There is a new word buzzing around in the energy industry. Some say it is good news some say it will only bring new challenges. The most prominent rationale is that deregulation will allow more competition and that means a lower energy bill. A common concern is that despite lower energy bills, resource quality or service will decline.

Basically deregulation involves changes to the laws of an otherwise highly regulated industry. The safety and quality standards are expected to be maintained. The president of a leading wholesale energy network says enthusiastically that we are experiencing deregulation of the “last public utility”. Based upon his experience with the deregulation of the phone industry, he says this is “good news for peoples’ energy bills”.

The number of states that have deregulated in electricity or natural gas is growing. Residential and small volume energy users have the choice to select a natural gas or electricity supplier other than the one chosen by their local utility company. Large commercial users are very familiar with shopping for cost saving. So far the competition has brought lower prices to homes and smaller businesses.

Some other benefits include that there are usually no contracts or at the least minimal obligation. There are no switching fees or interruptions in service.

You may feel concern that you are breaking alliance with your dependable local utility company and that your service may be negatively affected. Most often you stay with your current local service provider and do not have to change your meter. If you have to switch companies in the interest of retaining your business, they will provide prime quality service. Remember, you have a choice, and that is power.

Your local service provider delivers the resource, maintains the pipes and lines and responds to any emergency. This is separate from harvesting or generating the energy and supplying it. Your local service provider will simply obtain your resource at the wholesale energy price, from the supplier that you specify which is a cost savings to you.

There are brokering companies that make it their business to save you money. They do the footwork and bring the lowest cost electricity and natural gas to you for your home or business with no additional charge to you. As long as you live or have a business in a deregulated area, if you have an energy bill in your name you can save money, whether you rent or own.

To find out if you are in a qualified area check you state department of commerce website. To find out what your savings could be contact a wholesale energy company that services the smaller resource users.

You may be wondering why you have not heard of this before. You are not alone. While it is not a new concept, the change has been progressing slowly as awareness grows. At this time of higher prices, tighter budgets and challenged dependence upon energy resources, energy cost saving is a welcomed option.

Deregulation is probably here to stay. You have the power to choose and that is the power to save on your energy bill!

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