State representatives speak to San Angelo residents about switching electricity providers

State representatives met with residents of San Angelo in western Texas to discuss options and approaches when deciding whether to switch electricity providers, according to the San Angelo Standard Times.

Texas has become the state most representative of electricity deregulation, having opened its market to competition in the 1990s. The Public Utility Commission of Texas reports that the state has seen more than half of its residential customers – 55.61 percent as of July of this year – have changed to an alternate electricity provider so far.

Still many are unaware of the best practices or are simply uncomfortable with the idea of shopping for lower electricity rates. Drew Darby, San Angelo's state representative, notes that Tom Green county, in which the city resides, has one of the lowest proportions of people switching electricity providers.

To encourage residents, Darby and Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel public counsel Sheri Givens spoke with residents about competition in electricity prices around the state, explaining that the process changes nothing more than a single line on their bills. The pair also spoke about the numerous resources they have in making the choice and other important issues in energy today like smart meters and weatherization.