Buffalo Electricity Rates

Residents and business owners in Buffalo are able to save on their electric bills by shopping around for a retail electricity provider that offers a lower electric supply rate than what the default utility, National Grid is charging. In New York, retail electricity providers are also referred to as "Energy Service Companies", or "ESCOs".

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How to Compare Buffalo Electricity Rates

If you're a resident or business owner in Buffalo, you've probably received information from various retail electricity providers trying to get your business. But how do you sort through all that information? How do you know if you're signing up for a plan that best fits your home or business's electricity needs? Follow the steps below to make this seemingly daunting process fast and easy so you can start saving on your electric bills.

Rest assured that when you make the switch, National Grid will continue to deliver and service your electricity will the same reliability as always. The only change you'll see is a different supply rate on your monthly bill.

1. View a List of Available Retail Electricity Providers in Your Area

Use our free Compare & Switch tool, located on the right side of this page, to view a list of reputable providers in the Buffalo area that have some of the best rates around. Just type your ZIP Code into the orange box, click on "Compare", and then select National Grid as your utility. Once the list is generated, you can start shopping!

2. Find a Better Rate

Now you'll need to compare the rate you are currently paying with the rate that retail electricity providers are offering. On a National Grid bill, the rate you are currently paying is located on the second page of the bill, under "Supplier Services". Your electric usage is measured by your most recent meter reading, expressed in cents per kilowatt hours (kWh).

As you browse through the list of providers that was generated with the Compare & Switch tool, you'll probably notice that many providers are offering lower rates that what you're paying right now. But before you make the switch, consider other features of the plans.

3. Consider Other Features of a Plan

Here are some questions that you'll want to ask yourself when comparing providers and plans:

• Is the rate Fixed or Variable: fixed-rate plans have rates that will NOT change for the duration of your contract. Variable-rate plans have rates that vary along with wholesale electricity market prices.
• How Long does the contract last:Go with a shorter contract term if you think that National Grid's default rates will go down in the near future, or go with a longer term if you think that their rates will go up. Most customers choose between a 6- to 24-month plan.

• Do the providers offer incentives for switching:Retail electricity providers care about your business, so many providers offer incentives to keep you as a customer. These may include sign-on bonuses, discounts on energy appliances and services, and substantial rewards programs.

• Does the provider offer green plans:You may consider purchasing electricity from renewable sources. If this is the case, many providers offer partial or 100% green plans that will allow your home or business to receive its electricity from renewable sources. Even better, these plans are very affordable.