Are all offers from alternative electricity suppliers the same?
No. Each supplier has their own standard product offering which may be presented to the customer. How much bandwidth is allowed in the contract? Are capacity costs included or passed-through to the customer? Will the transmission costs vary from month to month? Satori Energy will provide each client with an “apples-to apples” comparison of each supplier’s pricing and contract term offering. This allows our clients to know exactly what they are contracting for so there are no surprises during the term of the contract.

Why should I use an electricity broker?
Using an electricity broker will allow you to focus on your core business while your broker focuses on finding the best deal in the marketplace. The deregulated electricity market is a volatile commodity market (just like the stock or bond market) with pricing that can change on an hourly basis. Satori Energy is constantly monitoring the wholesale markets to ensure our clients are in a position to take advantage of market decreases and opportunities to lower electricity costs.

What is the out-of-pocket cost to my company?
There is no out-of-pocket cost to your company. Satori Energy works as a broker to provide our clients with offers from various alternative electric suppliers. We are paid a commission by the alternative electric supplier selected by our client. This commission is the same from each supplier so we maintain the unbiased representation of our clients in the marketplace.

Will other deregulated markets ever have a “California-type” experience?
No! The situation in California was caused by a very poor market design. The incumbent utilities were forced to sell their generation facilities and were not allowed to lock into long-term contracts. These utilities were forced to cap their rates which they could charge to consumers, but were forced to purchase the electricity to serve these customers on the spot market. As prices increased, by law, the utilities were forced to buy high and sell low. Other deregulated markets learned from California’s mistakes and the markets which have deregulated since have implemented better market designs.

Can I call alternative electricity suppliers myself and get a quote?
Yes, you can call four alternative suppliers directly and request a quote. However, each supplier’s product offerings and specific contract terms will be different. Many customers may not know exactly what is included in each supplier’s pricing offer and may not be able to evaluate offers in an “apples to apples” comparison. By using a Satori Energy professional, you will get the expertise of a qualified electric industry firm with a proven track record and will have one point of contact working on your behalf as opposed to attempting to work with four or five different supplier sales reps. You will be able to leverage Satori Energy’s knowledge and experience to ensure you receive the best possible contract to meet your needs.

Which portion of the electricity bill is deregulated?
Only the generation or supply portion of the electricity bill is deregulated. With a vibrant wholesale market, consumers have a choice who they contract with for this part of their electric bill. The Transmission and Delivery/ Distribution portion of the invoice is still regulated and the incumbent utility will continue to deliver the electricity to every facility in its service territory.

With so many variables and so much uncertainty how can I forecast my electric costs for next year and beyond?
Satori Energy prepares a line-item electricity budget for each client during the procurement process or after a contract is signed. This budget will project future costs based on the actual contract rate and historical usage data (adjusted for anticipated future usage). If there are changes in the regulated Delivery/ Distribution portion of the invoice, Satori will revise the budget accordingly.

Are there any fees incurred by switching away from the local utility service?
No, there are no switching fees charged by the alternative suppliers. Depending on the utility specific program, there may be a reconciliation performed whereby the customer may be subject to a small payment. Our energy professionals will ensure these fees are minimized.

What new meters, lines and wires will I need to have installed at my facility?
In almost all cases there is no additional equipment which is required. The alternative supplier will deliver the electricity over the same lines and wires just as before, because the transmission and distribution system is still owned by the utility. If there is ever a case where an additional phone line is required, our energy professionals will work with the necessary parties to ensure this is handled smoothly.

Have there been cases where a specific customer’s electricity reliability suffered because they decided to switch from the local utility to a alternative supplier? The delivery of the electricity is still a regulated function and the utility is legislatively mandated to ensure the reliability of all customers’ electric service within their service territories.

What changes can I expect as a result of the switching process?
There are no physical changes, this is strictly a financial transaction. The only difference is the monthly electric invoice you receive may come from another company.

Who do I call if my power goes out?
The delivery of the electricity is still regulated and maintained by the local utility. A customer whose power goes out should contact the local utility immediately and report the outage.