| Many states have recently deregulated their | | | | greener way. You might pay a little bit more, |
| energy markets. What this means is that | | | | but surveys suggest that as much as |
| utilities like electricity and gas are no | | | | seventy-five percent of consumers are willing |
| longer provided by a single company. | | | | to do so if they're assured that their power |
| Consumers are free to choose which company | | | | is generated sustainable. If you're |
| they would like to have provide their | | | | interested in being able to power your home |
| utilities. Depending on the individual | | | | entirely with electricity generated by wind, |
| consumer's current rates, electricity usage, | | | | water, or other eco-friendly means, rather |
| and agreement with the supplier, a great deal | | | | than coal or oil, deregulation will allow you |
| of money could be saved. Estimates range | | | | to make that choice. |
| between five and fifteen percent a year. That | | | | |
| might not sound like much, but consider that | | | | To get the most out of your ability to choose |
| industrial electricity customers typically | | | | your power and gas providers, you should |
| consume more than a megawatt of power and | | | | understand your energy use patterns. Figure |
| have utility bills over two hundred thousand | | | | out how much you use and when. Consider |
| dollars annually. While your home or business | | | | whether you're more concerned about the cost |
| might not use that much power, you can still | | | | of your power, its source, or maintaining a |
| benefit from deregulation. | | | | steady price. Decide whether or not you're |
| | | | able to manage your power use when prices |
| Whether you're paying too much, or your | | | | rise. All of these factors contribute to the |
| utility offers bad customer service, if you | | | | company you choose as an energy provider. |
| live in deregulated state, you have the | | | | |
| option to try another company. While | | | | Deregulation opens many doors to energy |
| deregulation does contain the risk of more | | | | consumers. We're not used to being able to |
| volatile prices than we have seen in the | | | | choose who produces our electricity and |
| past, it also opens the doors for competition | | | | provides our natural gas. However, picking |
| between providers to provide the best prices | | | | the company that best suits our needs will |
| and service to consumers. You could see | | | | soon be as habitual as sticking with the same |
| better prices, and bills that are easier to | | | | company is now. A competitive market allows |
| understand, just by changing to a different | | | | consumers to get the best possible service |
| company. | | | | and prices for their energy. If you live in a |
| | | | state that has deregulated the energy |
| Deregulation is not just for people worried | | | | industry, investigate your options now. |
| about the cost of their energy, however. If | | | | Whether you're a residential customer, a |
| you're concerned about the environmental | | | | small business owner, or a large company, you |
| effects of traditional power generation, | | | | could benefit greatly from the new freedom |
| deregulation allows you to purchase your | | | | that deregulation offers. |
| power from a company which generates it in a | | | | |