Energy deregulation varies by state. Many states have deregulated since the first wave of energy deregulation in the 1990s. Below you’ll find a list of states that have deregulated natural gas and electricity choice for residential consumers.
What States Have Residential Electricity and Natural Gas Deregulation?
Slightly over half of the states in the United States are currently involved in some sort of energy deregulation.
New to deregulation? You can find more information on the basics of deregulation in our other content.
But energy deregulation means that you have a choice in your electricity and natural gas supply. You don’t have to buy your energy from the regulated utility in your area. This gives you options. You can choose a fixed rate plan, a renewable energy plan, a plan with free electricity at certain times, or even a pay-as-you go plan.
Some states have deregulated natural gas only, others electricity only and others have chosen to open both markets. A few such as Nevada and Florida are considering deregulation as a potential future move.
This is how the states currently break down on the issue of deregulation for residential customers:
States with Deregulated Residential Electricity
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Texas (In Texas you MUST choose a supplier. The local utility can not provide your electricity supply.)
States with Deregulated Electricity and Natural Gas
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan Gas
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio Electricity
- Ohio Natural Gas
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Washington, DC
States with Deregulated Natural Gas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
If your state is not listed, contact your local utility company to find out about natural gas and electricity choice.
How do I find an Electric Company Near Me?
It’s easy to figure out if your local area is deregulated. You can use ElectricityPlans.com to look up the electricity plans available to your zip code in deregulated states served by this site. If none are listed, you’ll likely have to stick with your local utility, at least for now.
If you live in a deregulated area, you can shop for your electricity company. Here’s how to find an electricity company in your area.
How Do I Shop for Electricity?
Once you have identified that you are in a deregulated area and can shop for electricity, there are a number of things to think about:
- How much electricity do I use?
- Should I go short term or long term for my electricity contract?
- Is there a deposit to start my electricity service?
- Are there renewable energy options to go green without installing solar?
- How do I compare the different electricity suppliers in my area?
If these are some of the questions you are asking yourself, we’ve got the answers for you.
It’s a 10 minute read and will answer The Basics: How to Shop for an Electricity Plan.
Then, start shopping!
Shop for Connecticut Electricity>>
Reference: http://competitiveenergy.org/consumer-tools/state-by-state-links/