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:

As the competitive electricity market takes shape in New Jersey, customers of PSEG are seeing more options as more power companies compete for market share. Electricity customers of PSEG can now compare power companies in order to find cheaper electric rates. While this still might be a new concept for some, the NJ BPU is in full force in monitoring the active electricity shopping market that was created by the New Jersey Electricity Choice and Competition Act.

Electricity customers of PSEG are able to shop for lower rates on the supply section of their electric bill. Savings versus the default electric rates for residential customers have been seen as high as 20%. The delivery section of the PSEG electric bill remains the same no matter which electric supplier is chosen. While electricity choice deregulated the generation supply portion of the electricity business, the delivery (distribution) of electricity has remained regulated. This means that PSEG remains responsible for the power lines and wires of their territory, and is in charge of responding to power emergencies.

Electricity choice in PSEG and other New Jersey utilities (JCPL, Atlantic City Electric, Rockland Electric) simply allows consumers to compare power companies and purchase electricity at lower prices and terms that meet a customer’s specific needs.

Pennsylvania electricity customers serviced by Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed) are seeing competitive electric rate offers for the first time. Met-Ed default prices were capped until January 1, 2011 which had previously kept energy companies away. Now that the default price caps have been lifted competitive suppliers are able to offer low electric rates for consumers.

Electric shopping has been a success in other parts of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania utility companies PECO Energy, Pennsylvania Power & Light, and Duquesne Light have seen increased competition and shopping activity among their customers. Similar results are expected for the Met-Ed territory.

Met-Ed will continue to serve as the electric delivery company for their customers even if a switch for lower generation prices is made. Electric choice in Pennsylvania is about choosing your generation electric supplier, the utility company remains the same and remains regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Philadelphia energy customers can reduce their electricity bills by participating in Pennsylvania’s electric choice market which allows consumers to shop for competitive power prices.

PECO Energy, the local utility company for the city of Philadelphia and surrounding areas, distributes the electricity bills to 1.6 million customers in the area. The total electricity bill is broken down into several costs. The generation and transmission charges encompass the portion of the bill that is subject to choice. When a consumer chooses a competitive electricity rate, the chosen rate replaces the current generation and transmission charge on the bill.

The distribution charges remain the same on the electricity bill no matter which competitive electric supplier is chosen. The distribution charges are regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

For Philadelphia electricity consumers looking to lower their electricity bill all they have to do is find a competitive electric rate that is lower than the current PECO price to compare. The PECO price to compare is the rate for electricity that is charged for those customers who do not shop for competitive rates. The price to compare is determined by an auction process held at the wholesale level and overseen by the Pennsylvania Utility Commission.

Here are some of the lowest electric rate options for Philadelphia consumers…

Electricity customers approached by sales reps from North American Power should be careful before signing an electricity contract with the supplier. North American Power contracts that offer a variable rate are likely to increase almost immediately. Their contracts do not even guarantee that the rates they advertise on their site will be locked in for the first month.

The company promotes their rates by emphasizing that by choosing them you will be supporting charitable organizations. This is true, however it should be noted that you will be doing this as an extra cost to you, by paying more on your electric bill. You can support these charitable organizations without choosing North American Power as your electricity supplier. By choosing a variable rate with North American Power, you will pay a price for electricity at the company’s choosing.

Current North American Power prices for customers in the Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) territory are listed as $0.0899 per KWh. However, customers in this area are paying $0.0999 cents per KWh on their most recent bill, a price that is even higher than the CL&P default rate.

We strongly recommend not choosing a variable rate for your electricity for the simple reason that the price has no ceiling. In contrast, a low fixed electric rate can guarantee you savings if the rate is lower than your utility’s default price to compare. The fixed rate will be fixed for a set term indicated on the electricity agreement that you choose.

The shape of power companies in Illinois has changed as the state’s energy choice laws have begun. Illinois consumers, prior to electric choice, were forced to buy their power supply from monopolies who were regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Illinois electric choice has allowed new power companies to enter the market, however the old regulated power companies still serve a very important role.

The incumbent power companies of Illinois, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, were once responsible for all phases of the energy business for their given territories. This included purchasing power from generation facilities and then delivering that power to homes and businesses throughout Illinois.

Illinois electric choice has taken the power purchase responsibility away from ComEd and Ameren so that they can focus on delivering the power to properties, as well as responding to power failures and emergencies. Choice allows customers to purchase power from a variety of power companies, some of which might focus on providing electricity at the cheapest rate, while some might market themselves as clean power companies who sell green energy.

As the energy choice landscape in Illinois continues to mature, consumers can expect to see more power companies marketing their service. Aleady several licensed power companies are offering electricity rates to customers of ComEd at steep discounts compared to the ComEd default rates. If you can lock in a fixed rate that is lower than the default price to compare, than you will save money on your monthly electric bill. Below are some low rate options in ComEd.

Connecticut consumers continue to benefit from the state’s decision to deregulate their electricity market several years ago. Electric choice in Connecticut is providing energy customers with lower prices and more options when buying their electricity.

Almost everyone in Connecticut is serviced by either Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) or the United Illuminating Company. Prior to CT Energy Choice these two utilities were regulated monopolies of electricity generation, transmission and distribution. The decision to create an energy choice market changed the role of CL&P and United Illuminating Company for their customers. Now they are only responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity and are no longer in the business of offering generation rates to customers. Consumers can shop for competitive generation electric rates to find the offer that best fits their needs.

Consumers who do not shop for lower electricity prices pay a default rate that is charged by their utility company and regulated by the state. The default charge is determined by a series of auctions that the state holds for competitive energy companies who bid to serve a certain percentage of default paying consumers. While the money for default generation rates are collected by the utilities (CL&P and United Illuminating), the revenues for these charges are passed through to the energy companies who have won the previously held auction. Electricity choice is about customers getting the best deal that they can find, and not settling for a default rate.

While Connecticut has been a very successful energy choice state, the majority of customers are still paying high default electric rates. Less than 40% of CL&P residential customers and only 45% of United Illuminating residential customers have chosen to purchase energy from alternative suppliers. Currently CL&P default paying customers can save 10% on their monthly electric bill by choosing a low cost electric supplier. United Illuminating consumers can save as much as 20% versus their default generation prices.