Electric Company Disconnect Notice (Center, Point: power lines, utilities, live)

[Hopeful for Life]

I recently chose AMBIT ENERGY as my electric provider. Although the kWh charge does seem inexpensive (6 cents/kWh), I was surprised to see a $10 Disconnect charge on my first bill. The bill was due by the 25th, but received on the 26th by snail mail. According to the Cust “service” rep, this was not a late charge, but a “Disconnect notice” that was generated on the 26th. He then said that ALL electric providers charge this (which I find hard to believe). He then said that he could not waive the fee. When I asked him about cancelling, he told me about the $199 termination fee, which I did remember reading about in the initial contract. Is it true that ALL electric companies charge this disconnect fee? I’m saddened that he said that he couldn’t even waive it as a one time courtesy.

[huma281]

.06 seems incredibly low when prices have spiked this year. This might be their fee not including the delivery charges from centerpoint?

Btw, found this in my contract.

"Fees not included in the price above: Disconnect
Notice Fee: $10; Returned Payment Charge: $25;
Disconnect Recovery: $30; Service Processing Fee: up
to $5.95; Late Payment Penalty: 5% of past due
balances; Information on other non-recurring fees is
available in the pricing section of your Terms of
Service."

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by huma281

.06 seems incredibly low when prices have spiked this year. This might be their fee not including the delivery charges from centerpoint?

Btw, found this in my contract.

"Fees not included in the price above: Disconnect
Notice Fee: $10; Returned Payment Charge: $25;
Disconnect Recovery: $30; Service Processing Fee: up
to $5.95; Late Payment Penalty: 5% of past due
balances; Information on other non-recurring fees is
available in the pricing section of your Terms of
Service."

I think that you are right. Does Centerpoint have this “delivery charge” assessed to every electric provider? Same “delivery charge”? What happens when a subscriber receives electricity DIRECTLY from Centerpoint? Maybe I should try Solar and dump all of these gouges? This is all very new to me.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Hopelesscause

I think that you are right. Does Centerpoint have this “delivery charge” assessed to every electric provider? Same “delivery charge”? What happens when a subscriber receives electricity DIRECTLY from Centerpoint? Maybe I should try Solar and dump all of these gouges? This is all very new to me.

Centerpoint owns all of the power distribution network including the meters, and does not sell electricity. Centerpoint is a regulated utility, and the delivery rates are approved by the Public Utilities Commission. All customers of the various power generators pay the Centerpoint charge, since none of the generators own any power lines.

[ilikeme]

Originally Posted by Hopelesscause

I think that you are right. Does Centerpoint have this “delivery charge” assessed to every electric provider? Same “delivery charge”? What happens when a subscriber receives electricity DIRECTLY from Centerpoint? Maybe I should try Solar and dump all of these gouges? This is all very new to me.

If you are connected to the CenterPoint grid in any sort of way, you pay the delivery fee. Even if you have solar.