Does it pay to switch natural gas suppliers? (live, cost)

[MTAtech]

NY State has the NaturalChoice Program that allows customers to switch natural gas suppliers from National Grid to someone else. You will still pay National Grid for delivery of the gas (the bulk of the cost these days) but be billed by a 3rd party supplier for the gas.

I got a call the other day from one of these suppliers that claimed I'd save 10% on the gas. I was wondering if anyone has experience with this and whether it pays to switch.

[rocafeller05]

Hmmm. Interesting. Seems like it would be more due to a mark up by National Grid. Or you can look at it the other way and say National Grid is ripping off us.

[MTAtech]

I don't know for sure whether National Grid is ripping off or not. That's why I'm asking whether anyone has any experience with other suppliers. The company that contacted me said that they would save me "up to" 10%. Given that supply is only 1/3 of the whole bill, is it worth it? Assuming that a typical winter gas bill is $200, that would make the supply portion $66. Ten percent of that is $6.60 -- and that's if I got 10% off. That "up to" phrase is what makes me suspicious.