Electricity contracts are important documents that outline the terms of your electricity service. It is essential to understand them when shopping for a plan. Consider contract length, special add-on offers, how your electricity is generated, and the supplier’s reputation.
More extended contracts offer stability and protection from market conditions. However, letting your contract expire can put you on a holdover rate that is out of your control.
Pricing
The price of electricity depends on many factors, including the specific region’s energy markets and the utility’s ability to recover costs. For example, some utilities may have to increase rates slightly every six months or a year to account for fluctuations in fuel prices.
The other major component of an electric bill is the cost to deliver electricity to customers’ homes or businesses. This is referred to as the distribution charge or poles and wires charge. It covers the cost to build and maintain the series of high-voltage power lines that carry electricity across long distances from central power plants to population centers. It also pays for the network of lower-voltage lines that connect these large transmission lines to individual homes and businesses.
A few utilities have time-of-use rates, which vary the pricing structure depending on demand levels throughout the day. This is a tactic to control energy usage, and it allows customers to reduce their bills by using appliances during off-peak hours.
To reduce your energy costs, look for a competitive Electric Service Company (ESCO) with a plan that offers the lowest electric rates available in your area. However, be aware of the contract term and whether you must pay an early termination fee if you switch before your agreement expires.
Customer Service
As a consumer, you want to be able to count on your electric company in Fort Worth to provide reliable service. That’s why it is essential to understand how your electricity contract impacts your customer service experience.
The terms and conditions of an electricity contract outline the rights and responsibilities of both parties and can significantly impact the quality of your relationship with your provider. They can include essential details such as customer support, complaint resolution processes, and the provider’s energy reliability and service quality responsibilities.
Depending on the type of contract you have, there may also be additional fees associated with your service. These fees can be related to delivery services, meter readings, or cancellation charges. These fees can increase your overall electricity costs, so it’s essential to understand them thoroughly before signing a contract.
Electricity contracts can also vary by your physical location. For example, the peak and off-peak seasons for electricity differ from region to region, and some providers offer different plans based on your site. This is why it is essential to research your energy provider’s reputation, history, and pricing structure in your area.
You should also consider whether you have a fixed-rate or variable-rate contract and, if so, the duration of your contract. More extended contracts typically require more significant commitment, and changing rates or energy providers mid-contract can be more challenging.
Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory compliance is a company’s internal business practices and procedures that promote adherence to laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines set by legal authorities within the jurisdiction in which your business operates. These requirements typically involve the ethical behavior of staff, the safety of customers, and preserving the environment. Regulatory compliance also includes processes that minimize the risk of financial penalties or civil liability.
Noncompliance can result in fines, prison time, and the forfeiture of assets and property. Companies can mitigate the risk of noncompliance by establishing a comprehensive compliance program and creating streamlined, scalable internal business processes. It is essential to understand that an effective compliance program requires the support and commitment of the entire organization, not just a single officer or team.
As a result, companies must document compliance policies and provide employees with multiple methods for reporting violations. Then, they must keep abreast of new laws, guidelines, and regulations to ensure their compliance programs are current. Additionally, they must establish communication protocols between departments to ensure everyone understands what’s required. Finally, they must use software technologies to automate compliance activities and streamline workflows. This is critical to ensuring that your company can easily demonstrate its regulatory compliance status in the event of an audit. A well-documented process is a valuable asset in any legal proceeding.
Reliability
Reliability refers to the likelihood that a device will carry out its intended purpose for a specified period, given certain circumstances. In other words, it’s the capability to sustain an operational state. Examples include an automobile engine that starts with every turn of the key, an airplane that flies smoothly even in turbulence, a medical device that works accurately on a patient, a refrigerator that maintains food at a cold temperature, a telephone switchboard that connects calls flawlessly, and a nuclear power plant that runs without a major accident.
A distribution circuit’s reliability is measured through a three-year average of its Customer Interruptible Minutes (CIM), System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), and the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI). These are calculated based on the results of an internal EDC inspection program. This program is based on the electrical industry’s safety codes, national electric industry practices, manufacturers’ recommendations, sound engineering judgment, NESC Rule 214 guidance, and experience.
EDCs must file a Reliability Performance Report (RPR) each year with the Commission, including its actual year-end CAIDI, SAIDI, and SAIFI measures. The RPR also includes an assessment of the EDC’s planned actions, projects, and programs implemented to achieve its reliability objectives.
As the electricity and natural gas industries continue to grow closer together, several reliability issues require consideration by industry participants and national and regional regulators. These include structural, physical, and regulatory differences between the two industries that must be recognized and addressed.
