Energy Choice - New York

In order for energy suppliers to adequately plan for your supply needs, they'll need to know how much energy you typically use at different times of the year. You'll also need this information if you want to calculate and compare savings.

You can easily access this usage information by viewing your billing history in My Account or by submitting an online request for a free Energy Shopping Kit that includes a two-year history of your energy usage

Find the energy suppliers that serve your market. We maintain an up-to-date list of all independent, non-regulations

The New York State Public Service Commission publishes the ESCO Residential Complaint Rate Scorecard, which reflects residential customer complaint rates for ESCOs that serve at least 1,000 customers in New York State. The rates are based on complaints received, whether or not the ESCO was determined to be at fault or adequately resolved the consumer's complaint.

You'll need to know the monthly market price that PCL&P charges for your gas and electric supply, plus any applicable taxes. This combined charge is called our Price to Compare. You should compare that amount to what alternate suppliers offer.

For electricity, charges are listed in cost per kilowatt hour ($/kWh); for natural gas, they are figured in cost per hundred cubic feet ($/ccf). The difference between an alternate supplier's price and PCL&P's Price to Compare, in either kWh or ccf charges, will be the amount of savings per energy unit.

You can get an idea of potential savings by comparing PCL&P's monthly Price to Compare figures with what an alternate supplier would have charged during those same months. By multiplying the price difference with your usage for each of those months, you can calculate what your savings would have been. Our New Jersey electric customers will find the Rockland Electric Price to Compare listed on their monthly full service energy bill.

Electric Supply Example:
PCL&P's Price to Compare: $0.0828 kWh
Subtract alternate supplier's price: -$0.0761 kWh

Equals price difference: $0.0067 kWh
Multiply electric usage for month: x562 kWh

Equals estimated savings for month: $3.77
(To determine savings on gas supply costs, use the same formula, but substitute kWh with ccf charges and usage.)

Some alternate suppliers now offer to sell electricity produced by environmentally friendly methods, such as wind, solar or hydropower generation. This option may cost more than energy from traditional power sources. While shopping for an alternate supplier, you should ask about their green power programs.

As you shop by phone or online, don't hesitate to ask questions and make sure you're comfortable with how they're answered. As a consumer, you're entitled to all the information you need to make the decision that's right for you.

Here are some questions you may want to ask a supplier:Prices

• Is the price fixed or variable?
• If it's fixed, is it guaranteed?
• Does the price include taxes? For comparison, PCL&P Price to Compare includes estimated taxes. Rockland Electric's Price to Compare also includes estimated taxes.

Terms and Conditions

• What are the terms and conditions of the agreement?
• Will these be provided in writing?
• How long is the agreement?
• Are there penalties for breaking the agreement?
• Is a deposit required? Under the New York Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2002, energy suppliers in New York are barred from requiring security deposits unless a consumer has a history of delinquent payments.
• Can I change price options later on?
• Is there automatic renewal on the agreement?
• Are there additional fees not included in the price quote? Your supplier will be penalized by PCL&P for any supply shortage, so be sure your agreement does not make you ultimately responsible for payment of those penalty fees.

Customer Service

• What are the office hours?
• What is the complaint-handling process?
• Are there toll-free numbers?

Energy Options

• Are environmentally friendly generation sources such as solar, wind, or hydro power available?

If you decide to buy your electricity or natural gas from a supplier other than PCL&P, the supplier you select will ask for your PCL&P account number. Please understand that by providing your account number to the supplier you are authorizing PCL&P to switch you to the supplier of your choice.

Whether you switch to an alternate supplier or stay with PCL&P:

• PCL&P will continue to always deliver your electricity and natural gas through our pipes and wires.
• We will continue to always be responsible for responding to power outage and gas emergency calls.
• We will still be responsible for maintaining the safety and reliability of our system.
• In virtually all cases, we will continue to do the billing.
  We will continue to read your meter and provide customer services.

After you give your 10-digit PCL&P account number to the supplier of your choice, the supplier will work with PCL&P to coordinate your energy needs.

You'll soon get a letter from PCL&P confirming that you're being switched to a new gas or electric supplier and advising what date you will commence service from the supplier.

The letter also will let you know that you have five days to contact PCL&P if you want to cancel your switch to a different supplier - in case you've changed you mind. PCL&P charges no fees to switch suppliers.