Electricity customers of Jersey Central Power and Light (JCPL) are seeing the best electricity rate offers since electric choice went into action in the state in 2003. As of January 1, 2011 only 7% of JCPL residential customers had switched off of the JCPL default rate for a lower electric supply rate resulting in a lower electric bill.
JCPL offers a default electric rate for customers who do not choose a alternative electric supplier. Many consumers in New Jersey do not want to switch electric suppliers because of brand loyalty to JCPL. This is a misguided view. The New Jersey Electricity Choice Act unbundled the responsibilities of JCPL (First Energy) from electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to just distribution. In other words, JCPL is now only in the business of delivering electricity to their customers. They do not care if their customer choose a competitive supplier, as they do not receive profit from the default electric rates that they are mandated to charge customers who do not shop for electricity.
The majority of competitive electricity companies in New Jersey elect to offer their service through consolidated billing. Consolidated billing allows the New Jersey consumers to continue to receive one electric bill a month from JCPL even after they choose a lower electric rate plan. Switching electric suppliers really just comes down to switching the rate plan that you are on. Everything else remains the same. You continue to get your electric bill from JCPL, and you even continue to call JCPL in the case of power outages or emergencies. If you can find electricity savings (lower rate than the default rate) then there is no reason not to switch electric suppliers.
Common Question:
What happens when my contract expires? Will my power turn off?
NO. If you sign a fixed rate contract, and do not sign a new contract before it expires, you will most likely go on a variable rate with the company you signed with until you sign a new contract with that company or another company. Your power will not turn off just because you do not sign another contract. As long as you pay your bills your power will never be shut off. If for some reason the electric company you choose decides to release you as a customer, you will automatically go back onto the JCPL default electric rate with no interruption of electricity service.