Shopping for Electricity Checklist
- What is the total electric rate per kWh?
500 kWh _________1000 kWh ________2000 kWh ________ - Is there a charge for usage of less than 500 kWh?
- Is there a fixed or variable rate? If it is variable, what are the conditions for change? How and when do I get notice of changes?
- What is included and what’s excluded from this rate? (Electricity transmission, distribution, fuel, what else?) What other fees are/will be added? Be prepared to be outraged at the various fees, especially for meters. Get a copy of the contract and the “Electricity Facts Label (EFL).
- Do I have a contract or is it just month-to-month? What is the contract term? (How many months am I bound?)
- Is there a termination fee or any other fee if I terminate service during the contract term? Is there any other fee in connection with terminating service?
- What, if any, deposit is required?
- What are the payment options? Is this a pay in advance contract?
- What notice do I get before my contract expires? What if I do nothing? How would I renew? If I renewed today, assuming I had a contract expire, what would the rate be?
- What are the penalties for violating the contract? What if I’m late or miss a payment?
- What discounts/promo codes are available?
- Must I pay a fee for switching? If I don’t need to select the date for switch (“standard switch”) do you still charge?
- How do I get an accurate copy of the service agreement with my rates? Note: make sure you check the contract’s electricity price and see if it matches the kWh price you agreed to pay. The rates change often.
- Renewable questions:
- Do you buy excessive distributed renewable generation?
- What is your renewable content?
