Should You Switch Electricity Suppliers?

Can switching save you money? It can if you pound the digital pavement.

The trick is you have to find your states suppliers — and then compare prices. 

Plenty of sites promise to do the comparative shopping for you, but they may not list all suppliers available. They may only list suppliers they represent. State-run sites have the complete list. Find that list, then use these tips to comparision shop and decide:

Know These 2 Key Facts Before You Decide To Shop

1. Switching suppliers won’t improve unreliable service. Since energy suppliers have no way to get electricity into your home, your public utility company will still be your provider because they own all the poles and wires. They will also continue to handle customer service issues and infrastructure upgrades.
2. Make sure any supplier you are considering has a state license. They must be licensed to sell energy through a public utility.

Tip: Many state sites post a complaints scorecard. These scorecards show how each electric supplier compares to the average rate of complaints for the entire residential market.