Not necessarily. Some suppliers only work through channel partners to avoid the cost of a direct sales force.  Also, suppliers often tweak their pricing models to either become more competitive in a market or in an attempt to boost margins.  By running nearly 400 RFP’s per month, APPI Energy is able to keep a finger on the pulse of the market and determine which suppliers are more, or less, competitive at any given time or service territory.

No.  Local distribution and delivery is still regulated by the state and service standards are strictly enforced to provide all customers with an equal level of service.  Further, the electric grid is fully interconnected so it is not feasible for some customers to have service restored while neighboring customers sit in the dark.

Perhaps but a better approach may be to have the incumbent supplier compete for your business with other suppliers on a level playing field.  When a fixed price agreement ends, power and natural gas continue to flow but pricing becomes variable and is based on highly volatile wholesale energy market conditions so you won’t know the actual price until the invoice arrives, at which point you have already consumed the energy and are liable for whatever price the supplier set for that month.

Yes.  By making sure you are on the correct rate class and tax status, as well as taking steps to reduce your usage and demand, you can lower your overall energy expenses.  Local distribution costs are impacted by your peak demand levels so reducing the peaks can bring significant savings.  Remember, the cheapest kWh is the one you don’t use.

Most reputable suppliers offering a fixed price obtain all the power or gas for your entire agreement up front.  As such, they bear the risk of the market rising during the term in exchange for you agreeing to use and pay for the energy.  If customers were allowed to leave at any time for any reason, the supplier would be left with unused power or gas, which may be worth less than what they paid for it originally.  Nearly all supplier agreements contain early termination language and suppliers do enforce the terms.  Our team will confirm with your existing supplier the exact terms and conditions regarding terminating your contract.

First off, protect your electric and natural gas account information like you would all confidential business information.  Call the utility directly and confirm the program is legitimate.  Utilities generally do not solicit customers by phone so it is likely a less reputable organization trying to get you to disclose account-specific information which can be used to trick you into switching your account to another provider.

Callers can promise low rates but may neglect to disclose specific details, like what is included in the price, which can ultimately increase your actual costs.  Insist on reviewing all offers, including a sample contract, in writing. It’s also always prudent to confirm with your existing supplier the exact terms and conditions regarding terminating your contract, which is something our team is more than happy to handle for you.