National Grid Utility Company
Contents
- 1 National Grid Utility Company
- 2 National Grid Power Outage
- 3 New York Energy Deregulation
- 4 National Grid Standard Service Rate
- 5 Understanding the Electric Bill
- 6 National Grid Renewable Energy
- 7 Choosing an Electric Supplier
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions
- 9 When Will the Switch Take Place?
- 10 Do you offer 100% Renewable Energy?
- 11 Are There Hidden Fees?
- 12 Is There an Early Cancellation Fee?
- 13 What Happens at the End of my Term?
- 14 New York Utilities
- 15 Clean Energy
- 16 Electricity Rates
National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned utility companies in the U.S., serving more than 20 million customers in New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The company is focused on transforming the way we generate power, moving towards cleaner, reliable, and resilient forms of energy that will reduce greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. National Grid service area covers the western and northern parts of New York. The main responsibility of the utility company is to maintain and manage the power lines that deliver electricity to its customers. Before energy deregulation, the utility companies had a monopoly over the generation, transmission, and delivery of power to customers within their respective service areas.
National Grid Power Outage
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 contact the utility company. Thanks to advancements in technology, potential power outages have a better chance of being detected and diverted before they can occur.
- National Grid Power Outage Contact Number: 1-800-867-5222
- National Grid Customer Contact Number: 1-800-642-4272
New York Energy Deregulation
New York residents that reside in the National Grid service area have the power to shop for an alternate electric supplier and lower the supply rate on the electric bill. New York is one of many states that took steps to deregulate the electricity market. In 1996, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) passed the Competitive Opportunities Case. The new legislation allowed outside energy suppliers to begin offering supply services to residents of New York. The utility company remains the supplier of last resort and is required to provide customers a standard service rate to those that decide not to switch energy suppliers.
National Grid Standard Service Rate
National Grid customers that do not switch to a competing electric supplier will be set up with a standard service rate for the supply charges on the electric bill. The standard service rate is a variable rate that changes throughout the year. This rate is often referred to as the price to compare. Customers can use the price to compare to determine savings while shopping for energy plans. If an electric 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 electric supplier.
Understanding the Electric Bill
The electric bill is split between two main charges that include the delivery and supply charge:
- Delivery Charge – The delivery charge represents the regulated section of the electric bill. This is the cost charged by the utility company to deliver the power to your home or business. This charge is overseen by the New York Public Service Commission. A customer will not be able to switch utility companies for the delivery services.
- Supply Charge – The supply charge represents the deregulated section of the electric bill. This is the cost charged by the electric supplier to generate the electricity the customer is estimated to use during a period. Thanks to energy deregulation, a customer can shop between electric suppliers for the lowest supply rate.
National Grid Renewable Energy
National Grid customers are eligible to install solar panels on their property and save money on the electric bill. One of the many benefits of installing solar panels is the ability to generate power from your place that then can be uploaded to the power grid. Not only will the power be generated from a renewable energy source, but the additional power can save the customer on the electric bill. National Grid has teamed up with EnergySage, one of the leading online marketplaces for shopping solar.
Choosing an Electric Supplier
One of the best ways to save money on the electric bill is by lowering the supply rate you pay for power generation. Customers that shop for a competitive electric supplier can save up to 20% or more! One of the many benefits of energy choice is having more options on the sources in which the power is generated and selecting the rate product type that best fits your needs. The most common rate products are fixed and variable rates.
Fixed rates are best for those with low-risk tolerance. If you don’t want to worry about the rate fluctuating every month, then this may be the best option for you. Fixed rates will protect the customer against a rising market. However, if prices drop, then you might be stuck paying a higher rate.
It is common for an energy supplier to offer a customer a low introductory variable rate. Unless the rate is tied to a specific commodity such as natural gas, variable rates tend to increase during the term. Most variable rates can change at the sole discretion of the energy supplier. Unlike fixed rates, most variable rate plans do not include an early cancellation fee allowing the customer to change electric suppliers at any time without having to pay a penalty.
With so many electric suppliers providing services in New York, how do you know which one is the best for you? This largely depends on the customer. There isn’t a universal energy supplier that is right for everyone. To help guide you in selecting the best energy supplier, below are a few common questions to keep in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Will the Switch Take Place?
When you sign up for a new energy supplier, the switch will take place on the next available meter read. A meter read cycle is usually every 30 days. If you just missed your meter read, then you will be switched over on the following month.
Do you offer 100% Renewable Energy?
More energy suppliers are offering their customers 100% renewable energy plans. These generate electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. Renewable energy certificates (RECs) can be purchased by the supplier to make up for any shortfall.
Are There Hidden Fees?
Electric suppliers that advertise low electricity rates may carry have hidden fees that can make the overall cost more expensive than you might think. A monthly base charge is a common fee that can be added to the rate. The terms and conditions will list all additional fees in the plan.
Is There an Early Cancellation Fee?
Most energy plans will include an early cancellation fee that will penalize the customer if they change electric suppliers before the expiration of the agreement. Early cancellation fees can come as a flat fee or a fixed price multiplied by how many months are left in the agreement. Early cancellation fees can cost the customer $300 or more so be sure you’re at the end of the agreement before shopping for a new plan.
What Happens at the End of my Term?
If you take no action at the end of your term, then expect the electric supplier to switch you over to a monthly variable rate. Once this happens don’t be surprised when the electric bill double or even triples in a single billing period! We recommend shopping for a new energy plan a month before the agreement expires.