Ohio utility rates increased dramatically in June 2023. Residents and business owners can shop for competitive suppliers and potentially save big on their electricity bills. Below you can find current utility rates in Ohio and how to shop.
Energy News
Texas Electricity Trends for 2023
Texas electricity trends for 2023 show lower prices than 2022 and more options for short and long term electricity contracts. Other trends in Texas electricity include green energy plans going mainstream, more consumers choosing to add solar panels to their homes, and opportunities to get rewarded for cutting your usage.
This is also the year that market restructuring will occur, as Texas looks to ensure grid reliability. Those changes will drive up future electricity prices beyond 2023.
We’ll review all that and more below. If you’re in a hurry and just want to find your best electricity plan? Jump right to our recommendations to find the best electricity rates.
Connecticut Electricity Rates Skyrocket in 2023
Electricity rates in Connecticut went up an unprecedented 88% to 100% on January 1, 2023. While that crisis has passed, Connecticut electricity bills continue to be some of the highest in the country. Since electricity rates for your utility change twice a year, it makes sense to monitor rates and consider locking in a low fixed rate for your home or business in Connecticut.
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Tax Credits for EV, Solar & Electrification – The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
For homeowners, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes over $8 billion for home energy efficiency and home electrification projects. You can receive tax credits for new technology including home solar panels, battery storage, or electric vehicles. And you can get tax credits and incentives for replacing your clothes dryer, water heater and cooktop, or for swapping out your HVAC for a heat pump HVAC.
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Electricity Bill Payment Scam – How to Avoid Getting Tricked
The electricity bill payment scam is on the rise in in Texas. Scammers will call you pretending to be from your light company and demand payment. They’ll threaten to turn your electricity off if you don’t pay right away.
To avoid an electricity bill payment scam, look for things that are out of the ordinary. If your electric company has never called you before to demand payment, and specified that you can only pay with a GreenDot card from Walgreens? It’s likely a scam.
Here’s how to tell an electricity bill payment scam from a real disconnection notice from your electricity company. And how to avoid getting ripped off.
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How to Get Help Paying Electric Bill
With rising electricity costs, you may need help with your power bill. If you need help with your electric bill in Texas, there are three basic options.
- Contact Your Electricity Provider: Your REP is the first point of contact if you need help paying your power bill in Texas. Working with them can give you a bill payment extension and keep you from being disconnected.
- Call 211 Utility Assistance: Texas 211 is a central clearing house of resources. The 211 operator may be able to match you to available aid programs.
- See if you qualify for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): This program provides bill payment assistance for those on SSI or that earn less than 150% of the Federal Income Poverty Guidelines.
Below we provide additional information on each option. Plus ideas for bill payment help for those who are not low income.
Should I Install a Whole Home Generator?
Thinking about installing a whole house generator for your home on the Texas Gulf Coast? Good call. The Gulf Coast is prone to hurricanes, flooding and power outages.
A whole home generator can be a good value if it brings you peace of mind and convenience during power outages and emergencies. They can automatically activate when the power goes out, so you barely notice a power outage. But they can be expensive, costing $8,000-12,000 to install.
Here’s what you need to know about installing a whole house generator in Houston or elsewhere in Texas.
>Before purchasing a whole house generator, take a look at this article on portable generators for your home.
Columbus Ohio Renewable Energy and Carbon Neutral Programs
Columbus Ohio has the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2022 and carbon neutral by 2050. That’s a goal not only for the city facilities, but also for all residents and small business owners. Here’s our review of the Columbus Community Choice Aggregation Program for electricity, which is one step toward that goal. Plus we review your options to go green when you opt-out of aggregation. And, how you can go carbon neutral with your natural gas.
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Liberty Power Bankruptcy – What Now?
If Liberty Power supplies your residential or commercial power, you may need to shop for a new electricity contract soon.
Liberty Power declared bankruptcy on April 21, 2021. While some Liberty Power customers were acquired by NRG, many others are being returned to their utility or to the Provider of Last Resort as of the most recent court decisions in November 2021.
What you need to do depends on what type of customer you are (residential or commercial) and what state you are in. Here’s what you need to know if you’re a Liberty Power customer, and what to do next.
What’s Going On With Texas Electricity? February 2021
What’s going on with Texas (ERCOT) electricity? And more importantly, why don’t I have lights?
Below we walk through what’s going on with Texas electricity during this brutal cold snap. We also have some ideas on why rolling blackouts have turned to 36+ hours without power in some areas.
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