The summer is here, it is time to stay cool and save some money. Here are some tips on how to save some money on your gas and electricity cost.

These energy saving tips will help you become more energy efficient and save some money on your gas and electric bills.

We just receive our Rogers bills and we notice we are now paying over $100 per month for our high speed internet service with Rogers. Our current high speed internet package with Rogers is Express, which should cost $46.99 per month without tax, except we usually pass our monthly bandwidth usage.

Our maximum internet usage is 60 GB per month with the Express plan from Rogers. If we use more than 60 GB per month we’ll have to pay $2 for every 1 GB we use with a maximum overcharge cap at $25 dollars. So our high speed internet cost is $46.99 (Express package) + $25 (over usage cap) + $3 (modem rental) = $74.99 + apx. 15% tax = apx. $86.24 per month.

Differences between variable rate and fixed rate

You can buy natural gas & electricity for your home or business as variable rate, fixed-rate or even prepaid.

Fixed rate – The fixed rate gas & electricity are sold by energy retailers. The fixed rate is a gamble because no one knows if the price of natural gas or electricity will go up or down. However, the fix rate contract gives you the benefit of knowing your gas and electricity costs are set for that period. If price rise above your contract price, you benefit.

Also fixed rate are unregulated, which mean the energy retailers can charge whatever they want for your natural gas and electricity.

Variable rate – The variable rate for natural gas and electricity are regulated. It comes from your utility supplier, such as Enbridge in Ontario or Nicor in Illinois. They can only profit from the delivery cost. The price of variable rate is determined by supply and demand, just like the fluctuation price on gasoline we use to fuel our cars.

Amherstburg resident Pearl Gorgerat and her husband Gord want to warn area residents to be careful when they sign with energy management companies. Gorgerat estimates they lose $40-50 each month because of the contract they signed in 2004 and mistakenly renewed recently.

What is Superior Energy?

Superior Energy is natural gas and electricity supplier operating in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. Superior Energy offers “Price Protection Plan”, or another word a fixed-rate gas and electricity plan. It is an unregulated energy retailer, which means it can charge you whatever they want for natural gas and electricity.

If you live in Canada or US, there are two methods on how you can buy natural gas and electricity for your home or business.

One method is to buy natural gas and electricity from your local utility (regulated) at variable price, the other method is to buy fixed-rate (unregulated) natural and electricity from a retailer.

The variable price is dictated by supply and demand, it goes up and down depending on the market. Just like the price on gasoline we use to fuel our cars.
[Utility supplier (variable)] –> [You]

The second method is fixed-rate by locking-in your gas and electricity prices. The fixed-rate and the term are set in the contract. This type of contract gives you the benefit of knowing your energy costs are set for that period of time. If prices rise above your contract price, you benefit.
[Utility supplier (variable)] –> [Retailer(Fixed-rate)] –> [You]

Have you heard of a company called Momentis by Just Energy? It is currently operating in London, Barrie, Toronto, Kingston, Peterborough, Ottawa and elsewhere in Canada. Also, in USA, Momentis is opening meetings in cities like New York and Buffalo.

Momentis is the sale arm of Just Energy. Just Energy sells fixed-rate gas and electricity prices, operating in both Canada and US. Just Energy was formerly known as U.S Energy Savings.

Just Energy had been charged with all sort of misleading sales, misleading marketing and including consumer fraud charges by the Attorney General of Illinois in 2008, Read more at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov: Madigan files suit against U.S. Energy Savings Corp (now operating as Just Energy).

According to Citizens Utility Board, people who sign-up with MX Energy fixed-rate or variable gas and electricity prices lost an average of $834.12 with 243 plans while an average savings of $197.58 with 6 plans. That’s 98% of 249 plans lost money by switching to MX Energy gas and electricity prices. Read more at www.citizensutilityboard.org: IGS Energy

Will you save money with IGS Energy fixed-rate or variable gas prices? The answer is NO, according to Citizens Utility Board, people who sign-up with IGS Energy fixed-rate or variable gas prices lost an average of $150.43 dollars. Read more at www.citizensutilityboard.org: IGS Energy

TXU Energy is an electricity retailer providing services to more than 2.2 million electricity customers in Texas. It is considered to be one of the biggest electricity providers in Texas. TXU Energy offers variety electricity products, allowing both its residential and business customers to choose options that best meet their needs.

Texas Electric Choice Customer Complaint Statistics

TXU Energy is rated the worst with the most complaints out of all Texas electricity providers according to Texas Electric Choice Customer Complaint Statistics from December 31, 2009 to June 30, 2010. With over 1600 consumers complaints with in six months. See the full statistics here: Texas Electric Choice Customer Complaint Statistics.