Rochester Gas and Electric (RGE), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, is a utility company in New York that is responsible for maintaining the lines and wires to deliver power to nearly 400,000 electric customers. AVANGRID owns eight utility companies, serving over 2 million customers, in New York, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts. New York energy deregulation has unbundled the responsibilities of the utility companies and allowed outside energy suppliers to offer competing supply services to New Yorkers. Increasing the supply of competitors has helped push down energy prices in the state. Before energy deregulation, utility companies had a monopoly over the generation, transmission, and delivery of power within their respective utility companies.
Rochester Gas and Electric Power Outage
The main role of RGE is to maintain the power lines that deliver electricity from the company to its customers. If you’re living within the RGE service area and experience a power outage, then you will need to contact the utility company. The company is responsible for resolving all power issues within its service area.
- Rochester Gas and Electric Customer Contact Number: 1-800-743-1701
Rochester Gas and Electric Price to Compare
Rochester Gas and Electric is required to provide a basic service rate for supply services to customers that do not switch to an alternate electric supplier. The basic service rate changes throughout the year and is not fixed. This rate is often referred to as the price to compare. Customers that decide to shop for a competing energy supplier can use the price to compare to determine their savings. 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.
Rochester Gas and Electric Energy Efficiency
Are you tired of paying high bills? One way to lower the electric bill is by lowering the amount of power you consume. Making small changes around the house can help reduce the number of kilowatt-hours consumed which will lead to greater savings on the energy bill. RGE offers Smart Solutions to eligible customers that can help replace products with energy-efficient products.
- Smart Thermostat – RGE customers may be eligible for a $75 discount on selected smart thermostats. Smart thermostats have been estimated to save customers an additional 10% on heating costs and 15% on cooling costs.
- Showerheads – Changing a shower head with a 2.5 GPM flow rate with a 1.5 GPM flow rate can cut your water usage by 40%. Eligible RGE customers will receive discounts on water-saving showerheads.
- LED Lights – Changing your light bulbs to LED energy-efficient lights is known to significantly reduce your energy usage. LED energy-efficient lights have been shown to use 75% less energy and may last up to 20 times longer.
Choosing an Energy Plan
With so many electric suppliers providing services in New York, how do you know which one is right for you? The first step in selecting the right electric supplier is determining your risk tolerance. The most popular energy plans consist of fixed rates which protect the customers from higher prices during a rising market. However, if the market drops, then the customer might be stuck paying a higher rate.
Variable rates are another popular energy plan among customers. It’s not uncommon for an electric supplier to advertise a low introductory variable rate. However, most of these plans often see the rate increase throughout the term. If you select a variable rate and energy prices spike, then don’t be surprised to have the energy bill increase 200% or more! Most variable-rate plans do not carry an early cancellation fee allowing customers to change plans without receiving a penalty.
Another energy plan that is gaining popularity is the 100% renewable energy plan. 100% renewable energy plans generate power from renewable energy sources such as hydropower, solar, and wind power. Renewable energy sources are considered environmentally friendly compared to conventional methods of power generation such as oil and coal. However, a customer can expect to pay a high premium by choosing to go green. Generating power from sources such as solar and wind is more costly. These additional costs get passed onto the customer in the form of higher energy bills.
Some platforms can help you choose an affordable energy plan based on your individual preferences. Electric Rate Select strives to provide a platform that gives customers options and the confidence to choose the right electric supplier without the hidden costs. Speak to one of our energy advisors today to get started!
