Proof is in the savings. Long term fixed rates a better option.

Massachusetts utilities are beginning to announce their spring/summer rates, the May 20 edition of the Boston Globe has a nice article-although it only tells part of the story.  In short-the rate ride continues.

Consumer advocates and officials across New England continue to express concern about periodic electric utility rate increases. Electric utilities are often taken to task for taking customers on a rate roller coaster ride. During the winter of 2014/15 National Grid customers in Massachusetts paid 37% more than the previous winter. Eversource (previously NSTAR) rates increased 29%.   The rate increases were the subject of many news stories like these from the Boston Globe and WGBH.

Many electric utility customers across Massachusetts are fighting back and taking advantage of longer term fixed rates offered by Provider Power. These customers have selected the security of fixed rates over the rate uncertainty that comes from their utility.

As spring/summer rates are announced by utilities, ask this question: Will these rates balance out the higher winter rates? History shows us they do not. Looking back over the last 18 months, longer term fixed rates prove their worth.

As this chart shows, even when utility rates go down, they don’t off set the peak costs during the winter. Going back to the Fall of 2013, the average National Grid customer who switched to Provider Power saved nearly $250.

unpredictable-rates

Here are some of the the benefits of longer term fixed rates with Provider Power.

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[list_item icon=”fa-home” color=”#F17722″]Protection from fluctuations in the market. Provider Power customers don’t worry about rate peaks.[/list_item]
[list_item icon=”fa-home” color=”#F17722″]Security and Budgeting. If you know how much power you use, consumers can predict their monthly bills.[/list_item]
[list_item icon=”fa-home” color=”#F17722″]Provider Power is a New England owned company. We do business with other local companies, hire locally and support local non-profit groups.[/list_item]
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3 Reasons Why Fixed Electricity Supply Rates are Better Than Variable

Consumer advocates and officials in many states have expressed concern with electricity supply companies who offer variable rate plans.   Several New England states are going so far as to discuss how to further regulate and make variable rate plans more transparent for consumers.

At Provider Power we don’t believe that variable rate plans are in the best interest of the consumers.  Not only can they be detrimental to our pocketbooks, but the “unknown” that comes with variable rate plans can be tough on the nerves.  Imagine not having any idea how much your power bill will be?  Not a good feeling.

Here are the benefits of a fixed rate plan:.

*Protection from fluctuations in the market. No worries about electricity rate spikes.

*Security and Budgeting.  If you know who much power you use, you can easily predict how much your bill will be.

*Power in Your Hands. Longer term fixed rates mean you don’t have to worry about what your utility will offer for default/standard rate.  Will utilities changing their supply rates every 6-12 months, what you pay is out of your hands.  With fixed contracts the power is in your hands.

Supply Companies Offering Variable Rates Again Called Into Question

A Connecticut-based law firm, Izard Nobel LLP, has filed legal cases against the multiple electricity supply companies. The law firm takes issue with how North American Power & Gas, Direct Energy Services, Viridian Energy and Discount Power market their variable rate products.

According to the Middletown Press Newspaper, the firm is accusing the supply companies of “engaging in price gouging as well as unfair and deceptive business practices.”

At Provider Power (Provider Power Mass, ENH Power, and Electricity Maine), we don’t believe that variable rate plans are in the best interest of the consumers.  While this might be a viable option in some regions of the country, here in the Northeast, where weather is unpredictable and natural gas prices fluctuate greatly, real time energy costs in the winter and mid summer can be exorbitant.

We continue to applaud the Maine Office of the Public Advocate and the Connecticut  Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for previously warning consumers about electricity supply plans that include variable rates.

In some states, including Connecticut, due to variable rate offerings, consumers have seen their power bill go up by 300%. This tends to happen during periods of peak demand, such as colder winter months or hotter summer months. As demand for natural gas, the primary source of electricity production, continues to fluctuate, electricity prices will continue to rise.

At Provider Power we do things differently. We purchase all of our customers’ power for the duration of their contract, at the time of enrollment, at a fixed price.  As a result, customer’s are not affected by pricing variations.

Provider Power’s innovate business model led Inc. Magazine to recognizing Provider Power as one of the nation’s fastest growing companies.