Electric Supplier Rate Shopping in MA

[d0gerz]

Hello, wanted to see what experience people have with rate shopping in MA. I'm looking at options at this website:
https://www.energyswitchma.gov/#/

Is it just a question of picking the cheapest option with no cancellation fees? In my case this is for a 6-month contract after which it says it will switch to a variable rate. The price difference is huge. Right now I have Eversource as supplier and paying 25.776 cents/kWh (through July 2023). The cheapest option is 11.97 cents/kWH for 6 months.

Just want to understand any pitfalls with this. E.g. can I switch now and then repeat this process again in 6 months? There are options for longer term contracts though obviously you pay more for a longer rate guarantee.

[anon_investor]

Hello, wanted to see what experience people have with rate shopping in MA. I'm looking at options at this website:
https://www.energyswitchma.gov/#/

Is it just a question of picking the cheapest option with no cancellation fees? In my case this is for a 6-month contract after which it says it will switch to a variable rate. The price difference is huge. Right now I have Eversource as supplier and paying 25.776 cents/kWh (through July 2023). The cheapest option is 11.97 cents/kWH for 6 months.

Just want to understand any pitfalls with this. E.g. can I switch now and then repeat this process again in 6 months? There are options for longer term contracts though obviously you pay more for a longer rate guarantee.

You might want to check how long it takes to switch suppliers, sometimes it can take a few billing cycles.

[d0gerz]

Hello, wanted to see what experience people have with rate shopping in MA. I'm looking at options at this website:
https://www.energyswitchma.gov/#/

Is it just a question of picking the cheapest option with no cancellation fees? In my case this is for a 6-month contract after which it says it will switch to a variable rate. The price difference is huge. Right now I have Eversource as supplier and paying 25.776 cents/kWh (through July 2023). The cheapest option is 11.97 cents/kWH for 6 months.

Just want to understand any pitfalls with this. E.g. can I switch now and then repeat this process again in 6 months? There are options for longer term contracts though obviously you pay more for a longer rate guarantee.

You might want to check how long it takes to switch suppliers, sometimes it can take a few billing cycles.

Thanks. Is that something the potential new supplier will control or the existing?

[anon_investor]

Hello, wanted to see what experience people have with rate shopping in MA. I'm looking at options at this website:
https://www.energyswitchma.gov/#/

Is it just a question of picking the cheapest option with no cancellation fees? In my case this is for a 6-month contract after which it says it will switch to a variable rate. The price difference is huge. Right now I have Eversource as supplier and paying 25.776 cents/kWh (through July 2023). The cheapest option is 11.97 cents/kWH for 6 months.

Just want to understand any pitfalls with this. E.g. can I switch now and then repeat this process again in 6 months? There are options for longer term contracts though obviously you pay more for a longer rate guarantee.

You might want to check how long it takes to switch suppliers, sometimes it can take a few billing cycles.

Thanks. Is that something the potential new supplier will control or the existing?

That would probably be the Eversource, since they would still be delivering the electricity. I assume they wouldn't beable to change the supplier any sooner than your next meter reading, but read the fine print, I bet they say something along the lines of it may take a certain number of cycles to switch. So you should be aware of that lag, and make sure to line up a new supplier before that 6 months ends. It might be worth it to regularly monitor the rates and sign up for a new contract when you see a good one. Do you know what the Eversource rate will be after July?

OP from that website's FAQ:
https://www.energyswitchma.gov/#/faq/re ... dmarketfaq

If I purchase a competitive supply product, how long will it take before I start receiving my supply from the competitive supplier?
You should start receiving supply service from the competitive supplier on your next meter read date. In some instances, it may be in two billing cycles.

[campy2010]

Some towns have community electric programs that are usually consistently the lowest price. The non-community plans are borderline scams because they operate like internet providers with low teaser rates banking on you forgetting to switch. Anyway, the Eversources rates will go down by about 50% for the summer on July 1 to something like 17-18 cents/kWh so staying put until rates go up for winter might be the best option.

[anon_investor]

Some towns have community electric programs that are usually consistently the lowest price. The non-community plans are borderline scams because they operate like internet providers with low teaser rates banking on you forgetting to switch. Anyway, the Eversources rates will go down by about 50% for the summer on July 1 to something like 17-18 cents/kWh so staying put until rates go up for winter might be the best option.

The OP seems to have found something around 11-12 cents/kWh, wouldn't that be much better than 17-18 cent/kWh, especially since it would cover the summer months when presumbably electricity consumption would be the highest? As long as the OP can remember to get a new contract or switch back to Eversource before the contract ends, the OP will be better off.

[Jack FFR1846]

I'm with Eversource and my rate was 45.6 cents per kWh total. I switched 3 months ago to a supplier who has NO contract so I can change anytime. It took 2 or 3 billing cycles to see the switch on my bill and it is now 28 cents per kWh. Eversource still sends the bill with the new company listed as the generator. I pay the exact same way, auto through my checking account. I did get an email from Eversource saying that they are dropping their rate sometime soon. For me, the upcoming AC season is when we're charged the most.

[anon_investor]

I'm with Eversource and my rate was 45.6 cents per kWh total. I switched 3 months ago to a supplier who has NO contract so I can change anytime. It took 2 or 3 billing cycles to see the switch on my bill and it is now 28 cents per kWh. Eversource still sends the bill with the new company listed as the generator. I pay the exact same way, auto through my checking account. I did get an email from Eversource saying that they are dropping their rate sometime soon. For me, the upcoming AC season is when we're charged the most.

The OP mentioned no cancellation fee contracts, if the locked in rate was good, wouldn't that be better?