In the past, one utility company provided all parts of your energy service—from the generation of energy to the transportation and distribution. The utility also billed you for your energy.

With deregulation, the retail supply of electricity and gas—that is, the actual “energy” supplied to your home or business is now opened to competition among various retailers who compete to provide better service and prices. What that means is that you can now choose your energy supplier. Deregulated retail supply includes customer service, rate plans and other customer incentive programs. When companies compete for your business, you as the consumer see the benefit through competitively priced offerings while still enjoying the same reliability that you have always enjoyed, even after you switch to a new retail supplier.

This is the “old utility” described above. This is the utility that owns and operates the equipment, infrastructure, and facilities that transmit and distribute electricity to your premise – that is, the poles and wires you see outside your residence, including your meter. The EDC, or utility, is responsible for all things pertaining to the servicing of electricity to your premise, including, but not limited to reading your meter, disconnecting and reconnecting your power, and responding to emergencies in the event of a power outage.

This is the “old utility” described above. This is the utility that is involved in the delivery of natural gas to consumers within a specific geographic area. The LDC, or utility, is responsible for all things pertaining to the servicing of gas to your premise, including, but not limited to reading your meter, disconnecting and reconnecting your service, and responding to emergencies in the event of an outage.

You are shopping for a company that provides first class customer service, should you ever need anything, along with competitively-priced rate plans that can be customized to the needs of you and your family. You also want a supplier that views you as more than just a rate-payer and instead, values its relationship with you as a consumer and a person.