The Disappearance of Utility Monopolies in Pennsylvania
Being exposed to corporate monopolies, especially when it comes to your personal or small business life, can cause all types of unnecessary problems. When a company can design and implement changing policies and you have no choice but to submit, you can never win. Competition drives our society to stay fair and balanced, something monopolies cannot offer.
Today, utility monopolies are a problem in many states. However, in’96, Pennsylvania undertook steps to correct this imbalance. Pennsylvania’s electricity market, in other words, was deregulated, which meant that more competition could come in, and service-oriented electric providers became commonplace in every region.
It was soon recognized that deregulation of electricity was a positive step for residents. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) next issued an order to include the local telephone market. The last leg of this journey was made when on November 1,’99; natural gas customers were included in free choice of utilities.
For each utility category in Pennsylvania, consumers get approximately 10 companies choose from, to provide their services. All service providers make low rates a priority, and this is probably the most important benefit they give to consumers. Service is a close second, such that customers are assured outages are going to be taking care of as quickly as possible. Customers’ good ratings and referrals then increase companies’ chances for more business.
Although utility companies can offer incentives to attract customers when there is competition, and they can provide industry knowledge that’s been updated, watch out for “free gift” perks. These aren’t necessarily bad, but remember that nothing is really free. Before you sign up for any agreement with a provider, read the fine print and make sure you understand it.
If you do ever feel that you’ve been scammed, or if you feel that you’ve been “crammed,” where you’re charged additional charges without your consent or knowledge, make sure you contact the Office of Consumer Advocate. This office was set up by the Pennsylvania General assembly in’76, and gives consumers the leverage to demand fair and just service from those who provide utilities.
Today, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission focuses on balancing between the needs of both utilities and consumers so that reliable, safe and affordable services are ensured. The public is first in consideration, and they want to further economic development as well by making sure the public is aware of the sound choices it can make when it comes to choosing a provider of utility services for their needs.
Monopolies can certainly be unjustified and predatory in their procedures and practices. When monopolies exist, consumers’ complaints can often fall on deaf ears because there is no reason to listen. After all, most consumers in this situation have no recourse. Pennsylvania had the forethought to make changes when they saw the state was heading in that direction, and made the decision instead to give consumers a choice. What that means is that today, customers and utility companies, as well as the Public Utility Commission, work together to provide the best service at the most affordable cost possible.
About the author: Jerry Dyess has been specializing in the Commercial Energy market segment for the past 7 years. He has published many articles on Business Electric prices.
Despite PPL Rate Hikes-Savings are Possible with ChooseEnergy.com
Loss of PPL rate caps has resulted in a number of increased costs to consumers. Ranging from 19 to 37%, many customers began turning to ChooseEnergy.com to learn what could be done. By learning how to switch to a utility company that will provide power services at a lower cost, many consumers can offset the increases experienced in these rate hikes while continuing to enjoy the same quality of service.
As the time for the rate hikes drew near, a PPL representative explained why they were necessary. In a prepared speech, it was revealed that PPL’s operational costs were high, costs which must be passed onto their consumers.
Many factors were blamed for these increased costs. First, claims were made that they had been absorbed by power companies since 1996. Increase costs in material, equipment and fuel were also blamed Finally, the cost of meeting EPA-mandated requirements has also risen in previous years.
Despite this grim picture, deregulation brings many benefits to consumers. First, consumers can now choose the company from which they purchase their energy. Not only does this make comparison shopping possible, but it also paves the way for companies specializing in renewable power to capitalize on consumer interest in such sources.
Still the fact remains that energy costs are going to rise. PPL states that it is going to help diminish some of the impact these rate hikes are going to have on consumers. The company offers a discount program available to customers using products that are rated high in energy efficiency. Some customers of PPL have also begun using the advance pay and deferred payment options to help them deal with the rate hikes that are coming.
Also, advances in metering technology empower customers to more effectively track their energy usage. By determining which appliances use the most energy, examining energy use during peek periods and even comparing current loads with those of nearby houses, residents and businesses can effectively tune their power use.
ChooseEnergy.com is taking a different approach, capitalizing on the benefits of deregulation to give consumers a better choice. Widely regarded for its experience and expertise in the energy field, ChooseEnergy.com promotes competition to help customers get the best service at the lowest rates in the newly deregulated market.
Energy Experts Enable You to Make the Best Choice. ChooseEnergy.com was first established in 2005. The company was structured around a far sighted vision that would allow customers to comparison shop for their energy supplier from among a variety of utility companies. It even integrated a means for some electric companies to actively place bids in hopes of gaining a customer’s business.
Empowering customers in this manner would result in an environment in which competition was more likely to thrive. As competition increased, the costs of energy would begin to decrease.
Despite this deregulation, many customers are unaware of several factors. First, they remain unaware that they even have a choice in electrical companies. Furthermore, many customers assume that all electric companies are the same when in fact they are not.
ChooseEnergy.com is dedicated to helping the average citizen connect with an electrical company provider that will give them the best price, improved customer care, flexible payments and more billing options.
Started in the midwest, ChooseEnergy.com’s nationwide mission began in Texas, where it introduced a high-tech system that facilitates the comparison of electrical companies based on price, energy source and many other features With such a system in place, choosing the best company for any one situation becomes an easy matter. Furthermore, ChooseEnergy.com operates a number of additional websites aimed at enhancing customer awareness and education. CleanTexasEnergy.com, for instance, informs Texans about clean energy options available in their state.
Other sites are dedicated to increasing the awareness and education about choices and options to energy customers around the country. By the end of 2009, new websites will target the newly deregulated New York energy market.
About the author: Jerry Dyess specializes in the Commercial Energy business and has published articles on Business Electric rates.