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All posts in Energy

Energy Plus Rates too High? It’s Time to Find a Lower Rate!

Posted by on November 12, 2013

Energy rates in the states of MD, DC, and IL are all competitive in their own way, but the bottom line when choosing an electricity provider is cost. If you’re paying too much, don’t use them. In Maryland and Illinois, Energy Plus has swooped in with some clever marketing tactics to grab consumers looking around for the lowest energy rate possible. Unfortunately, free flyer miles and bonus rewards just aren’t enough compensation for most in comparison to the overall rates. So, is Energy Plus a scam? Or are they just another energy company with high rates?

 

Energy Plus’ Rates

Many claim to have the lowest rate, but do you ever read the fine print to see if that rate is fixed? If you answered no, Energy Plus may have tricked you. Although at first their rates may seem attractive (around $0.08/kWh), they won’t stay there for long. Many customers are coming to us at Point Click Switch asking for a new electricity supplier because their rates have nearly doubled within months of signing up! Energy Plus rates tend to jump to anywhere between $0.14 (and oftentimes higher) /kWh…a substantial increase from the initial rate of $0.08/kWh!

 

Had Enough? Time to Switch Energy Suppliers

Maybe this rate spike just wasn’t what you signed up for and now you’re asking yourself: “what’s next?” Well, we have good news for you: there are lower rates in your area. Our main goal at Point Click Switch is to provide you with the information you need to make the switch from your current electricity provider to one of your choice. In the case of Energy Plus, it’s likely that you will want to switch to a cheaper, more trustworthy energy company with a fixed rate.

If you’re in the Maryland area, here are just a few of the current rates (as of 11/11/13):

  • ConEdison - $0.0795 /kWh
  • Constellation Energy - $0.0899 /kWh

If you’re in the Illinois area, here are some of your current rates (also as of 11/11/13):

  • Energy Me - $0.0570 /kWh
  • Spark Energy - $0.0579 /kWh

Whether you think Energy Plus is a “scam” or not, they definitely don’t compare when it comes to annual cost and saving on your energy bill; however, you can still grab some of those savings by switching your supplier today! So if you’re tired of Energy Plus’s rates, then compare electricity rates in your area and switch now.

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Household Energy Consumption

Posted by on November 8, 2013

Between your fridge, computers, toaster, TV, internet, lights, microwave, washing machine, dryer, and any other energy consumers in your home, you can find yourself using really large amounts of electricity that you don’t even know about. Our houses use up a significant chunk of energy and it adds up to points you may not even believe. Recently, we did a blog post on global energy consumption and broke it down to average energy usage per state, but we broke it down to even finer detail: household energy consumption, specifically appliances.

 

Average Energy Usage per House

So how much does your home use exactly? Well, we can’t give you numbers for your home specifically, but we can give you the average for your area. Here are the pure numbers from the EIA (https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&t=3):

  • The average U.S. home used 11,280 kWh in 2011.
  • This breaks down to about 940 kWh per month.

This is the whole country, so let’s break it down even further to the states. Listed alphabetically, here is the average household energy consumption per state in 2012:


  • Alabama – 1187 kWh
  • Alaska – 654 kWh
  • Arizona – 1061 kWh
  • Arkansas – 1120 kWh
  • California – 573 kWh
  • Colorado – 706 kWh
  • Connecticut – 731 kWh
  • Delaware – 942 kWh
  • DC – 721 kWh
  • Florida – 1081 kWh
  • Georgia – 1098 kWh
  • Hawaii – 544 kWh
  • Idaho – 1010 kWh
  • Illinois – 767 kWh
  • Indiana – 997 kWh
  • Iowa – 873 kWh
  • Kansas – 945 kWh
  • Kentucky – 1130 kWh
  • Louisiana – 1254 kWh
  • Maine – 531 kWh
  • Maryland – 1005 kWh
  • Massachusetts – 627 kWh
  • Michigan – 676 kWh
  • Minnesota – 793 kWh
  • Mississippi – 1193 kWh
  • Missouri – 1060 kWh


  • Montana – 842 kWh
  • Nebraska – 1000 kWh
  • Nevada – 935 kWh
  • New Hampshire – 615 kWh
  • New Jersey – 691 kWh
  • New Mexico – 656 kWh
  • New York – 603 kWh
  • North Carolina – 1077 kWh
  • North Dakota – 1091 kWh
  • Ohio – 895 kWh
  • Oklahoma – 1132 kWh
  • Oregon – 957 kWh
  • Pennsylvania – 837 kWh
  • Rhode Island – 597 kWh
  • South Carolina – 1119 kWh
  • South Dakota – 980 kWh
  • Tennessee – 1217 kWh
  • Texas – 1168 kWh
  • Utah – 793 kWh
  • Vermont – 565 kWh
  • Virginia – 1117 kWh
  • Washington – 1037 kWh
  • West Virginia – 1078 kWh
  • Wisconsin – 703 kWh
  • Wyoming – 867 kWh


The state that used the most energy in 2012 was Louisiana with 1258 kWh, and the least energy usage was Maine with 531 kWh. (Find the full list of states with average monthly rates in this Excel spreadsheet from the EIA: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/sales_revenue_price/xls/table5_a.xls)

What Appliances Use the Most Electricity?

We’re not done yet! We know the world’s energy consumption (524 quadrillion BTU per year) and the average states’ energy consumption (940 kWh per month), but what is really responsible here? We all have to use electricity; it’s a part of our everyday life. How much of this everyday usage comes from your computer, microwave, and TV? Energy.gov quotes the typical Wattage of some common household appliances on their site: https://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/estimating-appliance-and-home-electronic-energy-use
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Here’s their list of appliances and how many Watts they use:

  • Fish Aquariums – 50-1210W
  • Coffee Maker – 900-1200W
  • Washer – 350-500W
  • Dryer – 1800-5000W
  • Dishwasher – 1200-2400W
  • Ceiling Fan – 65-175W
  • Window Fan – 55-250W
  • House Fan – 240-750W
  • Hair Dryer – 1200-1875W
  • Clothes Iron – 1000-1800W
  • Microwave – 750-1100W
  • Average Desktop PC – 60-250W (From Mr. Electricity)
  • Laptop – 50W
  • Fridge – 725W
  • TVs
    • 19” – 65-110W
    • 27” – 113W
    • 36” – 133W
    • 53”-61” / Projectors – 170W
  • Toaster – 800-1400W
  • DVD Player – 20-25W
  • Vacuum – 1000-1440W
  • Water Heater – 4500-5500W

 

What is Your Electricity Consumption Exactly?

If you want to know your exact energy usage per month, check your energy bill at the top left. Your energy supplier should place it in the 4th section of your bill generally marked “Electric Usage Profile” as seen in our BGE sample bill below.

 

Is Your Electric Bill Too High?

If you want to compare your energy rates in MD, DC, or IL and switch energy suppliers, switch now using our free service to save on your energy bill.

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How Does Wind Energy Work?

Posted by on October 20, 2013

All of our homes are powered by some method of energy production, but the method that your company uses to produce it varies. There are many different ways to produce energy, such as wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric energy, and more; Of the types of energy, wind energy is one that people have a general idea of how it works, but not exactly. First up, to catch some people up: what is wind energy and why do we use it?

 

What is Wind Energy?

 

Wind energy is a method of energy production that converts wind energy into something useful, such as electricity. We use wind energy for one simple reason: theoretically, we can farm an infinite amount of wind because we will never run out of wind to turn the turbine blades. We are limited to the amount of coal and oil in our planet and have yet to find a way to create them manually. Wind energy, however, can provide us with a huge advantage when it comes to conserving natural resources. Because of this, it can often be found cheaper than other options where the energy is generated by fossil fuels such as coal.

 

How Does Wind Energy Work Exactly?

Before you make a decision on whether or not you are for or against wind energy, there’s a few things you should know:

 

  • It can be costly, but not always
  • It is completely nature-dependent

How wind energy works

Let’s start with how the wind energy is actually created. To start, wind blows the giant blade turbines. These blades range depending on usage, but for our purposes we’ll assume they’re powering the national power grid and being distributed to your home. These turbines are about 328 feet tall and have 116 foot blades. Turbines can be taller or shorter, depending on the manufacturer and area. These blades turn and spin a generator shaft inside at the top of the tower. When a generator shaft spins, energy is produced through friction and can be distributed via wires, such as those found outside of your home right now. The blades spin at an average speed of about 15-20rpm, which is about 138-190mph. Once it is in the wires, it is connected to the national power grid, your home, or anything else you want to power! They can also be distributed to power plants for storage and can be used later.

 

Next up: how much does it cost? On average, a wind turbine is quite expensive to build, which can cause higher energy prices depending on how many are built and the company that uses them. Believe it or not, they can cost between $1.3 million - $2.2 million per turbine to install! A wind farm can have any number of turbines they want, but they usually have about 2-3 dozen. Wind farms are quite expensive, but they also produce free, easy to distribute energy. With the speed they travel and location they are set up (generally higher elevations), they can generate thousands of dollars in energy per day. It pays for itself eventually, and the taxes the companies can take out on it are pretty significant.

How Does This Affect Me?

 

You can save money by switching to an energy supplier that uses wind energy because it costs them less to actually produce the energy than it does using most other methods. How much you save depends on your area and your energy suppliers. Clean Currents offers a 100% wind powered energy plan for you to purchase. If you live in the MD, DC, IL, we got you covered: visit our Switch Now page to find out what energy suppliers in your area are charging per kWh and switch to the cheapest supplier for free.

 

For more information visit these sources: https://www.windustry.org/resources/how-much-do-wind-turbines-cost

https://exploringgreentechnology.com/wind-energy/how-does-wind-energy-work/

 

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What is Natural Gas?

Posted by on October 10, 2013

You may know what gas is. You also know that gas is expensive. But what is natural gas, exactly? Well, without natural gas, your home would not be the same. “Gas fuels about 50% of America’s homes, accounting for about 21% of total natural gas consumed” (Source: EIA) worldwide. Natural gas is short for natural hydrocarbon gas, which is made up of methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. Natural gas is used for many things in your home, including:

 

  • Generating electricity
  • Transportation
  • Fertilizer
  • Plastic, paint, etc. production
  • Heating

 

Without natural gas, your home may not have heat and electricity, depending on where you live and what your method of electricity production is. It is often used to produce plastics, paints, and fertilizers. This is why we are so dependent on natural gas, how much is left, and, more importantly, the price.

 

Natural Gas Prices

The price you pay for gas is directly affected by the methods used to extract the gas, as well as transportation fees. The price you pay is affected mainly by the following factors:

 

  • Oil prices
  • Economy
  • Volume of gas available
  • Volume of gas in production

 

Your natural gas supplier will consider these factors and calculate your price accordingly. The general rule of thumb is that the more gas available to the company, the lower the prices; however, oil prices are a huge factor of natural gas prices. Oil prices have similar pricing circumstances. This means that natural gas is also directly affected by the availability and abundance of oil supplies. Natural gas is currently around $0.55 and rising for Maryland consumers. As the amount of natural gas available for use has declined, our prices have risen.
We recommend switching to the lowest price of gas in your area to ensure you have the lowest cost on your monthly energy bill. Compare gas prices now and switch to the natural gas supplier of your choice. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

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Supplier Profile: Pepco

Posted by on September 16, 2013

Pepco is an energy supplier for DC and Maryland residents and businesses. They supply both gas and electricity for their customers and offer competitive rates with the largest Maryland supplier: BGE. With energy deregulation you now have a choice to choose your energy supplier. Fortunately, we’re here to give you all the facts about each supplier throughout Maryland, DC, and IL.

 

Lower Price Energy

The first thing people think of when they hear “gas and electric” is the cost. How much does it cost? We don’t blame you! After all, it’s a huge commitment and hundreds of dollars are normally put into gas and electric no matter who your supplier is. With 117 years of experience, Pepco has learned quite a few things. For example, reliable energy and lower prices are what people want. Pepco’s current rate is $0.941, compared to BGE’s $0.10474 rate. But in order to fully understand Pepco and what they offer, the price is only one (respectably large) part of the big picture.

 

Choosing Pepco

Pepco’s biggest focus is on their customer’s satisfaction. If you’re not happy, they’re not happy. When are you not happy with your energy supplier? Probably when you’re electricity is out! Pepco’s lines need to be reliable from start to finish. If Pepco’s lines are down, your electric is out. From December 2011 to December 2012, they worked diligently to improve feeders, trimmed trees, and replaced servicing cables to work more efficiently and safely. Since this time, they have reported that their average number of outages per customer decreased by 30%. That’s customer service!

 

Termination Fees

As with a lot of the energy companies, there are fees associated with everything. When switching, it’s important to look at termination fees, early cancellation fees, and the like. Sometimes, these can add up to over $200! Pepco has a catch, though: you are charged separately for supplying the electricity and distributing the electricity to your home. In most cases, switching your supplier means you keep your distributor (BGE for Maryland Customers). Pepco works as both a supplier and distributor, which means your bills will come from Pepco. This will not be a new fee as BGE offers a similar charge for distribution.

So if you’re looking to switch energy suppliers, check out the pricings, and consider Pepco as a potential supplier and distributor. If you’d like to compare Pepco to other suppliers, visit: https://www.pointclickswitch.com/ and use our comparison tool. Contact us with any questions or concerns and we’ll be happy to address them.

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Supplier Profile: Horizon Power & Light

Posted by on September 10, 2013

Horizon Power & Light is an electricity provider throughout the Northeast that is particularly known for their fixed rate programs and customer service.

 

Low Price Energy

Horizon Power & Light is an electricity supplier that services for Maryland, DC, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Most of us check the price before anything else, so we’ll cut straight to it to save you time: PEPCO’s current rate is about $0.0964 per kWh compared to Horizon’s current rate of $0.0873 per kWh. In pure numbers, Horizon’s rates are saving you anywhere between $36 and $130 per year just by switching from PEPCO. Horizon is a company that stays focused on providing its customers with the most reliable electricity. However, perform your research before switching to any alternative energy company because there may be hidden fees and variable rates.

 

Choosing Horizon Power & Light

Horizon Power & Light is available for homes and businesses alike to switch to using the energy deregulation bill passed by the government. Deregulation now allows for you to choose your electricity provider to encourage competition among companies and to allow for various pricing and marketing methods. Originally, utility companies provided the electricity for you and delivered it themselves; however, now you can switch to another supplier such as Horizon as the source of your electricity. Horizon’s goal is to give their customers affordable contracts that are easy to understand with exceptional customer service.

Taking a quick look around the Web at customer reviews of Horizon will show you that they do what they say they do: they provide low priced electricity with great customer service throughout the switching process. After switching, you will not use Horizon for any problems related to the delivery of electricity to your home, unless it was cut off by Horizon. For these types of problems, you should contact your utility provider, which is still the company that delivers your energy bill to you each month.

 

Hidden Fees

If you switch to Horizon and do not switch away, you will have no issues with their service. If you do decide you don’t like or want Horizon for whatever reason, there is a $150 cancellation fee that most companies in DC seem to be following, with the exception of Nextera Energy. Their contract is a 1 year (12 months) fixed rate, which you will need to renew at the end of the cycle. Horizon will remind you to renew the contract a few days before the end date as a courtesy.

 

Switching Energy Suppliers

If you are a resident or business in DC and are interested in Horizon Power & Light, we at Point Click Switch are ready to switch you over from your current provider and save you money on your monthly energy bill. If you want more information on the options available in Illinois, compare energy rates between the various companies and find all of the basic money saving facts for you to use in making your decision. Once you decide on a company, fill out a quick 5 minute form and that’s it! We do the rest, absolutely free. If you have questions on energy deregulation or switching energy suppliers in general, contact us.

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Who is My Gas Supplier?

Posted by on August 27, 2013

If you’ve recently moved in, or have never really paid attention, you may not even know who your gas supplier is, but there are ways to find out. In most cases, your gas supplier will be the same as your electric supplier, which you can find on the top of your statement each month from that company. For most Baltimore residents, your supplier is BGE, the default for all residents. For most DC residents, Washington Gas is likely your supplier. But what is the current rate you are paying for these companies, and is it really the best deal out there? A quick look at our Switch Now page can answer all your questions regarding pricings, but it’s almost guaranteed that your default supplier is also the most expensive one. The reason is simple: most people don’t even know you can switch!

 

Switching Gas Suppliers

Most residents are concerned about how much they are paying for their gas and electric and feel like they are being taken advantage of by their company. Unfortunately this is usually the case, but there are other options out there for you to switch to. On average, you’ll be saving hundreds of dollars per year just by taking 5 minutes to fill out a simple form for free. For example, residents in Maryland who switch from BGE to Castlebridge Energy Group for electricity save an average of $225-$830 per year. Switching gas suppliers, as with electric suppliers, can be risky. Always research the plan you want to switch to before switching, so that you know what your prices will be, and what the program you’re signing up for really is. Take note of cancellation fees, deadlines, and of course the savings!

 

How Do I Switch Gas Suppliers?

If you’re interested in switching your gas supplier, or just interested in comparing the current rates, visit our Switch Now page. Here you’ll find 4 drop down menus. Fill out the options that match what you want to compare, and click the compare now button. We’ll provide you with your current rate, and other competitors’ rates and plans right there. Once you choose your supplier, click the switch now button on the appropriate company and fill out a short form; leave the rest to us! If you have any problems feel free to contact us.

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World Energy Consumption

Posted by on August 20, 2013

There are over 7 billion people in the entire world, and rising. Each of us use loads of energy each year, and in some cases we don’t even think about it. The average U.S. household uses somewhere around 1000kWh per month. For a reference, 1kWh can power 15 days of cell phone usage, so only 2kWh are technically needed for your cell phone per month. With 7 billion people in the world, what is the total world energy consumption?

 

World Energy Consumption Statistics

World energy consumption, according to the EIA was 524 quadrillion BTU in 2010. Never heard of a quadrillion before? Well, after the billion is the trillion, and then there’s the quadrillion; that’s 524,000,000,000,000,000 BTU all written out. One BTU (British Thermal Unit) is needed to cool/heat 1 pound of water by 1ºF. That’s a lot of energy usage! How much of that belongs to the U.S.? About 19%: 99 quadrillion BTU. Breaking it down even further, that’s an average of just under 2 quadrillion BTU per state, provided that we use the exact amount of energy in each state.

 

Individual Energy Consumption

Many people look at this number in awe and wonder how that could even be possible. Who uses all of this energy? The answer is simple, yet shocking: we do! In 2010, we used an average of 74 million BTU…per person. However, in 2011 we spiked up to 312 million BTU per person, and have been rising ever since. (2012 statistics are currently unavailable from the EIA) However, the word “consumption” does not include biomass fuels. “Consumption includes only coal, electricity, natural gas, and petroleum fuels” – EIA.

 

Future Projections

On July 25 of this year, the EIA released some predictions of energy consumption for the future. If our current trends continue (which is likely), our world energy consumption will increase by 56% between 2010 and 2040. In their predictions, “world energy use rises from 524 quadrillion Btu in 2010 to 630 quadrillion Btu in 2020 and to 820 quadrillion Btu in 2040” – EIA. Fossil fuels still account for about 80% of total energy production, but renewable energy and nuclear power methods are increasing by about 2.5% more each year.

 

Renewable Energy

Switching to a renewable energy supplier will no doubt help keep our planet healthier and livable. 312 million BTU per person could be generated in a greener fashion. There are many methods of energy production available, and there’s a supplier near you that uses some of these earth-friendly methods. Green methods to produce energy include: solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, and tidal.

 

Switching Suppliers

Do you live in MD, DC, or IL? Sound like something you’d be interested in? Then compare your electricity rates and switch to a new energy supplier today!

For more statistics and studies on world energy consumption, visit the EIA: https://www.eia.gov/.

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Supplier Profile: Spark Energy

Posted by on July 25, 2013

Spark Energy is a nation-wide provider of low-cost electricity and natural gas offering significant savings to homes and businesses from California to New York.

Founded in 1999, Spark Energy was one of the early pioneers in the retail energy business since the deregulation of energy providers.

 

Low Price Energy

 

Spark Energy uses its buying power and expert knowledge of energy markets to purchase electricity and natural gas at very competitive prices, and then they pass the saving onto customers, like you. As a company, they not only offer a 12 or 24 month fixed price on energy, but they also offer consumers knowledgeable tips on energy conservation that lower the energy bill. In addition to saving you money, Spark Energy also supports numerous charities within the consumer’s community. Spark Energy is a company that is concerned with the growing need for energy conservation and the needs of communities across the nation.

Choosing Spark Energy

 

Spark Energy has tailored our business to consistently deliver low energy rates, quality products, and unbeatable customer service. Spark Energy ensures that the switch from your current provider isn’t complicated because they handle everything.

 

Today, they continue to leverage the extensive energy experience of our executive team to deliver lower energy costs, a better customer experience and support for the communities they serve. That foundation of savings, service and support is what has allowed them to remain strong and stable during the tough times and thrive during the good.

Termination Fee

 

Spark Energy offers low pricing on kWh and a 12 month or 24 month fixed rate. There is one fee that is required. If you try Spark Energy and feel that it is not the company for you, there is a $100 termination fee – which is subject to change depending on the area in which you live.

 

So if you’re looking to switch energy suppliers, check out the pricings, and consider Spark Energy as a potential supplier. If you’d like to compare Spark Energy to other suppliers, visit: https://www.pointclickswitch.com/.

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Supplier Profile: Clean Currents

Posted by on July 22, 2013

Since 2005, Clean Currents has helped 10,000 individuals and 3,000 businesses make the switch to wind power in Maryland, DC and Pennsylvania. We’ve also donated over $20,000 to community greening projects through our award winning Green Neighborhood Challenge program.

 

Lower Price Energy

 

Clean Currents offers the most eco-friendly energy possible by harnessing wind power – an energy source that is never depleted – to give consumers the best pricing available. Being only in the energy market for 8 years, Clean Currents is one of the younger energy supplying companies available to consumers, but it offers many advantages. Clean Currents offers the most affordable green power in the region, and with green energy, it reduces many of the negative impacts other forms of energy can emit into the ecosystem.

Choosing Clean Currents

 

Choosing Clean Currents as your electricity provider is one of the easiest things you can do to help reduce your business or home’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. And you’ll see a positive impact on your bottom line by building brand value around your sustainable choices. By choosing 100% Clean Currents wind power at home or business, you are actively supporting domestic renewable energy development. Your wallet will thank you, too!

Termination Fees

 

Clean Currents offers low pricing on kWh and a 12 or 24 month fixed rate. There is one fee that is required. If you try Clean Currents and feel that it is not the company for you, there is a $150 termination fee – which is subject to change depending on the area in which you live.
Many other energy-supplying companies offer fixed rates and do not have a termination fee, but Clean Currents offers you a source of green energy reducing your carbon emissions, exceptional customer service that listens to all its consumers and cares, and community engagement where they show up at local events, roll up their sleeves, and help build a greener community.

So if you’re looking to switch energy suppliers, check out the pricings, and consider Clean Currents as a potential supplier. If you’d like to compare Clean Currents to other suppliers, visit: https://www.pointclickswitch.com/.

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