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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 16, 2022 21:04:28 GMT -6
Reality Check (The best short-term-plan Energy Rate): Now in 2022, the rate is 9 ¢/kWh. Same time in 2021, it was around 5 ¢/kWh. Same time in 2020, it was around 3 ¢/kWh.
Just a reminder. The main goal of this period of time is to - hunt for the good plans that will cover the next summer months to September, more or less. Normally, the best timing is happening from mid-Dec to mid-Jan.
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Post by Bob Liu on Sept 19, 2022 16:46:38 GMT -6
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Post by reaton on Oct 31, 2022 15:05:12 GMT -6
Hey Bob…..maybe some good news coming ? It looks like natural gas prices are down 40% since the August peak and forecasters are predicting that the trend could keep going through 2023. In the next month or so I plan to get into one of these 3 month contracts at 5 to 6 ¢/kwh and cancel this horrible “pay as you go plan” I have with Payless Power and eat the $99 cancellation fee. This will take me out to March when prices might even be cheaper and then roll into a 6 month plan at that time to get me through the summer. I know it’s a gamble and the last time I gambled I got burnt, but this is the plan for now.
-Ronnie
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Post by Bob Liu on Oct 31, 2022 15:49:46 GMT -6
Hi Ronnie,
The rates are keeping lower now. NORMALLY, mid-Dec to mid-Jan is the best time to get great plans. We’ll see about it this year. I would suggest this one to consider (that I should have put it in my suggestion list last week):
As of today, 10/31/2022 Monday: Southern Federal - SoFed Try Us Out - 3 sfed-gridlink.smartgridcis.net/Documents/Download.aspx?ProductDocumentID=9746 Energy Charge: 5.9604 ¢/kWh Base Charge: $4.95 per monthly bill cycle Early termination fee: $0
Not the best rate, yet pretty good. “No early termination fee” is the reason to go for it. Or you might miss the best chance of mid-Dec to mid-Jan, if it does happen.
One downside is that it does not allow online signup. Have to call it to make the switch.
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Post by Bob Liu on Nov 4, 2022 19:46:48 GMT -6
As of 11/4/2022, electricity providers (with good rates) allow selecting a switch-date 3 months ahead from now: * Frontier * Gexa * Payless
These providers would have our targeted plans to “reserve to use” in the summer.
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Post by Bob Liu on Nov 21, 2022 16:03:09 GMT -6
My current plan will expire on 12/20/2022. As of 11/21/2022 one month ahead, this is what I plan to do:
* I will switch to this plan on 12/06/2022 (14 days earlier no penalty) if it is still available:
Southern Federal - SoFed Try Us Out - 3 sfed-gridlink.smartgridcis.net/Documents/Download.aspx?ProductDocumentID=9895 Energy Charge: 5.5604 ¢/kWh (same as last week) Base Charge: $4.95 per monthly bill cycle Cancellation Fee: $0
* If not, currently month-to-month plans are pretty low, I might take one of these:
Ranchero - Variable Advantage sfed-gridlink.smartgridcis.net/Documents/Download.aspx?ProductDocumentID=9965 Energy Charge: 5.3604 ¢/kWh Base Charge: $4.95 per monthly bill cycle Cancellation Fee: $0
Southern Federal - Variable Advantage sfed-gridlink.smartgridcis.net/Documents/Download.aspx?ProductDocumentID=9955 Energy Charge: 5.4604 ¢/kWh Base Charge: $4.95 per monthly bill cycle Cancellation Fee: $0
* Reasons:
If it’s going as the USUAL pattern, mid-Dec to mid-Jan is the best time to get a good plan that will cover the summer months. “SoFed Try Us Out - 3” w/o Cancellation Fee will give me the flexibility to wait for THAT good plan.
For example, on 1/1/2023, switch to a 3-mon plan (Step-1) and followed by a 6-mon plan (Step-2). Step-2 is THAT good plan (Reserve to Use). Step-1 is filling the gap. They together will cover from 1/1/2023 to 10/1/2023.
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Post by Bob Liu on Nov 30, 2022 16:30:33 GMT -6
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Post by Bob Liu on Dec 9, 2022 20:04:36 GMT -6
Usually, in the short-term rates competition, it’s Just group (Just, Amigo, Tara) vs Frontier group (Frontier, Gexa).
Two weeks ago, Frontier group made a BIG rate increase. Two weeks later (this week), Just group followed.
This is NOT good.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 6, 2023 22:02:31 GMT -6
Some 5/6-month plans start showing on the radar. But this year’s rates are higher than last year.
Previous Step-1+Step-2 combo is unachievable this year. The switching-2-month-from-now is now the norm. We just need to choose a plan to cover the summer months.
For example, today is Jan 6. Choose a 6-month plan, and switch 2 months from now. It will cover from Mar 6 to Sep 6. (as previous Step-2)
And then, later find a plan(s) to fill the gap before Mar 6, with a $0-cancellation or month-to-month plan. (as previous Step-1)
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 6, 2023 22:09:11 GMT -6
The question is WHEN to choose that 5/6-month plan?!
This is different this year: Frontier group & Just group are NOT in the game, so far.
This WAS last year’s pattern of best rate plans. (Please see attached sheet.)
(Click on to enlarge)
I waited it out last year, and it got worse after February. : ) This year, I’ll only wait several weeks (before Feb). Unless the pattern changes.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 13, 2023 20:38:04 GMT -6
Last month, we had two big rate increases. Last two weeks, it rapidly decreased back down to what it was. Please see attached example of Just - Autopay PTC Plan - 3.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 13, 2023 20:40:51 GMT -6
With $0 cancellation, this is a good plan at the moment. Its rate is about the same as my current one. And it’ll give 5 more months of flexibility to switch at any time. I’ll switch to it next week, if not now.
Varsity - HOMERUN 5 signup.varsityenergy.com/Home/EFl?productId=29558&ver=english Energy Charge: 5.8 ¢/kWh Cancellation Fee: $0
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 14, 2023 19:35:10 GMT -6
Today, 1/14/2023 Saturday, I signed up for Varsity Energy. The earliest date to start is 1/19/2023 Thursday. After online sign-up, I got its email replied, “Your enrollment is pending approval.” I’ll keep you updated.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 15, 2023 11:39:25 GMT -6
The next day, I received two emails from Varsity: 1. "Thank you for enrolling with us. Your Enrollment has been approved." 2. "Please do not forget to complete your online account and set up autopay using your confirmation number above at varsity-cportal.zneos.io "
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Post by reaton on Jan 17, 2023 10:18:55 GMT -6
Hi Bob…………just signed up for the Varsity Homerun 5 Plan also. Had to get out of that pay-as-you-go Payless Power Plan, it was a nightmare and I would never recommend those type of plans to anyone. This new plan will take me through June and hopefully I can get a 6 or 12 month plan cheaper within the next few months to get me through August and September. With a $0 cancellation fee there is no risk here unless rates rise in the next few months. It’s the risk you take.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 17, 2023 11:23:13 GMT -6
Good for you! : )
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Post by NeedCheapEnergy on Jan 17, 2023 19:24:40 GMT -6
Don't see that Varsity plan through their website. Did you sign up online or by calling in? I'll try the latter regardless tomorrow. Thanks for keeping us updated constantly!
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 17, 2023 19:59:40 GMT -6
Sorry. That plan, HOMERUN 5, disappeared after the long weekend. It was there on PTC yesterday, 1/16/2023 Monday.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 21, 2023 13:49:29 GMT -6
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Post by reaton on Jan 23, 2023 10:44:24 GMT -6
Hi Bob,
If I sign up for a plan that has a 2 month “Switch Date” and I cancel that plan during the “Switch Date” period do I still have to pay the cancellation fee ?
-Ronnie
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 23, 2023 11:29:02 GMT -6
Sorry, Ronnie. "The Three-Day Right to Cancel a Purchase" applies after “signing up”.
3 business days after “signing up”, cancellation fee applies.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 23, 2023 11:30:27 GMT -6
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 27, 2023 20:47:53 GMT -6
As of this weekend:
Southern Federal - SoFed Better Rate - 6 sfed-gridlink.smartgridcis.net/Documents/Download.aspx?ProductDocumentID=11642 Energy Charge: 5.9604 ¢/kWh (was 5.4604 last week) Base Charge: 4.95 per monthly bill cycle Switch date: up to 2 months from now
Just like last weekend, I can not sign-up online and its call hours are off. I’ll watch closely next week. If it doesn’t change much, I’ll switch to it. Starting date will be the maximum of 2 months from the sign-up date. The plan would end at the end of September 2023. That should be safe for the summer.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 27, 2023 20:52:05 GMT -6
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 27, 2023 21:57:36 GMT -6
Among the 5 or 6 months plans, Constellation and True Power have better rates than Southern Federal. But they only allow up to 1 month from now to start the switching date.
Their plans at most will cover to the end of August. According to last year’s record, the rates did not come down until the bottom of September.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 28, 2023 20:44:14 GMT -6
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Post by Barbara Arnold on Jan 29, 2023 12:02:49 GMT -6
Tried to sign up for the Gexa Eco Choice 12 plan yesterday. Clicked on "sign up" and cannot do it online. Must call - I will first thing Monday morning.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 29, 2023 13:54:58 GMT -6
Barbara, you’re right.
Frontier and Gexa had been doing business this way for some time. I had complained about it to them, PTC, and PUCT. I got no result.
They have different plans. Some allow online sign-up, some don’t. (See attached different plans can sign up online, NOT through PTC.)
I asked them WHY about this kind of behavior before. They didn’t answer. Make you wonder WHY?! : )
Just be careful with calling. Double check with confirmation email. Make sure what you got is what you wanted. If not, you have 3 business days free to cancel it.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 29, 2023 14:50:32 GMT -6
There is an UPDATE on this post. Please go to the next page to see the update.
I want to point out the energy company, PowerNext, showing misleading information on PTC.
www.mypowernext.com/EmailHTML/efl.aspx?RateID=414&BrandID=4&PromoCodeID=126&ProductID=6,10
Its EFL says, “The average price above only includes the costs for electricity generation, regulated charges from the applicable TDU for transmission and delivery charges for service to Customer’s ESI ID at an Energy Charge of 11.0¢ per kWh, and a base charge of $4.95 per billing cycle.”
With an "Energy Charge of 11 ¢/kWh" and "base charge of $4.95", I don’t know how they came up with those “Price/kWh” showing on PTC.
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Post by Bob Liu on Jan 29, 2023 14:55:26 GMT -6
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