If you're new to (or moving to) a deregulated state, shopping for utilities like natural gas and electricity can seem daunting. While many of these natural gas companies offer quality service and exciting perks, they don't offer a lot of information upfront. So here are a few things to consider while you shop around.
Plan length
Consider how long you'll be staying at this new address. Many of these natural gas providers offer short and long-term service as well as fixed or flexible rates. If you're switching gas service to a more permanent address, we recommend aiming for a fixed long-term plan. This means you're locked into service for a year or more, but your price won't change with fluctuations in the energy market.
Your natural gas usage
Most natural gas services offer fixed-rate or variable-rate plans. Depending on the size of your home and your natural gas usage, one might be better for you than the other. Smaller homes that use less energy might be better off with variable-rate plans, while fixed-rate is best for larger homes and higher energy use. The former may fluctuate from month to month, but you aren't locked into a contract. And fixed-rate plans keep the price steady throughout the length of that contract.
Extra perks
With all the competition in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio, natural gas companies work hard to stand out.
Many natural gas providers use renewable resources like biogas from landfills or offer a carbon offset program for energy use. We also came across rebates or gift cards for customers and customer service extras for those who stay a year or longer.