Providing the Facts about Residential Energy Deregulation
“ The average utility customer doesn’t have any business trading energy commodities, so caveat emptor is spot on!” Response from energy executive.
2024 U.S. Residential Retail Energy Results:
Retail electricity and gas choice is sold to consumers, the media, state regulators, and elected officials with promises of lower prices, innovation and increased renewable energy options. “Choice” sounds great.
Yet after 25 years, residential consumers in 12 states that choose competitive retail energy, simply pay higher electricity bills. See each state’s results under “In the States” tab.
The Retail Energy market is designed to monetize residential consumers’ inattention.
As policymakers search for energy affordability solutions, it’s worth taking a close look at the role deregulation plays in how 11.4 million US households are paying for electricity and gas.
Our new report, Caveat Emptor: America’s $48 Billion Competitive Retail Electricity Bust, should be a wake-up call to both consumers and policymakers. In 2024 alone, 11.4 million accounts paid $4 billion more for “electricity choice.”
Retail Energy Revealed is a resource to help you get up-to-speed on what’s really happening. Because “buyer beware” is not good public policy for an essential service.
Residential Retail Energy,
Explained
Driven by data, our mission is to provide factual information to individuals interested in the deregulation of energy markets. Whether you are a journalist, a state legislator, a regulator or a consumer trying to wrap your head around it all, consider us a resource.
On this site you’ll find:
Actual rate results by state, by supplier compared to regulated rates, or comparison rates.
Blog posts that reveal insider’s POV from working with consumers on retail energy since 2016.
Under “Articles / Reports” tab, every article, radio show, webinar and official state reports.
What is Retail Energy?
Today, 13 states and D.C. opened up their consumer energy markets. Often called “retail energy choice,” residents & businesses can also choose an energy supplier that competes with their regulated utility. In Texas’ ERCOT market, 6.7 million families “choose” a retail supplier. In 2024 alone, the 11.4M residential retail energy accounts paid $4 billion more than regulated or government-negotiated energy rates.
The Numbers, Nationally.
Since 2003, Americans on a retail supplier have spent $48 billion more for electricity. And that’s from The Wall Street Journal reporting plus EIA data after their 2021 article.
Each state’s 2023 Retail Energy versus regulated rate results are revealed.