PSEG Power Switches Trickle In

The number of PSEG electricity customers who are purchasing their power from competitive suppliers remains below 14% as of May 2013. Though the number of competitive power shoppers has steadily increased, the overall electric switch numbers are low compared to other competitive power markets in the United States. The slow number of shoppers has occurred despite rising PSEG default rates and low competitive electricity rates that are yielding electric bill savings above 20% in some cases.

For those PSEG power customers who have accepted New Jersey electricity choice into their lives, the result has been lower PSEG electric bills and price security into the near future. There are currently 246,000 residential customers in the PSEG service area buying their power from competitive energy companies out of 1,835,000 households in the area. These consumers have taken the time to compare electricity rate offers and find the best offer that fits their specific needs.

Many people have pointed to the slow growth of the New Jersey electric choice market to the limited marketing the state has implemented to educate their citizens. In contract, the Texas and Pennsylvania state governments have marketed electric choice with consumer friendly websites. In both states residential electricity switch percentages are hovering around 50%.

Others have pointed to the difficulty in finding the correct identification number on the PSEG electric bill to submit a switch request. In Pennsylvania the number needed to submit a switch request for the two largest electric utilities PPL and PECO Energy, is a simple 10 digit account number clearly visible at the top of the electric bill on every page. In contrast, the number needed for PSEG electric switch requests is the POD ID number which is an 18 digit number that follows the letters “PE” and can only be found in one small place situated mid-page. Some elderly consumers have complained that once they actually find the number the print is too small to even read. Furthermore, if PSEG also provides gas to the customer, a second POD ID exists on the bill for gas service which the customer often confuses as the electric POD ID.

Though electricity choice in New Jersey has had its hurdles, the private sector has stepped in to help push the ball that is already rolling slowly. Competitive suppliers are offering lower electricity prices and information sites such as NJelectricity.org have been developed to help educated New Jersey consumers about their energy choice options.

Competitive PSEG electricity rates updated daily: