From the PriceWatch™ Service Desk
It happens every year when the temperatures start to drop; more people start to turn on their furnaces and gas prices rise due to the increased use. Realgy has a solution to the price increases: PriceWatchTM
PriceWatch™ is a Realgy exclusive service that monitors the natural gas market to pin-point the most advantageous time for our natural gas customers to lock in a rate for the winter heating months.
This year the PriceWatchTM analysts here at Realgy have determined that customers will show a significant savings by locking in a natural gas rate for the winter months, November to March. Realgy has already started sending out emails and calling customers to let them know that it’s time to fix their gas rates using PriceWatchTM.
Already we have had many customers lock in their rates; this, along with Natural Gas storage, will ensure that the winter bills will not be as high as they normally would have been if a customer merely relied on with their local utility company.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact a Realgy Energy Services Customer Service Representative by phone (877)-300-6747, by email support@realgy.com, by fax (860)-23 -3884, or by mail 675 Oakwood Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06110.
Realgy Proposes $2.6 Million in Savings for Indianapolis Public Schools
PRESS RELEASE October 16, 2013 | By: Realgy, LLC
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, October 16, 2013 – Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has issued a request for proposals for natural gas to serve its 90 schools. Realgy Energy Service, a wholesaler or third party supplier in the Citizens Gas Energy Select program responded with a proposal that would have saved the school district over $2,588,000 for the last 3 years.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer IPS nearly 3 million dollars in savings,” said Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Service. “We submitted our proposal and even if we are not selected, the savings IPS can expect to receive from purchasing their natural gas directly from a supplier, without any Citizens Gas markup, will provide significant cost reductions.”
The Energy Select program was initiated by Citizens Gas to “reduce the energy cost of Citizens Gas customers.” This was in keeping with their charter which states; “We maintain the lowest possible rates with sound financial management.”
The Citizens Gas Energy Choice program is not well known but it provides all municipal, commercial, and industrial customers a choice between purchasing their natural gas from Citizens Gas or directly from a registered third party supplier of natural gas such as Realgy Energy Services.
In April 2009, Realgy Energy Services received approval as a third party supplier in Citizens Gas. Unlike other suppliers, Realgy Energy Services extends customer choice to commercial and small businesses.
“The benefits from receiving your gas service with Realgy Energy Services as your wholesale supplier instead of Citizens Gas has been demonstrated every month over the last 3 years,” said Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Services. “From November 2010 through to October 2013, Realgy Energy Services has delivered nearly 16.79% savings compared to purchasing from Citizens Gas. For the average commercial customer that is an annual savings of $7,120.86.”
The bidding for natural gas service was opened October 16, 2013 with service expected to begin January 1, 2014. Additional information on the bid and the bid results can be obtained by contacting the IPS Purchasing Agent at 120 E. Walnut Street, Rm. 117 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Realgy Energy Services is an energy marketer serving retail customers in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. They began serving Indiana customers in April 2003; since that time they have a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; http://ct.bbb.org and no complaints before the IURC http://www.in.gov/iurc or OUCC http://www.in.gov/oucc/
Contacts:
Michael Vrtis
President
Realgy Energy Services
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
Nicole Werner
Media Contact
Realgy Energy Services
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
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5 ways to save energy and stay cool this summer
1. Close your blinds!
Closing your blinds in the summer reduces radiant heat from the sun entering your house or office.
Even if you close the blinds only during peak sun hours this trick will help decrease the amount of radiant heating caused by the summer sun.
2. Set the thermostat to 78 degrees
Air conditioners will run at their optimal performance level when set at 78 degrees. Making it even 5 degrees lower will result in your AC using up to 40% more energy. Keep that thermostat at 78 degrees during the day and turn it down at night, to conserve the most energy.
3. Use passive cooling techniques
To reduce the need to turn on the AC try out some passive cooling techniques.
Passive cooling techniques include but are not limited to planting trees or hedges, installing window awnings, the use of fans, and opening and closing windows and blinds at the appropriate times of day. For example you would open windows at night for the cool breeze and close them along with blinds during peak sun hours.
4. Upgrade your windows
Replacing old single-pane windows with new dual-pane ones that include Low-emissivity (Low-E). The Low-E coating reduces energy loss by as much as 50%, and as a bonus you could be eligible for tax credits for buying energy star rated windows.
5. Reduce your energy costs
Enroll with Realgy Energy Services to save on your natural gas and electricity
These simple tricks coupled with Realgy Energy Services low rates can drastically reduce your energy costs this summer.
Check out Realgy Energy Services rates and see how much you could be saving www.realgyenergyservices.com Or Call one of our Energy Brokers today 877-300-6747.
Sources:
U.S Department of Energy, Energy Savers, Thermostats and Control Systems
The Daily Green, Close Your Blinds to Beat the Heat
Earth 911, 9 Ways to Ready Your home For Summer
Houzz, Life Without Air Conditioning? These Passively Cooled Homes Say Yes
U.S Department of Energy, Energy Savers, Window Types
How to keep your food safe during a power outage
Food in the refrigerator will be safe for up to 4 hours without power. Any longer than that and perishables such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and any leftovers should be discarded. Along with the perishables, toss anything that has been above 40 degrees for over 2 hours, according to federal food safety guidelines.
Freezers will stay cold for up to 48 hours if it is full and 24 hours if half full (just another reason to get that extra ice cream!) As long as the temperature does not go above 40 degrees for more than two hours food should be useable; even partially thawed food can be refrozen.
The key things to keep in mind:
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed – each time you open the door precious cold air is lost.
- NEVER taste food to tell if it is still good – it is safer to just toss it.
- Discard anything that has come in contact with raw meat or its juices.
- 40 degrees is the magic number – if it is 40 degrees discard it.
Sources:
FoodSafety.gov, Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out
FoodSafety.gov, Frozen Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out
CDC, What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly
The City of Northville has accepted a bid from Realgy Energy Services to supply natural gas
PRESS RELEASE 17 MAY 2013 | By: Realgy, LLC
Realgy Energy Services has won a bid to supply the City of Northville with natural gas through the Michigan utility Consumers Energy.
On Monday May 6th the City Council of Northville approved a bid placed by Realgy Energy Services to supply natural gas to the city. Realgy Energy Services out bid two other competing companies for the right to supply the city with natural gas.
The City of Northville started exploring the possibility of finding a lower cost alternative gas supplier in April. The City Council sent a request for proposals to seven alternative gas suppliers, all licensed with the Michigan Public Service Commission and also certified to operate in the Consumers Energy territory.
Out of the seven alternative gas suppliers, the top three were Options Utility Consulting, Xoom Energy, and Realgy Energy Services. By contracting with Realgy Energy Services, the City of Northville will save approximately 19% or $7,592.70 per year, based on their usage from last year and an average cost of $4.03/MCF. Realgy Energy Services will provide natural gas to the City of Northville, city employees and city employee family members for the term of the contract.
Realgy Energy Services is comprised of a group of people who worked for many years with large utilities, energy service companies, and energy marketers. Within these organizations, they saw the limitations of the systems and software and decided they could provide a more efficient service. First formed in 1999, Realgy Energy Services today is a retail energy marketer and wholesale energy provider in three deregulated states, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois with plans to expand. Realgy has had a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; http://ct.bbb.org since 2003 and has been recognized as an Inc 500 | 5000 company in 2011 and 2012. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/realgy
Contacts:
Realgy, LLC
Michael Vrtis
675 Oakwood Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
ServiceMatch™
For all our natural gas and electric customers not currently on a fixed price, Realgy offers ServiceMatchTM as follows:
ServiceMatchTMBuyer has the right to present all written offers to RES that provide pricing and terms for service under the Program. RES will match the proposed terms and pricing from all qualified electric or natural gas service providers. If RES cannot offer better terms or pricing or match the same terms and pricing, RES will transfer Buyer to the new electric or natural gas supplier upon Buyer’s written request at the end of the Term. ServiceMatchTM is not valid when Buyer has a Fixed Price.
Please be aware that ServiceMatchTM is not a new service.
Realgy offers this and other services including but not limited to PriceWatchTM and natural gas storage, to all our eligible customers.
If you have any questions regarding ServiceMatchTM, fixed prices, or the end of your current Term, contact a Realgy Energy Services customer service representative at 860-300-6747.
The Realgy Energy Saver
Realgy Energy Services has a server room that generates plenty of heat from the hardware housed there. Accordingly, we have to use air conditioners to prevent damage to the hardware. This past winter, Mathew Sudowski, Director of Sales, came up with a way for Realgy Energy Services to recover the heat lost by the air conditioner exhaust from the Realgy server room. This heat recovery helped to increase the efficiency of the furnace. Because the furnace draws in air from the two upper levels as well as the basement where the server room and air conditioner are located, this plan worked perfectly.
Mathew Sudowski, Director of Sales
With the help of a local HVAC company, Realgy was able to retrofit the air conditioner exhaust, and reduce the workload of the Realgy office furnace. This retrofit also helped to save the company money over the winter season.
View of the AC exhaust retrofit
To find out how a natural gas furnace works check out this article “How a Natural Gas Furnace Works”
How a Natural Gas Furnace Works
Natural gas forced-air furnaces are by far the most popular method of heating in North America, mainly because they can distribute heated air from a central furnace to every room of the house and they can also be used in conjunction with a central AC unit.
The basic components of a forced-air system include:
- An air handler, which may be either a stand-alone blower cabinet used with a heat pump or a forced-air furnace that includes a blower
- A means of heating air, such as natural gas-fueled burners
- Ductwork for delivering cold air to the heater via a return
- Ductwork for sending heated air back to rooms via some vents
- A thermostat for turning the system on and off
A natural gas furnace reacts to changes in a room’s temperature. When the air temperature in the room drops below the thermostat’s set temperature, it alerts the furnace. Cold air is then drawn from the room’s return through ductwork into the cold air return and through an air filter. The burner ignites to heat the air as it moves through the furnace. The circulating fan helps the warmed air circulate through the ductwork and back into the room via vents. The cycle continues until the set comfort level is reached at which point the thermostat turns the system off until the next time the temperature drops.
Sources:
Wikipedia, “Furnace”
Buzzl, “How does a Gas Furnace Work“
Realgy Energy Services Facebook promotion leads to donation to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana
PRESS RELEASE 18 MARCH 2013 | By: Realgy, LLC
Realgy Energy Services Facebook fans chose to donate to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana
In October 2012, Realgy Energy Services ran a promotion on its Facebook page for fans to decide which charity to donate $1 for every Facebook “Like” during November and December 2012. Among the selected charities was the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, which won by a landslide. “Thanks to our Facebook fans, Realgy will be donating $116 to the Food Bank of Northern Indian, a very deserving charity in our service territory,” says Michael Vrtis, President, “This promotion has not only increased our fan base by 116 likes but will also be making a difference in the lives of those that rely on the Food Bank.”
Picture courtesy of The Food Bank of Northern Indiana
The Food Bank of Northern Indiana has been feeding the hungry since 1993 and working with the community to increase awareness of the effects of hunger. “We appreciate innovative ways businesses and organizations like Realgy Energy Services help us feed the hungry in Northern Indiana,” says Marijo Martinec, Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Director of Community Impact. She added, “Thanks to all the individuals who “Liked” Realgy Energy Services on behalf of the Food Bank!” A donation of just one dollar can provide up to eight meals for those in need.
A group of people who worked for many years with large utilities, energy service companies and energy marketers came together to found Realgy Energy Services in 1999. Within these organizations they saw the limitations of the systems and software and decided they could provide a more efficient service. Today Realgy Energy Services is a retail energy marketer and wholesale energy provider in three deregulated states Michigan, Indiana and Illinois with plans to expand. Realgy has had a perfect record (certified A+) with the Better Business Bureau; http://ct.bbb.org since 2003 and has been recognized as an Inc 500 | 5000 company in 2011 and 2012. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/realgy
A Big thank you to all of our Facebook Fans for helping Realgy Energy Services make this generous donation!