Switching Utility providers

Submitted by BadAtRocks t3_z11eix in massachusetts

Im still getting used to the fees of living in MA with the delivery fees on my utility being the hardest to understand.

I just found out that I can switch my provider and am having a terribly hard time finding my other options. I have eversource right now and I'm usually paying 100%-105% of my bill on delivery. E.G. my bill this month in total is $111.42 out of that $60.15 is a delivery fee. (Rant)To me this is crazy I know many of you are very used to this but as an outsider walking in I just don't understand. If I went to a gas station and bought $5 worth of gas and they charged me $11 I would laugh at them. But eversource does it and I'm forced to pay.(bad rant over)

This has been the most helpful site but it still can't find a list of providers I can call.

https://www.maenergyratings.com/resources/energy-choice-in-massachusetts Question/Help

Hoping this post reaches someone that already has taken this venture of switching providers or even someone that has a horror story about switching. Any insight on this subject at all is greatly appreciated.

Also one last question- Does anyone know which official pushed this bill though or has there always been a 100%+ fee on utilities.

P.S. Have a busy day so might be terrible at responding. (If anyone responds haha)

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nattarbox t1_ix8eokl wrote

There are a lot of scams related to this, so would suggest starting with government websites to make sure you're getting good information: https://www.energyswitchma.gov/#/

Some municipalities (Cambridge, Boston, etc) offer community rates and those are generally your best option. In addition to a better rate, the rate itself is locked in for extended periods, buying you a little time from Eversource's price increase.

The commercial providers usually don't have as much of a discount if any, and some of them will increase the rate on your after an introductory price while locking you into a contract you can't cancel.

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Aggressive-Law-9068 t1_ix8s7s2 wrote

I would also add that the community choice options for municipalities often defaults you to a mix of renewable and traditional energy. If you are really struggling financially try switching to the community choice basic plan. It’s not a huge difference but every bit helps!

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BadAtRocks OP t1_ix8zcxo wrote

Thank you!

Like I said I literally just learned it could be switched and when looking found about a dozen different Links. Thanks for the heads up on the scams I'll definitely be more discerning on my decision.

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lostmindplzhelp t1_ix8h9x0 wrote

You can literally Google "Massachusetts electric providers" and get several resources that name the electric providers with their websites, email, and phone numbers. The first, second and third search results all list this info.

The delivery fees have existed for at least the last 20 years. They supposedly pay for the infrastructure that gets the electricity to your house. It's a bit different from going to the gas station, the gas station isn't delivering anything, but they absolutely do include the cost of transportation in the price you pay at the pump. I couldn't tell ya why the electric company breaks down these costs on your bill but the gas station doesn't.

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BadAtRocks OP t1_ix91sic wrote

I promise I know how to use the internet for more than porn haha.

My problem was that a bunch of providers came up but I have no idea which one people use around here. Like I said I just moved here so I don't have anyone I can ask. I tried talking to my neighbors but they dont talk. So here I am.

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lostmindplzhelp t1_ix96bue wrote

Okay. It's kind of a regional thing. Your best bet is to go to www.energyswitchma.gov and see what's cheapest in your zip code. I think all the companies make you sign up for a contract, could be anywhere from 1-3 years. The difference is some charge a cancellation fee and some auto-renew when your time is up. Be careful because there are companies that offer a low introductory rate to get you into a contract but in the fine print you'll see that the price goes way up after a few months, these offers usually come in the mail. If your area has a "municipal aggregation program" that will be your best bet. It's a local collective that negotiates with the companies for better rates. If there's one in your area it'll come up on that website.

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BadAtRocks OP t1_ix9awut wrote

THANK YOU!

This definitely helps I'd never heard about "municipal aggregation program" till now but that's where I'm going to start.

Also Thanks for the heads up on the contracts I will peruse each offer very diligently.

I greatly appreciate your time and help.

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Aggressive-Law-9068 t1_ix8qt64 wrote

You can only switch the supply services. You can’t choose on the delivery services, that will always be eversource

The delivery services pays for the power lines, gas lines, transmission infrastructure, and physical aspect of the utility system

This would be like if you want to the gas station for $5 worth of gas and they broke the cost down to $2.50 for the actual gas and $2.50 for the gas station, delivery truck, pipelines, employees, etc.

You are still paying the same amount it’s just more transparent on your bill where the actual money is going

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BadAtRocks OP t1_ix94nqs wrote

Would switching the supplier change the delivery fee or is the delivery fee its own service?

Random Question- Is there a break down that eversource releases that shows how much money they collected for fee and how much of it actually went back into the grid?(I know this is random just popped into my head while typing so you go stuck with it. hahaha)

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modernhomeowner t1_ix9n5sf wrote

Your local utility delivers the electricity. That's what the delivery charges are for, all the power lines and electric poles to your house, all the line workers, the tree trimming, the transformers on the poles, the extra line workers they pay to bring in before every storm, etc. Since only one company provides this service, you cannot change delivery companies.

The supply is the creation of the electricity, it's what pays for the natural gas, solar panels and wind turbines that make the energy. Since anyone can make electricity and put it on the grid, this is what you can shop for. Just watch it, some of those providers are even more expensive than your utility or have long term contracts.

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UniWheel t1_ix8hbls wrote

Electricity de-regulation meant that charges had to be split into two different categories.

Generation charges refer to the cost of actually generating electricity. This is where you have a choice of provider.

Distribution charges refer to the cost of maintaining the wires that bring power to your home, billing your account, etc. Because we can't have competing networks of electric wires running all over our towns and cities, you don't get a choice there.

During the summer, electricity generation charges can often be less per kilowatt hour than distribution charges. But during the winter that is less likely to be the case, because demand for power (and even more so for the fuels burned to create it) increases. In particular, while distribution charges tend to be in the range of 12-14 cents, your generation rates may have shot up to over 30 cents on November 1st due to the global shortage / price hikes of natural gas, which is what powers much of MA's electric generation.

You are in effect about to get what you believe you should - a bill where most of the cost goes to generation not distribution. But definitely not in the way you hoped to, because while the distribution cost won't have changed, the generation cost will have almost tripled.

And even that first bill may be misleading of the bills to come this winter, because if your billing period spans between October and November, that first winter bill may reflect an average of the old rate and the far higher new one. It's not until your next bill that you're going to see the true generation charge broken out, though you can see it on your electric supplier's website.

Sitting here in four layers...

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BadAtRocks OP t1_ix93n89 wrote

So Im damned if I do and Damned if I don't.

Thank you I appreciate you taking the time to spell it out for me. Im going to take a run at it anyway just to know I tried. Im going to do my best to avoid contracts but will just have to see what is offered in my area.

House temp. 64 Degrees during the day and 68 Degrees after 7pm. Layers are the key to survival haha.

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UniWheel t1_ix94ed9 wrote

> Im going to take a run at it anyway just to know I tried. Im going to do my best to avoid contracts but will just have to see what is offered in my area.

My gut feeling is that the only alternatives that would be worth considering are the city-level ones a few have mentioned.

>House temp. 64 Degrees during the day and 68 Degrees after 7pm. Layers are the key to survival haha.

That's rather warm for present prices. My system has a minimum of 61, and that's really higher than I can afford.

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BadAtRocks OP t1_ix96atj wrote

>My gut feeling is that the only alternatives that would be worth considering are the city-level ones a few have mentioned.

100% this is where Im starting Im just getting the last of my stuff done.

>That's rather warm for present prices. My system has a minimum of 61, and that's really higher than I can afford.

My wife and son are already constantly complaining that it's too cold. If I drop it more I might have worse problems than shaving cents off my bills. hahaha

Again Thank you for your time Sincerely!

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tom_echo t1_ixb9idl wrote

Yeah eversource is highway robbery but there’s not much we can do. Our representatives aren’t willing to take serious action here. A few towns have it handled on a local level by setting up their own delivery.

On the supply side you can usually switch suppliers. I’m with residents energy on a 6 month contract. Not sure what it is exactly but when I looked it was much cheaper than the default supplier.

I’ve never heard anyone talk about it before but I discovered you can switch your delivery fees a little. There’s different billing rates based on what you’re using the electricity for. “R-1 general” is the default but “R-3 heating” is a few cents a kwh cheaper. I heat with mini splits so I qualify but that said they don’t verify anyway.

Also in MA the “masssave” program is paid already by taxes and whatnot. They’ll come insulate your house so heating is cheaper. They’ll also replace and inefficient incandescent bulbs and give discounts on some appliances.

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BadAtRocks OP t1_ixcselg wrote

Sweet I will go and look up resident energy right now. I have been overly advised to read the fine print on contracts. Most have stated that they will jack up the prices after they lock you into a contract.

Also I have heard about masssave but didn't know what it was exactly so I never looked it up. I will be doing this for sure.

I have already put plastic up in my windows which doesn't look great but seems to help a bit.

Thank you for your time and help!

Have a great THANKSGIVING!

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ipramisht t1_ixgdzix wrote

We switched to directenergy.com last February and our supply cost is 12.8¢/kWh* for 33 months.

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