Frequently Asked Questions

Read the answers to the most common questions that we get

If you still have any other question after that, we’re always here to help!

Please go to our contact page, or fill our the form at the bottom of this page.

What are the most important things to look for in a new energy plan?

There are many variables to take into consideration when you shop for a new plan, however the most important variables are:

Plan Term Length – you can lock in a fixed rate that will remain the same for the next 6 month, 12 month, 24 month or more.
Price per kilowatt – this is ultimately the price you will pay for your usage. Combine that with your average usage per month and you will have a clear idea of how much your average monthly bill is going to be.

Do I have to pay a deposit, or have my credit score checked?

Some providers may require a deposit if your credit score is under a certain amount. There are some exceptions to this, for example if you are an active military member or a veteran, or if you are 65+, some providers may waive the deposit requirement, it’s always best to contact them directly to inquire about that.
We also offer No Credit / No Deposit plans. These are typically plans that are prepaid, so you will need to load your account with a balance upfront and will continue adding funds to your account as-you-go.

Fixed Rate Plans vs. Variable Rate Plans

When you sign up to a fixed rate plan you lock up a certain price for the length of your contact. With a fixed rate energy plan you are protected from fluctuations in energy prices and you know upfront how much you will pay based on your usage.

Variable plans, as the name implies are plans where the rate can change at any time. Some plans change their rate on a monthly basis, while some energy plans can have a daily variable rate. These plans are typically beneficial when you need a short term plan, or when the overall energy prices are low.

Do I currently have a Fixed Rate Plan, or a Variable Rate Plan?

If you are unsure it is always best to contact your provider directly and they will be able to tell you exactly which plan you’re enrolled in, and whether it has a fixed or a variable rate. Another way to check this is to compare your last 2 bills. Calculate the price per Kilowatt in your recent 2 bills. If the numbers are different then you are enrolled in a variable plan.

What happens when my plan ends?

A few weeks before your plan ends you should receive an email or phone call from your Retail Electric Provider to notify you that your plan is near the end of its term. They will typically offer you to renew the plan or try to convince you to sign up to a different special “deal” that they have for you. If you take no action by the time the contract ends, your provider will automatically move you to a month-to-month plan that they pick for you, and it normally has a price much higher than the average rate.
Even if their offer sounds good initially, we always encourage our clients to come back and compare this offer with the current plans that we have on our website. Many times you will find that the renewal offer that was given to you is not the best, and you can easily find a better rate at SlashPlan.

Do I need to change my meter when I switch to a new provider?

No, you’ll never need to replace your meter when switching providers. The energy you will receive from your new provider will run through the same wires that are already connected to your property, the only difference is the company that is supplying this energy.

I have a problem with my bill, who should I contact?

For any billing issues you will need to contact your retail electric provider directly. In a deregulated energy market your retail provider handles all the billing and customer support, while the utility company handles the energy transmission. This means that the utility company is only in charge of getting energy from the power grid to your home or business, which includes maintenance and repairs for electric wires, poles and fixing outages. If you have a general customer service request or an issue with your bill you need to call your retail electric provider which is the company that sends you the bill each month. If you have an outage or an issue with your meter, you will need to call the utility company that is in charge of your area.

My electricity went down, what should I do?

Delivery of all electricity to your house is done by the local utility company. In case your electricity goes down, or if you are having any issues with it, simply give them a call. You should have the utility company’s information on the bill that you receive each month. You can also go to our Contact Page To find contact information for most utility companies.

Do some electric companies have better availability? I want to have the most reliable energy company.

A key thing to remember is that the Electricity Company that you choose does not have any impact on how electricity is delivered to you. All electric companies in the same area must use the same TDSP (Transmission and distribution service provider), also known as the utility company or the wires company. Because of that, regardless of your REP (retail electric provider) you will always get the same reliability and the same energy from the same source. The main differences between electric companies is that they offer different plans and rates that are geared towards different audiences, and the customer service that they provide. At SlashPlan we vet all of our providers and only work with providers that have a proven track of providing excellent service and low rates.

I want my family to also switch to a better plan, but they live out of state. Can they also choose their electricity company?

Unfortunately, not everyone in the United States is able to choose their own electric provider. This is only available in States or localities which are deregulated. In short, if you live in one of the following states you should be able to choose your own provider (as of 2020):

Arizona, Arkansas, California*, Connecticut, Delaware*, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC

What is energy deregulation?

We have a full post that explains this in detail. In short, markets that have deregulated energy are markets where the company that is in charge of generating, transmitting and maintaining the electricity infrastructure is separate from the company that can actually sell the electricity to you, the end client. Due to this structure, many retail electric providers need to compete in order to earn your business, which results in significantly lower prices when compared to markets that are regulated, where you have no choice and you can only go with one company.

What if my electric company goes out of business? Will I lose power?

No, you will never be in a situation like this. If an electricity company is restructuring and leaving the state that you reside in, or if they go out of business they will typically give you a notice long enough before, and you will have enough time to choose a new plan. If something unexpected happens, and the company goes out of business overnight you will automatically be switched to a different provider which is called “Provider Of Last Resort”. During this time you can come back to SlashPlan and find a new and cheaper electricity plan.

Do I have to call my current provider and let them know that I am switching?

No, when you use SlashPlan to sign up for a new service, or to switch from an existing service you do not need to contact your current provider to let them know that you are leaving. The new electricity company that you are enrolling with will handle that for you. You will never need to contact your old provider, so switching you to a new service is seamless and very easy. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes.

How long will it take for me to switch to a different Electric Company?

The process of finding a new retail electric provider (REP) with the best rates will only take a few minutes on SlashPlan. We do all the hard work for you and allow you to compare the top plans easily. Once you have chosen your plan and completed the enrollment, your new electric company will notify your previous provider and the switch typically takes 1 to 3 business days.
If you do not need to start service immediately, you also have an option at the time of enrollment to select a service start date in the future. During the transition to a new electric provider you will not have any service interruptions, so no need to worry about that.

What if I change my mind, can I go back to my previous provider?

If you live in Texas there are certain rules that protect you in case you change your mind. You have 3 days from your enrollment date to change your mind. If you do not want to start service with your new provider, simply contact them and tell them that you want to cancel. You can always come back to SlashPlan and find a new provider or a different plan. If you are moving into a new address that you did not have service in before your right to cancel may vary depending on the provider and the plan that you chose. Please check the documents you received after enrollment (Electronic Fact Sheet, Terms Of Service, Your Right As a Customer) to check your cancellation options.

I need to cancel my plan before my contract ends because I am moving to a new address.

You probably noticed that most providers charge an early termination fee. If you are moving out of your address before your contract ends, you will not be charged any cancellation fees. The early termination fee only applies in cases where you stay in the same address and decide to switch providers before your contract ends. It is always better to call your provider to double-check, but the law is on your side, and you should not be charged an early termination fee when moving to a new location.

How much does it cost to switch providers?

We offer our service completely for free. You will not pay us anything.
Since we connect you with an electricity provider, they may charge a start up or setup fee (which is pretty rare). If a provider charges any such fees they will need to list them under the Electric Facts Label. Please review it carefully before signing up. We have these documents available for every plan on our website.

Please notice that if you switch to a different provider before your contract ends you may be charged an early termination fee. This does not apply if you are moving to a new address, and there are laws that protect you and give you a certain grace period that allows you to switch plans a couple weeks before your current plan ends without paying a penalty. Please double check with your current provider that you will not be charged an early termination fee before switching, you can always email them or call them directly for more information.

Why is your service free?

We truly believe that homeowners and businesses need to be informed about their options. Many people are not aware that they can switch or shop around for electricity plans, and are not aware of how energy is charged for different usage tiers. That is why we offer our service to you for free. When you sign up to a new plan with us, some providers pay us a small commission for our referral. We never prioritize any provider over another, and always show you the cheapest electricity options, and only show you the best plans that fit your needs and usage patterns.

My current provider wants me to renew, should I sign up again with SlashPlan or take their offer?

Although your current provider may give you a good deal, it’s always a safer bet to come back and check the current plans that we have available. You could easily compare the offer that was given to you with other plans on the market and choose the better between them. Electricity prices change almost daily. Just because you signed up to the best plan a year ago doesn’t necessarily mean that this is still the best plan for you today.

Maybe other competitors entered the market?
Maybe your power usage habits have changed?
Maybe the price that you are paying now is not attractive anymore.

Finding a new plan and signing up only takes a few minutes, and it can end up saving you a significant amount of money. Come back and check our electricity offers at Slash plan when it comes time to renew your current plan, or when you are moving and need to start service in a new address.

Do you offer plans that are environmentally friendly, or use 100% renewable energy sources?

Yes, while most plans have some renewable content in them, we also offer plans that are 100% green. You can find these specific plans by using the filters on our comparison page. In every renewable energy plan, your provider must purchase enough renewable energy credits to match the percentage of your electricity usage that comes from renewable sources. The renewable energy credits are like a certificate that green energy producers create, which is then bought by retail electric providers. These funds generated by this helps power green initiatives and projects, so by choosing a plan that is 100% green you help create a future that is more sustainable.

How come an electricity plan that I am looking at has different prices for different usage levels?

This is one of the things that create a lot of confusion among customers, but it is easy to explain. Some providers have additional fees that are added in addition to your usage fees, such as base charges and minimum usage charges. In addition to that, some plans are tiered, and have different prices for different usage levels.

For example, a plan may charge you 10 cents a Kilowatt when you use 1000 kWh or less during a month, but may charge you 12 cents if you go over that.

The best way to know the real price that you are paying right now, which can be different than the advertised price that was presented to you initially, is to contact your current provider, or to pull out your latest bill and divide the amount due by the total kWh (Kilowatt) you had that month.

The plan prices that we list on our comparison page already take all of the charges and discounts into account, so you can be confident that you are getting the true cost that you will actually see when the bill is due, and not an advertised price that will get bigger when all of the additional fees are added on top of it.