Anyone use a non-traditional electricity provider? I'm with TXU electric, but I'm aware of Reliant and know there are a few other MLM (multi-level marketing) outfits that 'provide' electricity due to the deregulation of the electric grid.

My electric bill was ridiculous this past month and am looking for any viable alternatives (if there are any) to TXU electric that provide decent service and are cheaper?

 

I've got Farmers Electric Co-Op. I assume that since they're a co-op, though, that they have limited service areas.

 

Reliant here. Never had a single problem with them. Interestingly, people down the street with TXU lose their electricity about every two months while mine stays on...

 

I have reliant and have no complaints.

 

www.powertochoose.org

I've had Green Mountain, Gexa, and another one i cant remember, all chosen from that website, and no problems with any of them.

 

TXU=price gouging. I kept getting ridiculous bills at my last apartment to the tune of 300-350 a month. We kept the thermostat about 76-78 and only ran it when someone was home. The place was only about 1100 sq feet, we switched to Reliant and the bills came down to 120-150.

 

My daughter had Reliant and had problems with the billing rate rising enormously at the end of the contact period so I have crossed them off my list.

I am in the process of looking into electricity providers as well.

A couple of things I noted:
some require multi month commitments
some had large connect fees
some had large switching fees.

I like the idea of the "green" sources of power but they are more expensive. Green Mountain and Gexa are 2 that have caught my eye as well.

As I understand it TXU is the "high" rate? It doesn't seem to be like insurance with a state mandated maximum but it seems that TXU is the baseline. I thought that meant everyone else couldn't go above their rate but I can't confirm that. It seems that no one you can call understands exactly how it works.

If someone understands the system I would be all ears.

 

Go to this site to see comparison rates- just put in your zip code.

http://www.powertochoose.org/

GeneB

 

[QUOTE=Wildncrazy,Aug 27 2006, 07:45 PM] I like the idea of the "green" sources of power but they are more expensive.

 

we use direct energy.... signed a 12 month contract and locked in the rates from May 2005... when they expired, the rates went up (of course... everyone's rates have JUMPED since 05/05)... but signed again for 24 months to lock in the current rate and be excluded from any rate hikes in that time... the cost of energy is not coming down so long as we are using traditional methods of generating it (NG, coal, etc)... so why not sign the contract to keep the rates for as long as possible?