Buffalo Electricity Rates
Contents
- 1 Buffalo Electricity Rates
- 2 Buffalo Utility Companies
- 3 Buffalo Power Outages
- 4 Buffalo Energy Choice
- 5 Understanding the Electric Bill
- 6 Choosing an Electric Supplier
- 7 What is the Price to Compare?
- 8 Do you Have 100% Renewable Energy?
- 9 How Much is the Early Cancellation Fee?
- 10 Are There Hidden Charges?
- 11 What Happens at the End of my Term?
- 12 View by City
- 13 Clean Energy
- 14 Electricity Rates
The city of Buffalo, NY is located in a deregulated electricity market. Thanks to the Competitive Opportunities Case passed in 1996, New York utility companies no longer have a monopoly over the generation or supply of power. Residents can now choose an alternate electric supplier and lower the supply rate on the electric bill. Buffalo electricity rates have become more competitive since New York took the steps to deregulate the electricity market. The introduction of more energy suppliers has helped push down energy prices and given more options to residents when it comes to choosing an energy plan.
The city of Buffalo is located in the northeastern part of New York and has a population of just over 250,000. Given the geographical location, the city is subject to harsh winters and receives an annual snowfall of over 90 inches annually. These cold winters can see a spike in energy prices as supply tries to meet demand.
Buffalo Utility Companies
The main responsibility of the utility companies is to maintain the power lines that deliver electricity to their customers. If you’re planning on moving to Buffalo, then you will need to set up an electricity account with National Grid. National Grid is the utility company that serves the Buffalo service area.
Buffalo Power Outages
National Grid is responsible for fixing all power outages within its service area. If you recently changed electric suppliers and experience a power outage, then you will need to contact National Grid. Thanks to advancements in technology, potential power outages can be detected and diverted before they can occur.
- National Grid Power Outage Number: 1-800-867-5222
- National Grid Customer Contact Number: 1-800-642-4272
Buffalo Energy Choice
New York joined a growing list of states that have deregulated the electricity market when it passed the Competitive Opportunities Case. The act unbundled the responsibilities of the utility companies and opened the door for competing energy suppliers to offer generation or supply services to residents of New York. The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) requires the utility companies to act as the supplier of last resort for customers that decide not to switch energy suppliers.
Understanding the Electric Bill
The electric bill has two main sections that include the delivery and supply charges. Knowing the difference can help you understand the savings when shopping for a new energy plan.
- Delivery Charge – The delivery charge is the regulated section of the electric bill and represents the cost of the utility companies to deliver power to their customers. This charge is overseen by the New York Public Service Commission (PSC). A customer cannot switch utility companies for delivery services.
- Supply Charge – The supply charge is the deregulated section of the electric bill and represents the cost of generating the power the customer is estimated to use during a period. Deregulated electricity markets allow residents to switch energy suppliers to lower the supply rate on the electric bill.
Choosing an Electric Supplier
If you live in Buffalo then take advantage of lower electricity rates! With so many energy suppliers offering energy plans how do you know which one is right for you? Selecting the right energy supplier is mostly based on individual preferences. Most customers want to lock in the lowest rate possible. However, some customers are willing to pay a little more for an energy company offering 100% renewable energy. Below are a few questions to keep in mind while shopping for energy plans.
What is the Price to Compare?
National Grid is required to provide a default rate for supply services to customers that decide not to switch electric suppliers. The default rate is commonly referred to as the price to compare. If an energy supplier is offering a supply rate that is lower than the price to compare, then the customer will be saving money by switching to the new supplier.
Do you Have 100% Renewable Energy?
If you’re looking to go green, then you want to find an energy plan that is 100% renewable. Renewable energy generates power from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower.
How Much is the Early Cancellation Fee?
Most energy suppliers will charge their customers an early cancellation fee if they change electric suppliers before the expiration of the term. Early cancellation fees will be listed in the terms and conditions of the energy plan. These fees can cost up to $300 so be sure you are not subject to an early cancellation fee before changing electric suppliers.
Are There Hidden Charges?
If an electric supplier is offering a supply rate that looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Most energy plans that contain super low rates most always have additional charges. The most common charge is the monthly base charge fee. These additional fees can make the energy plan more expensive. The customer needs to read the terms and conditional to understand all additional charges.
What Happens at the End of my Term?
If the customer takes no action at the end of the energy plan, then most energy suppliers will switch the customer to a monthly variable rate. Once this happens don’t be surprised to have the electric bill double or even triple in a single billing period. We recommend shopping for a new energy plan a month before the term expires.
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