changing electric companies? (employment verification, credit check, payment, unemployed)

[marylee54]

I'm currently with TXU and their rates are sky-high! I want to change to another utility company.

Problem is I'm unemployed. Can I still change companies? Will they ask for employment verification? Maybe I could just put down my recent former employer, do they really check?

[marylee54]

bumping this up--people get electric without being employed, such as retirees, etc. I just wondered if they do a credit check, ask for employement, etc? Our credit is excellent and our payment history with utilities is perfect, so, would we have a hard time switching?

What TXU is charging us is ridiculous, about 17 cents KWH! I see companies for about 12 cents KWH, that would be at least $100-$200 month savings! Better than a PT job!

[NewJersey?]

I switched gas companies once and did not give any info like that. I'm guessing they won't ask you for an employer name. They just switched me. I think I had to go through my current power company to switch.


Fwiw. I switched back shortly afterwards. The cost had risen back up to about the same or more than my previous utlity's prices.