Jim, at least in NY, we have a choice of providers. We have to choose one (or default to our existing provider) at the end of each year. The utility companies own the wires but you contract with them or a different company to provide the electricity (we have a same deal with the gas). There are several options with fixed and variable rate pricing. Its extremely confusing and I doubt most consumers understand this enough to make intelligent choices. We are bombarded by 5-6 companies who want to sell us electricity and it takes much research (which most people don't do) to determine who is the cheapest and best choice. In our case here the local company, Rochester Gas and Electric, will sell you electricity on their wires, you can contract with a non regulated company that they actually own, or a number of other non regulated companies. You can also even buy 'clean' electricity which means it comes from wind farms and such. How they get those wind electrons vs. the nuclear or coal electrons to your specific house is beyond me.
At least this is how I understand it, and I don't really understand it that well. I figured it was l like this elsewhere in the States but i guess not. Your lucky. -- "Go for a Metric America" Howard Ressel Project Design Engineer, Region 4 (585) 272-3372 >>> On 9/21/2009 at 11:25 AM, in message <4ab79acd.9090...@metricmethods.com>, "James R. Frysinger" <j...@metricmethods.com> wrote: > First of all, I'm changing the subject line. > > Second, John has said something here that intrigues me. How do you go > about changing your provider of electrical energy, John? Do you have to > connect your house to a different set of distribution wires? Or, if you > keep the connection the same, who owns the wires you're connected to and > how are they reimbursed for their use? > > In the U.S., one has no choice in provider. Only one company's wires > pass down the street and one must buy from them. The companies buy and > sell electrical energy amongst themselves under regulations established > by regional authorities. > > Indeed, the Cap and Trade bill in our Congress at this time would > require companies to generate or purchase a certain percentage of the > electrical energy they distribute from "green" sources, which in fact > might not be directly attached to their transmission grid. > > Jim > > John Frewen-Lord wrote: >> In the UK (and Oz will use broadly similar terminology), electricity >> comes from things we call 'power stations'. My electricity is supplied >> by Scottish Power (and no, I don't live in Scotland, they are just the >> provider - I can choose between any number of providers)....
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