Who do you use as your electricity supplier?

Submitted by supercowmn t3_126ldx9 in Maine

I am shopping around to get a better energy supply rate than the standard PUC and was curious what you all use. The websites for these companies sound all great and hopeful about saving money, but they only quote you the initial rate (usually 6-12 months). Does anyone know what typically happens to those rates after?

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New_Sun6390 t1_je9zfxi wrote

Replying to ZealousidealTreat139 (#2,484,363)

>The local cartel. (CMP

For the zillionth time:

CMP is NOT your electricity supplier.

Standard Offer comes from New Brunswick Power and NextEra; CMP simply bills on their behalf and sends the money you pay along to them. The MPUC arranges standard offer thru a bidding process. CMP gets no revenue or benefit from standard offer.

CMP is not a cartel; it is a utility regulated by the MPUC. They do their best to provide reliable delivery service at a reasonable price. They are not perfect but they do what they can within the rules and laws that govern them.

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ObviouslyFunded t1_jeajnnt wrote

I subscribe to a solar farm through https://powermarket.io and the rates seem better than the standard offer (they are supposed to be 15% lower, seems about right.) Only challenges: getting a spot in one, and the fact that they bill you as the power is produced and the power “banks” for future use. So I get high bills in the summer and almost nothing in the winter. But it all works out. And it seems fairly real that I am actually buying solar power for my use (albeit indirectly.)

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No_Landscape4557 t1_jeareu6 wrote

There are hundreds of stories out there of people who sign up with these companies then after the introductory rate period is over it automatically locks you into another year long contract at double the price because you “forgot to cancel”. They are basically walking scams and use people hate and lack of understanding to prey on people.

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ZingZongZaddy t1_jeb3iad wrote

> Does anyone know what typically happens to those rates after?

They skyrocket. What do you think their plan is? If you're going to shop around be prepared to keep shopping, and keep an eye on the calendar.

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Longjumping_West_907 t1_jeblvx6 wrote

The standard offer is a pretty good deal. Alternative suppliers have been known to publicly complain that they can't compete with it. Like it's not fair to them. AFAIK the only ways to beat it are a solar system or a subscription to a community solar project.

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New_Sun6390 t1_jebmcpp wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,498,177)

So many inaccuracies here it is hard to know where to start.

I have spent much time on these threads trying to spread the FACT that CMP has zero control over electricity supply prices. This has been the case since the State of Maine passed a law to restructure the industry in 2000.

The state seizing $13 billion in power grid assets from CMP and Versant (and passing those costs, plus interest, along to customers) will do NOTHING to change supply costs. Absolutely NOTHING. The suppliers will continue to gouge customers because the state utility still will not own any supply.

CMP is by no means perfect, but forcing customers to pay $13 BILLION plus legal costs for assets that are not for sale will not improve the situation. At. All.

Please educate yourself on the actual facts.

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