More CenterPoint Energy utility customers in Texas are now able to save
money on energy costs by buying their natural gas directly from a competitive
gas supplier, rather than from the utility. Beginning Oct. 1, customers who use
at least 3,650 Mcf of natural gas per year, per meter – an average of 10 Mcf/day –
became eligible for CenterPoint Energy’s gas transportation program.
In general, businesses that spend more than $20,000 annually for natural gas
now qualify for the program. That compares with a previous low threshold of 25
Mcf/day – about $50,000 annually.
Customers taking advantage of this new option will realize several benefits; the
most obvious is cost savings. A typical business would save around 15 percent
annually in the program. Another advantage is the pricing options available to
customers. Under the program, a business would now have direct control of its
commodity pricing decisions.
One might ask how this works and why the savings?
When a business buys natural gas directly from the utility, it is buying a
“bundled service” under which the utility handles all phases of moving natural
gas to the customer, including purchasing the customer’s natural gas. When a
customer buys natural gas from a competitive gas supplier like CenterPoint
Energy Services (CES) – CenterPoint Energy’s competitive gas marketing
subsidiary – a portion of the utility’s rate components are unbundled and
charged separately.
Customers who choose to participate in CenterPoint Energy’s recently revised Transportation Supply Program pay the utility only for local gas transportation. The utility still transports the customer’s gas – similar to the process of purchasing electricity in Texas. However, the largest component of a business’ natural gas bill is the cost of the gas. Buying from a competitive supplier allows the customer to receive a custom rate, based on its own actual energy use, rather than the rate paid when bundled with all other utility customers.
Additionaly, customers have options for both price and volumes. Customers can
elect to pay a price that floats with the market, in which case their price would go up or down monthly depending on market fluctuations.
Or, customers could lock a price for future months based on current market
prices for set monthly volumes. In this case, regardless of whether the future
market price increases or decreases, the customer would be paying the fixed
price for the requested volumes, which is especially helpful for budgeting a
customer’s natural gas costs.
Customers can also mix their options, purchasing some natural gas at a
fixed price, while floating the remaining volume with the market.
CenterPoint Energy Services is the largest competitive natural gas supplier
serving the CenterPoint Energy utility distribution system. CES provides
personal service to meet customers’ unique needs, including:
- Competitive pricing and services
- Fixed or variable pricing options
- Personal account executive to help customers understand options
- High customer satisfaction – 95 percent of customers stay with CES year after year
- Online account access
- Up-to-date market information to help customers make informed purchasing decisions
“It’s exciting to see the pleasure and confidence on our customers’ faces when
they learn of the savings, value, and outstanding customer service they will
experience with CES being their complete energy solutions provider,” said Jim
Schauer, CES account executive. “Helping them realize savings through the
utility’s transportation program is just one of the many ways we can serve our
customers.”
Contact CenterPoint Energy Services today so you can begin the process to measure
the savings!
Return to top >
|