If you are shopping by yourself for the first time, or for the first time in a while, you’ll need to figure out if you are in a current supply contract so that you don’t incur termination fees.
It all starts with your monthly utility invoice! If you are currently with a supplier, through a government aggregation program or shopping on your own, you will see a separate line item on your bill with your supplier’s company name and customer service phone line. To locate where this information lives on your bill, refer to our earlier article on understanding your utility bill.
Once you’ve found the proper phone number, you’ll want to keep your bill handy when you call your supplier. They will ask a few questions to verify your account information, and then you can ask the following questions to help you prepare to shop:
- Is my current rate fixed or variable?
- Am I under a contract?
- When does my contract end?
- Is there an early termination fee if I decide to move my service to another supplier before my contract ends?