When you’re in business for yourself, business electricity is just one of the things that make it possible to work. You’ve got to shop for great business electricity rates plus set up internet, phone, computers, and maybe an alarm system, and of course hire and manage employees! We’re here to help you understand how to shop for business electricity rates and get the best plan for your business, whether it’s a small or large business. (The rest of it is up to you!)
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Business Electricity Basics – Power Up Your Business!
You’re looking for a business electricity plan for your Texas business. But first you need to understand what you’re shopping for and how to compare electricity plans for your business. It helps to know the basics — how to tell a KW from a kWh, delivery fees vs. energy costs, and what are demand charges? In this article, we’ll demystify the mysteries of business electricity, so you can shop business electricity rates and make the best choice for your commercial electricity plan.
This article assumes that you are familiar with electricity shopping from purchasing it for your home. Need a refresher? Check out What is deregulation? Shopping for business electricity rates is a breeze once you understand a few specific things about business electricity in Texas.
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Electricity Explained: From Flow to Dough
America’s demand for electricity is huge, totaling 18% of the world’s electricity consumption in 2015. We take for granted that electricity will be there when we turn on the lights or crank up the air conditioner. We can’t imagine life without it. But, have you ever wondered how electricity is made, or where it comes from, or how we get it the instant we want it?
Beginning in 1879, electricity was first sold in the United States by the California Electric Light Company in San Francisco which produced and sold enough electricity to run about 20 electric lights. Since then the use of electricity has grown exponentially. Fast forward to 2016 and Americans consumed about 3.85 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In this post we cover the basics about what powers this huge amount of consumption, the sources of electricity in the US, and the role of deregulation.
Smart Electricity Shopping During the Holiday Season
December means holiday shopping season for many people, but the one item most people leave off their list is to shop for a new electricity plan.
If your contract is due to expire in the next couple of months, you might be surprised at the affordable rate plans you can find during the holiday season. Winter is traditionally a slow season for electricity shopping, yet there are several good reasons to compare electric rates and lock in a plan for the upcoming year.
You might think that cold weather means higher rates, but that’s not always true.
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How to Switch Electricity Providers
You’ve probably heard about the great electricity rates your friends or neighbors got by switching their electricity providers or by getting an electricity plan for the first time, but diving in headfirst can be pretty intimidating.
After all, you’re not shopping for a shirt you can take back to the store if you change your mind—this is the electricity that’ll keep your home or business running! Here’s the good news: It’s easier than you think to switch electricity providers, whether you already have an electricity plan or you’re looking to leave your utility’s default provider and move to an electricity provider that better meets your needs.
What’s the Difference Between a Utility and an Electricity Provider?
When it’s time to choose an electricity plan, it can be really confusing picking your way between all the options available and the host of initials and terms.
One of the most common sticking points for electricity customers is what, exactly, the difference is between an electricity provider (also called REP, CRES, or electric supplier) and an electric utility (also called a TDSP, TDU, or EDU). They’re both vital to the success of electricity deregulation, but they play very different roles. Understanding how they fit together can make a big difference in your overall confidence as an electricity customer trying to shop for the best electricity plan.
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What is deregulation?
Efficiency, renewable energy, and deregulation are among the most pressing concerns for utility customers across the country.
Although energy efficiency and using renewable electricity sources are well-understood concepts, electricity deregulation is still cloaked in a great deal of mystery despite having its modern roots in legislation from the early 1990s.
When people talk about electricity deregulation, what they’re really discussing is a process where the electricity generator and the electricity distributor are uncoupled and customers are given the power to choose their own electricity providers. Your local utility will always be the same, even in a deregulated area, but your electricity provider can be anyone certified by your state who offers electricity plans to your city or town.