Is Centerpoint the only game in town for gas? (bill, rating)

[usc619]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

Ya we are so lucky to get to pay higher prices for our electricity for the privilege of being billed by a different entity than who controls all the generation and transmission capacity.

Yea I agree, his comment also left me scratching my head lol

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

Ya we are so lucky to get to pay higher prices for our electricity for the privilege of being billed by a different entity than who controls all the generation and transmission capacity.

Actually I really hate this deregulation since it only fosters fly-by-night companies. There is another thread about a company that lost its license, not answering the phones, and almost everyone is being switched to a provider of last resort. Some lucky people got word about a deadline to switch but were concerned about an early termination fee even in this extraordinary event (unless you were within 2 weeks of the contract expiring).

My mom had a bill credit with National Power Company a few years ago just at the time they went under. Nobody answered the phones and she got switched to high-rate Reliant as a Provider of Last Resort. We looked at the Public Utilities website (exactly like the Health Insurance Exchange under Obamacare™ that Perry refuses to set up) and found Brilliant. Hopefully we don't get to experience the same thing again!

[HoustonRonnie]

I've never had one problem with Centerpoint and with gas prices (spot) so low, my gas bill barely hits my radar screen.

Ronnie

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by HoustonRonnie

I've never had one problem with Centerpoint and with gas prices (spot) so low, my gas bill barely hits my radar screen.

Ronnie

This. Times 1000.

Plus my generator is hooked up to NG, so when the next Ike hits, Ima be keeping cool thanks to Centerpoint.

[piyf]

I wish there were more choices for ACTUAL providers but like others my bill is so low I don't care about it at this time. I do have a gas stove, oven and furnace but it's usually less than 30 bucks a month.

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by danieloneil01

I wish there were more choices for ACTUAL providers but like others my bill is so low I don't care about it at this time. I do have a gas stove, oven and furnace but it's usually less than 30 bucks a month.

Competition is always good. The challenge we would face is the infrastructure. Do you let a 2nd company dig & lay gas pipelines? If not, then it's not really competition, it's what we have with elec--one company owns the wires, and the only competition is who do you pretend to buy juice from.

And as has been proven here in Texas, this leads to higher prices, not lower.

It seems in some areas, and utilities appears to be one, guv regulated monopoly may not be so bad.

[bamba_boy]

You could by little bottles of propane from the hardware store. :-(

[Ericct0914]

I truly hate counterpoint. I have a 6 month old baby and my gas was cut off one day before it was schedule to be shut off, now I'm going a weekend with no gas or hot water. This company has no humanity at all.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Ericct0914

I truly hate counterpoint. I have a 6 month old baby and my gas was cut off one day before it was schedule to be shut off, now I'm going a weekend with no gas or hot water. This company has no humanity at all.

If you don't pay your bill, your gas gets shut off. The notices I've seen all say that shut off occurs on or before the date given, and will be without notice. It's not a matter of humanity, it's a matter of you not paying your bill for a couple of months - gas doesn't get cut off because you were a week late. As a parent, you have a responsibility to do whatever it takes to ensure your baby has its needs covered. Utilities need to be paid before you spend on other stuff.

[LonghornHotspur]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

Ya we are so lucky to get to pay higher prices for our electricity for the privilege of being billed by a different entity than who controls all the generation and transmission capacity.

This. Add to the mix the gaming of price plans to present favorably on power to choose (hmm, rate per kWh is so much lower for 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh than 501, 1001, and 2001....wonder why?) it's clear that the TX dereg plan was a giveaway to the industry rather than a consumer friendly measure.

Our cheap rates are due to being blessed with all the natty we can handle in the PB rather than our half-assed dereg scheme.