New York Electricity Choice

As a resident or business owner of New York, you have the power to choose the very best electricity supply. However, it is largely your responsibility to ensure that you are getting the right deal. To do that, you should take it upon yourself to learn a little about the available opportunities.

In addition to receiving energy from the utility, New Yorkers can also get their electricity supplied by Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). This form of retail service gives customers far greater flexibility and can go a long way to reducing monthly billing. There are a number of ESCOs serving the New York vicinity, and a variety of elements will influence the best choice for each consumer.

Who Delivers My Electricity?

Under New York Energy Choice, whether you are a customer of the utility or an ESCO, your power is distributed by the utility. Therefore, many of the responsibilities lie with them. Should you encounter power-related issues, such as a power cut, the utility should be your first call.

Given that electricity distribution doesn't change, it's no surprise that facilities stay the same. So if you do choose to take your custom to an ESCO, you won't need to worry about equipment installations. Quite frankly, the process of switching from one supplier to another is undetectable as far as your service is concerned. The only real changes revolve around the billing.

How Does Billing Change Between Utility And ESCOs?

Regardless of which option you take, the basic principles and layout of your bills will look fairly similar. Items are separated to show clear breakdowns while you should be able to monitor your usage with minimal effort too. Likewise, virtually all New York electricity services offer online billing services for easier tracking.

If you opt for an ESCO, you may end up receiving two bills. This is because the ESCO will only bill you for the electricity provided. Transmission charges will still be handled by the utility as that is the source of deliverance. In some circumstances, however, both fees may appear in one bill.

That's because the ESCO may collect the transmission charges on behalf of the utility, or vice versa. Individual ESCO suppliers may have slight tweaks regarding the billing processes. Taking those elements into account should simply form a part of your research.

Are My Consumer Rights Affected?

Not really. The reliability of your service will not change as your electricity continues to be delivered by the utility either way. Meanwhile, the Public Service Commission (PSC) requires all ESCOs to satisfy various consumer needs. Likewise, all suppliers must comply with the Home Energy Fair Practices Act.

If you choose an ESCO, the supplier may sell you additional services including gas. However, these items will always be itemized on your billing. The only thing to take note of here is whether the bundle requires a commitment.

The level of service provided will undergo minimal change while you'll continue to receive energy even If the ESCO stops trading. Ultimately, the best service is largely dependent on individual situations. With a little research, there's no reason that you can't find the right option for yours.