LOCAL Houston | The City Guide APRIL 2016 | Page 72

THE POWER OF ENERGY MOST BELIEVE WE HAVE THREE BASIC NEEDS: food, shelter and clothing. As a Houstonian, I have to add air conditioning to that list and it is a matter of health and wellness. With spring and summer quickly approaching, following a pretty nonexistent winter, most residents are preparing to crank those AC units as heat and humidity move in. Traditionally as the temperatures rise, so do those electricity bills. Countless Houstonians have found themselves with an unexpected electricity bill capable of causing a heart attack. But sadly, research shows that residents only spend an average of 6 minutes reviewing their electricity bills over the course of the year. Why so little time when choices are available and savings are possible? It can be confusing, overwhelming and sometimes frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. Most Houstonians have the opportunity to select their energy provider and service plan that best fits their needs. Those who shop, save. If you have not shopped in a while, your provider is likely charging more than what is offered to a new customer for the same service. Whether you are a residential user, small business, or a buyer for a large commercial enterprise, here are a few tips to help make your energy buying process easier and bring additional savings. 72 L O C A L | april 16 1) Review your current bill. Determine three things: a. What is my unit rate (price per kWh)? b. What is my contract end date? c. What is my total rate (total invoice/monthly usage)? 2) Shop, shop, shop. Who doesn’t like to shop? a. Compare your unit rate and total rate to those being offered by various retail electricity providers. Online resources: i. PowertoChoose.org ii. Supplier’s websites iii. MyTrueCost.com b. Choose a plan that best fits your needs and value. 3) Review the supplier scorecards at PowertoChoose.org. Electricity is measured in kilowatt hours, or kWh. It is important to pay attention to your unit and total rate, and any added fees or charges applicable to your plan. Many electricity suppliers try to create the illusion of lower kWh rates by adding set fees or other charges to the kWh charges.