Any tips on YEP energy / SPARK Energy / Stream Energy ? 13.8 / 14.5 / 14.9 per month respectively Variable

[StarSean]

Gexa got us, too. Shot up to .22 last summer and we had a $500 bill in our 2400 sq ft house. We switched to Amigo Energy and locked in around .12 for 6 months. We have been happy so far. We are new to this switching power company thing and did a short contract to start. We'll go for a 12 month next time around and stick with Amigo if they offer something worthwhile.

[Aliana926]

My friends and I have been with Spark Energy for over 3 years now. We have been happy with it. Before your contract is over, they will send you an email and let you know and have you renew for a month, 6 months, or a year. If you're renewing your contract, they will give you a lower rate than new customers. This past summer, I did the monthly rate to wait for the 12 months rates to go lower. When it was at a good rate, I renewed for a year.

[tbl_texas]

Stream Energy has an 11.9 rate for 3 months - very competitive. When that period is near ending they will probably have a longer rate that is in line with everyone else.

[sbhubbell]

Anyone had any experience with StarTex energy? How about Dynowatt? How can you tell if a company is "secure" or not?

[davidtk]

I've been using Spark and have been very happy with them. I believe they require direct credit card billing (more cash on my rewards credit card!). To renew my contract, I simply had to log in and click to renew. Very simple. I've been using annual contracts with them at around 12-13 cents per KW.

[ahzzie]

Is the price per kwh based on market conditions or whatever the individual company wants to charge?

[Flowler]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Anyone had any experience with StarTex energy? How about Dynowatt? How can you tell if a company is "secure" or not?

Not sure why this isn't advertised or well-known, but check out Powertochoose.org. That site has rate comparisons by zip code as well as the most important tool when choosing: the complaint scorecard.

Customer Complaint Statistics

Based on that, we have been with Spark Energy for several years. They are one of the only five or so companies with the fewest complaints and lowest prices. Most of the other low price carriers have odd terms or lots of complaints. I figure they make their money by slamming or other trickery. Spark Energy seems to charge enough to turn a profit. And, they operate in several states, which makes me think they probably have enough capital to stick around for a while. I looked into starting a REP once, and I think all you need to start one is proof of $200k assets. Easier than getting a McDonald's franchise. And some of the REP's I called sound like they are run out of someone's spare room.

My $.02.

[wuffo]

Originally Posted by bowman33

DO NOT EVER CHOOSE YEP! They are terrible. They charged me $83 Energy Charge/Adjustment on top of my $0.28/kwh $106 bill this month. No explanation for the $83 is on the bill. What the heck is Energy Charge/Adjustment! They are crooks!

Hrmph, $0.28/kwh? What on earth did you sign up for to begin with? Damn, that's just the kind of bill that would make me slap myself for not asking these simple questions:

Questions to ask each provider:

What will I pay per "kilowatt hour" (kWh) of electricity based on 1,000 kWh of average monthly usage?

Does this rate include everything, including the electricity cost, the transmission and distribution charges, fuel charges, if any, as well as the monthly customer charge or other fees?

Is this offer a fixed rate offer or a variable rate offer? If it is a variable rate offer, how can it change and how do I find out when the rate will change?

Is there a contract and if so, how long is it for?

Is a deposit required and if so, how much?

What are my payment options?

What happens when my contract period expires?

What if I miss a payment?

Is there a penalty if I break the contract?