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Post by Bob Liu on Jun 7, 2024 17:43:47 GMT -6
You really don’t have much of a choice.
A 12-month plan will set you back to the current bad situation, same time next year. And they’ll be expensive for all 12 months.
If NEC is keeping the lowest rates next month, it will let you renew/continue (no “New Customers” only). Any moment you find a better choice, switch out without penalty.
The only downside is that if there's a sudden BIG rate hike, like two years ago. It’s unpredictable. You’ll know it, BEFORE your next month’s new rate starts. It gives you time to adjust. I’ll be watching out for you.
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Post by estela on Jun 10, 2024 7:24:49 GMT -6
Looks like I will also need to switch to NEC. One question, I have never sign up month-to-month variable rates. Say my contract starts on 15th, one month NEC fee $7.50 applied , what if I switch out middle of month 2 month later? So it would be middle of month 3, would I incur 7.50 at month 3 or prorated? It is hard to control when the new provider will actually starts is my past experience. Thanks
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Post by Bob Liu on Jun 10, 2024 13:12:23 GMT -6
I’m not sure. : ) This type of plan is a last resort, and I’ve rarely used it myself.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jun 10, 2024 14:01:55 GMT -6
I checked my old bills. Here’s one example that might answer the question. Revolution charged its “full” Base Charge $2. Oncor (TDU) charged “prorated” $0.42.
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Post by estela on Jun 10, 2024 20:12:01 GMT -6
Thanks Bob. Thus it seems will need to switch closer to end of term/month the best. Thank you again.
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Post by Yazdi on Jun 13, 2024 11:48:45 GMT -6
Hi Bob, thanks for putting all of this info together. The only issue I had a question about was the fact that prices all vary based on zip code. I am 75023 and am unable to find any plan that has lower than 15 cents/kwh for average billing on a 1000kwh usage. I can't even find an energy charge lower than 10 cents/kwh. I tried looking at your EFL listings, tried going to those companies websites and entering in my zip, but I can't find anything close to what you are listing. Am I doing something wrong here or are your suggestions based off a specific zip code that might be cheaper? You are SO right.. I am also in 75023 and nothing is less that 11c for energy charge
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Post by Bob Liu on Jun 14, 2024 21:08:43 GMT -6
IF there is a significant rate hike, it will most likely occur during the three months of summer. (Again, IF there is a significant rate hike.)
If you’re uncomfortable with month-to-month plans, Payless’s 3-month plans are available this week. However, their rates are much higher, so you'll need to decide if it's worth the gamble.
I’d wait and see. At least now you have more options from Payless.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jun 22, 2024 3:08:47 GMT -6
Chance of rotating power outages on nights with little wind communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/texas-legislature/2024/06/20/low-wind-high-demand-could-trigger-texas-power-grid-emergency-in-august/ “During the summer, the strain on the power grid is typically highest from 8-9 p.m., when more people are using electricity and less solar power is available. If wind power production is also low, ERCOT may ask Texans to reduce their energy use. The grid operator called for energy conservation 11 times last summer. This July, if wind is low, ERCOT projects about a 4.8% chance of a grid emergency and a 2.36% chance of rotating blackouts from 8-9 p.m. In August, those chances jump to 16.33% and 12.02%, respectively.”
communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/government/2024/05/23/what-to-know-about-texas-power-grid-ahead-of-another-hot-summer/?utm_campaign=Impact%3A%20Plano%20South&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_YdhMzB3C8RgICGRhUoGjBtmZMjjC-VlprUSsssTT_AeHNtlg1vGRxMTfxxjnuh0iWF02LuamtwY8R4VUx6DMJIs_Drg&_hsmi=312572220&utm_content=312572220&utm_source=hs_email “At this point, ERCOT may direct power companies to start rotating outages, which typically last about 45 minutes, to reduce strain on the grid.”
Two weeks ago on 6/5/2024, our whole street was out of power around 9:30 pm and lasted exactly 45 minutes. Now I know why.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jun 26, 2024 17:27:20 GMT -6
Providers will charge “Base Charge” in full or prorated?
Previously, I showed Revolution charged in full. Now, here’s another provider, NEC, charged prorated. So, it depends.
Used NEC for 5 days. Bill reflects “prorated” Base Charge ($7.50/30x5=$1.25).
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Post by Bob Liu on Aug 2, 2024 22:14:15 GMT -6
Rhythm - Simply September 3
Thanks to Paul who pointed it out in an email: “Bob, you included the above plan on your website as a suggestion today. That company has posted the same plan since early June. It is only effective in September, just as the name implies, per plan notes on PTC site.”
I now crossed it out in this week’s suggestion, so it would be visible but not deleted.
Rhythm - Simply September 3 api.gotrhythm.com/api/pricing/offers/latest-offers-efl/9572?locale=en Average price per kWh: 14.0¢/12.6¢/11.9¢ Energy Charge: 6.56 ¢/kWh Base Charge: $9.95 per bill cycle
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Post by estela on Aug 25, 2024 8:41:35 GMT -6
Providers will charge “Base Charge” in full or prorated?
Previously, I showed Revolution charged in full. Now, here’s another provider, NEC, charged prorated. So, it depends.
Used NEC for 5 days. Bill reflects “prorated” Base Charge ($7.50/30x5=$1.25). View Attachment Thank you for confirming.
so, what have you switched to from NEC ?
Southern Federal - Variable Advantage ??
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Post by Bob Liu on Aug 25, 2024 10:17:14 GMT -6
Hi estela,
This is what we do here - In spring, when the rates are low, we reserve a “good plan” to start it later in summer.
This is the “good plan”, I got it on 3/28/2024, to start 3 months later, from 6/26/2024 to 9/25/2024: Payless - PTC 3 Month - Prepaid Average price per kWh: 9.6¢/9.2¢/9.0¢ Energy Charge: 4.2 ¢/kWh
Before my “good plan” kicked off, I used 2 one-month-plans to get to its starting date, 6/26/2024. The 5-day NEC was one of them.
So, the thinking is reversed. I got the “good plan” first, then followed backward by NEC and another one-month-plan to fill the gap to 6/26/2024.
Hope you can comprehend. : )
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Post by Bob Liu on Aug 25, 2024 19:12:53 GMT -6
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Post by Bob Liu on Aug 30, 2024 22:23:44 GMT -6
As temperatures begin to drop, usage declines and rates start to decrease. At this time, I would prefer a month-to-month plan to avoid any longer commitment.
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 6, 2024 18:01:47 GMT -6
Southern Federal - SoFed Try Us Out - 3 sfed-gridlink.smartgridcis.net/Documents/Download.aspx?ProductDocumentID=19685 Average price per kWh: 11.3¢/10.3¢/9.9¢ Energy Charge: 4.2422 ¢/kWh (was 5.1931 last week) Base Charge: $4.95 per bill cycle Cancellation Fee: $0
Its rate is good. No cancellation fee is a big plus, since more low-rate plans are coming out. If I had to switch now, I would pick this one.
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 11, 2024 9:11:13 GMT -6
My current plan expires on 9/25/2024. Since today is 14 calendar days before that date, I can switch plans without any penalty. I'm ready to move to any short-term plan with a lower rate than my current one.
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jonathan
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Post by jonathan on Sept 24, 2024 9:52:39 GMT -6
Hi Bob, what did you switch to? I'm right behind you with an expiration next week.
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 24, 2024 10:07:45 GMT -6
Hi, jonathan. I'm switching to "Southern Federal - SoFed Try Us Out - 3" this afternoon if there's no better plan. : )
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jonathan
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Post by jonathan on Sept 24, 2024 10:13:13 GMT -6
That's exactly what I was thinking. I'll see what Friday's snapshot looks like, then switch on Monday. Thanks!
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 24, 2024 15:09:55 GMT -6
I switched to this 3-mon plan today, 9/24/2024, starting on 9/25/2024:
Southern Federal - SoFed Try Us Out - 3 sfed-gridlink.smartgridcis.net/Documents/Download.aspx?ProductDocumentID=19685 Average price per kWh: 11.3¢/10.3¢/9.9¢ Energy Charge: 4.2422 ¢/kWh Base Charge: $4.95 per bill cycle Cancellation Fee: $0
There's an additional step now. It requires ID verification. (See next post.) (Click on it to Enlarge)
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 24, 2024 15:16:20 GMT -6
I’ve finished the whole process of ID Verification in one afternoon:
In its 1st email “ID verification is required for the primary account holder before electricity services can be scheduled. You should receive an e-mail shortly with verification instructions.
If you do not complete this verification, it may delay the activation of your new electricity service.”
In its 2nd email “To ensure the security of your new account, we use Persona®, a secure verification platform to validate the identity of the Primary Account Holder.
The next step to finalizing your enrollment is for the Primary Account Holder to complete the Identity Verification. Please note that if this verification is not completed, it may delay the activation of your new electricity service.”
What did I do during the verification: * Take a front photo of my Driver’s License. * Take a selfie.
In its 3rd email “Congratulations! Our Welcome Team completed all account verifications and your new electric service with Southern Federal Power is scheduled to begin. You'll receive a final confirmation once your service is activated.”
Attachments:
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jonathan
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Post by jonathan on Sept 24, 2024 15:24:42 GMT -6
Interesting. Did you have to submit a live photo from your phone or webcam?
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 24, 2024 15:38:21 GMT -6
Yes. What did I do during the verification: 1. Take a front photo of my Driver’s License. 2. Take a selfie.
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Post by hart4plano on Sept 24, 2024 16:31:26 GMT -6
Hi Bob. The past couple months, there have been times when I did not see any variable rate plans on PTC. As I did a search just now, I find that there are 13 available. Any thoughts on what may be happening in the PTC ONCOR market for variable rate products?
Further review shows that variable rates had been dropping towards the end of August, and the lowest variable rate was nearly the same as the lowest 3-month. Since then, it appears variable rates jumped up, while 3-month rates continue to drop weekly. The best I can figure is that the providers are not wanting to incentivise purchases of variable rate plans. They prefer to lock you in for longer terms, even though rates are dropping weekly.
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 24, 2024 16:47:44 GMT -6
Sorry, I can only say that I'm unable to provide the exact information you're looking for.
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 24, 2024 18:01:22 GMT -6
I agree with you on: “The best I can figure is that the providers are not wanting to incentivise purchases of variable rate plans. They prefer to lock you in for longer terms, even though rates are dropping weekly.”
I couldn't understand SoFed's $0-Cancellation-Fee 3-month plan. At first, I thought it might be an error. It’s a variable-rate-plan on steroids. : )
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 24, 2024 18:57:12 GMT -6
Southern Federal ID Verification is manually reviewed. If submitted outside of business hours, processing may take up to one business day.
My verification process was quick. I received confirmation within a few minutes of submitting it during regular business hours.
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