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Enter the $50 Energy Efficiency Contest

Summer is here, and so is the heat! Stay cool this summer and win a cool $50 by entering the $50 Energy Efficiency Contest on the Realgy Energy Services Facebook Page.

Tell us how would you use $50 to make your home or office more energy efficient?

Tell us how you would use $50 to make your home or office more energy efficient and you could win a $50 Home Depot or Lowes gift card to put your ideas to the test. If you need some inspiration, make sure you check out our regular blog posts on how you can save money on your energy costs.

One gift card will be given out each month (July and August) by the Realgy Energy Services Team. Let us know your ideas and plans to get in on the energy and money saving action now.

Your plans do not have to stay within the $50 budget; just tell us what kinds of things you could do to your home to save money while making your home use less energy. Some ideas may include keeping the thermostat set higher, or installing a new ceiling fan. Get creative, and you could win a $50 gift card to help you on your way toward some real home improvement.

Enter the $50 Energy Efficiency Contest

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10 Reasons why you should not Budget Bill

Budget billing is a payment plan with your utility company to even out your monthly bills throughout the year. Although it sounds like a great idea, there are some disadvantages.

  1. Administrative fees – Some plans charge administrative fees which add to the total cost of your monthly bill.
  2. Fuel assistance – Low income customers who would normally qualify for fuel assistance to help with energy bills may not qualify if they use a budget billing plan.
  3. Balance due – If your energy bills for the year exceed your monthly payments, you will be required to pay the balance due. This defeats the purpose of budget billing and creates a real hardship for some customers on fixed incomes.
  4. May not be eligible – All budget billing plans are different but some may require a minimum 12 month billing history with the current utility company. If you recently moved to the area or have a bad credit history, you may not qualify.
  5. Strict payment rules – There is little patience for delinquent payments under most budget billing plans. Paying your bill late may result in being disqualified from the budget billing plan or having your power shut off.
  6. Quarterly adjustments – Some utility companies will adjust the monthly budget billing amount on a quarterly basis, so if you were planning your budget on a set amount for the full year be wary, it may change.
  7. May not get refunded – The hope is that if your payments exceed the amount of power used throughout the year that you will get a nice refund. Depending on your contract, that may not be the case.
  8. Moving – Depending on the timing and terms of your contract, there could be complications and extra fees if you plan on moving.
  9. Complicated contracts – Make sure you read the contract very carefully and understand all the terms and conditions.
  10. No Savings – While budget billing will even out your monthly bills you will still end up paying the same rate for your energy use as you would have if you were not signed up for budget billing.

The only way to truly lower your utility bills would be by enrolling with a Registered Energy Supplier like Realgy Energy Services. Check out Realgy Energy Services rates for June 2012 and see how much you could be saving www.realgyenergyservices.com

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Have you ever wondered just how that electricity got to your light bulb or microwave?

The electricity powering your light bulb is produced in a power plant by generators. Energy cannot be created or destroyed just changed from one form to another. Newly generated electricity is then transported over the power grid to your electrical outlet.

The United States has three power grids that keep the lower 48 states powered:

  • The Eastern Interconnected System east of the Rocky Mountains
  • The Western Interconnected System from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains
  • Texas Interconnected System

These three separate systems are interconnected and require constant oversight to ensure that all the components are linked together. Since large quantities of electricity cannot be stored effectively or efficiently, electricity must be produced as it is used, this increases the need to watch over the grid. Control centers are utilized to monitor the supply and demand to safeguard against blackouts. To avoid blackouts there must always be a perfect balance between supply and demand.

From the control centers electricity is constantly monitored as it travels from the power plants to high-voltage power lines that transport electricity throughout the three grids. The higher the voltage the more efficiently they transport electricity. In other words the higher the voltage the more electricity will get to the end point. However, there will always be losses as electricity flows through the power grid.

From the high voltage power lines the electricity is “stepped-down” to lower voltage power lines, utility poles and wires before it can be safely used in your home or office.

Do you know how much you are paying for the electricity you use?

Why not reduce your electricity rate with Realgy Energy Services. Give one of our Energy Brokers a call (877) 300-6747 or check out our website for more info www.realgyenergyservices.com

Source:

BoingBoing, Where electricity comes from

US Energy Information Administration, Energy In Brief, What is the electrical power grid, and what are some challenges it faces?

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4 Reasons why Natural Gas is So Cheap

1. Markets are Local

Natural gas from American wells is transported through pipelines on land across the US. Unlike oil which must be shipped in from overseas

2. Mild Winters

The mild winter of 2011 resulted in less demand for natural gas to heat homes, leaving suppliers with too much natural gas still in storage.

3. Fracking

Fracking has greatly increased the supplies of natural gas in America.

 

4. Lack of Consumer Demand

Only 19% of natural gas consumption in America is used by end consumers, 31% is used to create electricity in power plants and 28% is used in industrial settings.

 

Read the whole story at Investopedia

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More Americans are concerned with reducing Energy Costs than going on vacation this summer

According to a poll by the AP -NORC Center for Public Affairs Research which surveyed 1,008 Americans nationwide, most Americans are more concerned with savings money on Energy Costs, than taking a summer vacation or having the latest electronic. In fact saving money on energy costs came in second only to having reliable transportation.

The most common ways American are choosing to reduce energy costs include turning off lights, turning down the heat, installing energy-saving appliances and driving less. While Americans are generally aware of the most effective ways to save energy, they report that many of these actions would be extremely or very difficult for them and their families to implement in the next year.

However, there is another way to cut energy costs that is very easy and requires just a phone call. Third party suppliers such as Realgy Energy Services supply the same energy at lower rates than your local utility. Check out Realgy Energy Services rates for June 2012 at www.realgyenergyservices.com or call one of our Energy Brokers 877-300-6747 to learn more.

 

Learn more about the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll on Energy Issues:

Associated Press – NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Energy Issues: How the Public Understands and Acts

Star Tribune, How the AP-NORC Center Poll on Americans’ energy priorities was conducted

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