Questions to Ask

Before you call a new electric provider to inquire about plans, contact your current electric provider and ask for your current plan's total electric rate per “kilowatt hour” (kWh) based on a 1,000 kWh average usage (not including taxes or non-recurring fees). This will help you compare plans based on price.

To make the best apples-to-apples comparison of providers and offers, you should ask the following questions:

1. What will I pay per "kilowatt hour" (kWh) of electricity based on 1,000 kWh of average monthly usage?
2. Does this rate include everything, including the electricity cost, the transmission and distribution charges, as well as any monthly customer charges or other recurring fees?
3. Is this offer a fixed rate offer, a variable rate offer, or an indexed offer? If it is a variable or indexed rate offer, how can it change? How do I find out when and by how much the rate will change?
4. Is there a contract? If so, how long is it for?
5. Is a deposit required? If so, how much?
6. What are my payment options?
7. What happens when my contract expires?
8. What if I miss a payment?
9. Is there a penalty if I break the contract?
10. If I generate excess renewable electricity, does your company have a buy-back plan? What are the terms?