How to Compare Energy Rates in New York

If there is one thing that most New Yorkers can agree on, it is that their energy bills are too high. When you initially establish utility service, you will likely be connected to a default energy provider. However, thanks to energy deregulation in New York, both residential and commercial consumers have the ability to shop around to find the best rates available for their energy needs. It is wonderful to have choices as a consumer, but if you are new to shopping for utilities providers, you may not know how to begin shopping and comparing rates for energy.

Determining How Much Energy You Use

As a starting point, you should take a closer look at your energy bill. Your energy bill can tell you several key pieces of information that can help you to make a better shopping decision. Most importantly, your energy bill will tell you how much energy you use in kilowatt-hours per month. Your energy consumption will vary from month to month and season to season, so it is important to obtain a monthly average over the last 12 months if possible. This information may be on some bills, or you may be able to obtain the data from your current energy provider. Your bill can also tell you what your current energy rate is, and you can use this as a benchmark to beat when you are shopping around.

How to Compare Energy Rates in New York

The Internet is your best resource when shopping for a lower energy rates for your home or business energy needs. In NYC, there are several comparison sites available to choose from. With some of these, like PowerSetter.com, you simply plug in your zip code into a search function, and you can instantly see a list of providers who serve your area. You may also be able to compare energy rates in New York City for utilities like Con Edison and learn more about the plans available. You may be surprised to see that some plans are as much as .40 cents or less or more per kilowatt-hour than others. This may sound like a nominal amount, but consider how much energy you may use over the course of a year, this can actually add up to a very significant amount of money.

How to Compare Energy Sources in New York City

You may not realize it, but different utility service providers in New York source their energy in different ways. Some providers rely entirely on fossil fuels to power homes and businesses across the state, and others may use wind, solar or other energy green sources. As a consumer, you can read about the different types of energy available through different plans. Some consumers may choose the absolute lowest rate possible regardless of the energy source. Others, however, may be happy to pay a slightly higher rate to enjoy the benefit of having partially or completely green energy streaming into their home or business.

Making the Switch

After you have located the right plan for your needs, your next step is to actually make the switch. Switching energy service providers can sound complicated, but you may be pleasantly surprised how fast and easy it can be. To begin, you simply call the new service provider you want to start getting your energy from. The provider will set up service for you over the phone, and this call may only take ten minutes or less in many cases. The new provider typically will contact your current provider to finalize the transfer process. You will not experience any interruption in service. You may then receive a final bill from your current provider and a bill from your new provider within a few weeks.

Energy deregulation has made it easier than ever for consumers to save money on energy as well as to control the type of energy they use. If you have not shopped around for a more affordable energy plan yet, now is the time to get started.