electric. This default rate is determined by auctions held by Atlantic City Electric for competitive energy companies. ACE does not profit from the default rate and instead passes on the revenues to the competitive energy companies who have won the previously held auctions to serve default paying customers. This is why ACE does not care if their customers switch electric suppliers. ACE does not care if their customers pay less for electricity supply because their revenues and profits are derived from the regulated electricity delivery charges.
For customers looking to lower their Atlantic City Electric bill, they can compare electric rates below to find low offers:
Chicago consumers are no longer confined to purchasing their power from the local utility company. As a result of the Illinois Electricity Choice Act, power users can now shop for lower prices among several electricity companies in Chicago.
Energy choice in Chicago is providing Chicago residences with huge savings versus their traditional utility’s price to compare. Commonwealth Edison has provided electricity service to the city of Chicago and surrounding areas since 1907. The new energy choice laws has changed the role of ComEd from a full service electricity company who supplies and delivers power to their 3.6 million customers, to just being in charge of power delivery.
ComEd is encouraging consumers to find low rates from Chicago electricity companies, citing that they do not profit off of price to compare default rates. Money from the price to compare rates are passed through to electricity companies who have bid for the right to service default customers. ComEd earns revenues and profits from the delivery charges on the bill which remain regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission Energy Division.
Lower electricity rates are currently available against the official ComEd price to compare rate which includes the generation and transmission rates. The lower electric rates will result in big savings on the electric bill, which continues to be sent by ComEd even after a competitive electricity company is chosen.
Electricity choice in Connecticut is clearly working as competition is forcing prices on a downward trend. Just a few short years ago consumers in Connecticut were paying the highest electricity rates in the country, causing state senators to draw up a Energy Bill to end electric choice. The bill was eventually vetoed by the governor, and with time prices have dropped.
Connecticut Light & Power customers have seen electricity deregulation and competition bring down their generation rates by more than 30%. In 2009, the generation default rate for CL&P residential customers was over $0.11 per KWh. Now, in 2012, that default rate has dropped to $0.0828, with competitive electricity rates as low as $0.0769.
Consumers who do not shop for competitive electricity pay the default rate that is offered by CL&P. Though they may not realize it, the drop is a result of increased competition. However, to maximize the benefits of Connecticut electricity choice, consumers should shop for low electricity prices.
Below are some current competitive electricity rates from Connecticut Power Companies offering service in the CL&P territory. Even after a competitive rate is chosen, the customer will still receive their monthly electric bill from CL&P, and CL&P will continue to respond to power failures and emergencies. The only thing that changes is the rate (i.e. you pay less on your monthly electric bill).
Many Pittsburgh consumers are surprised to learn the Duquesne Light is not the only power company in the area. This is because the Pennsylvania electric choice law allows alternative power companies to offer competitive pricing to power users in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.
Consumers who have not participated in Pennsylvania’s competitive electricity market pay a default rate with Duquesne Light labeled the “Price to Compare”. Regardless of which Pittsburgh power company chosen, Duquesne Light continues to deliver the power to the homes and businesses of Pittsburgh. This is because Duquesne Light is the area’s regulated electric utility company, which means they are responsible for the maintenance and management of the power lines.
Selecting a competitive power company can lower the electric bill for Pittsburgh consumers substantially. Here are some current electric rate offers by Pittsburgh power companies:
