How to Find the Best Electricity Provider in 2021
When shopping for energy rates, it’s essential to choose your provider carefully. With so many options to choose from, this can be a daunting task – especially if you’re unfamiliar with Energy Choice.
The best electricity providers bring their customers more than just the lowest rates. They provide a customer-first experience, including access to the best energy products, stellar service and notable contributions to their local communities. This is why we’ve created the Provider Score™ rating system to help you make the most confident choice.
Provider Score™ Summary
| Provider | Provider Score | Energy Options | Service Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constellation | CT, GA, IL, OH, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, TX | ||
| Tomorrow Energy | PA, NJ, MD, OH, TX | ||
| TriEagle Energy | TX | ||
| Starion Energy | CT, DC, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, OH & PA | ||
| Spark Energy | CT, IL, MA, NJ, NY, PA & TX | ||
| 4Change Energy | TX | ||
| Energy Harbor | IL, MD, OH, PA | ||
| Direct Energy | CT, IL, MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, DC | ||
| Public Power | CT, IL, MD, MA, NY, OH, PA, RI, DC | ||
| Rhythm | TX | ||
| Frontier Utilities | TX, NJ, PA & OH | ||
| First Choice Power | TX | ||
| Varsity Energy | TX | ||
| Pulse Power | TX | ||
| Verde Energy | CT, MA, NJ, NY, OH, PA & DC |
- Electricity Plans
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- 100% Renewable Plans
- Business Electricity
- Smart Home Bundles
Provider Score™ Rating System Overview
To help bring more transparency to energy consumers, ElectricityRates.com created the Provider Score™ rating system which takes into account dozens of unbiased data points to rate electricity providers on a 5 point scale. Rating categories include the following:
Product Offering & Innovation
How innovative are the energy products that the provider offers? Do they offer renewable energy plans, smart-home devices, or home energy solutions?
Accessibility & Support
How accessible are the electricity provider’s bill payment and customer support options? Do they offer online bill pay, online chat and a 24/7 customer service phone number?
Business History & Community Outreach
How reliable is the electricity provider? Have they been in business for a long time? Are they accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and do they positively impact their community through charitable work?
Customer Reviews
What kind of ratings does the electricity provider have from its customers? Do they get mostly positive feedback and proactively address complaints?
Best Overall 2021 Electricity Provider: Constellation
Constellation receives the highest score and takes the top spot as the best overall provider. The Maryland-based company is one of the largest providers in the United States, serving over 2 million residential and business customers. Constellation is the Best Overall 2021 Electricity Provider as a result of:
- Offering flexible plans that fit practically anyone’s needs from 100% renewable plans to smart-home and A/C protection bundles
- Excellent customer service and accessibility via online chat
- Almost 20 years of experience and A+ BBB Accreditation
- Easy online bill-pay through MyConstellation and access to customer support via phone or online chat
- Outstanding community impact, including work with Habitat for Humanity, the E2 Energy to Educate grant program and more
Constellation
Provider Score™: 4.5/5
Constellation, an Exelon Company, is a leading competitive energy company serving over 2.5 million residential and business customers across the United States. They specialize in integrated energy solutions from electricity, natural gas and renewable energy supply to energy efficiency and distributed energy solutions.
Learn MoreBest Green 2021 Electricity Provider: Tomorrow Energy
Tomorrow Energy‘s core mission is to positively impact the world by giving customers more clean energy choices. Tomorrow Energy offers energy options supported by 100% renewable wind power and also partners with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees on their customer’s behalf for signing up. On top of that, Tomorrow Energy’s rates are competitive and usually among the lowest rates available.
Tomorrow Energy
Provider Score™: 4.5/5
Tomorrow Energy is a retail electricity and natural gas supplier with a mission of creating a positive impact in the world by giving customers more clean Energy Choices. Their electricity plans are backed by 100% National Wind Renewable Energy Certificates. All natural gas plans are backed by 100% carbon offsets.
Learn MoreMost Charitable 2021 Electricity Provider: Starion Energy
Headquartered in Connecticut, Starion Energy takes the cake for the most charitable provider. Since its founding in 2009, the organization has supported the communities it serves with donations to many nonprofit organizations through the Starion Cares program. Most recently, Starion has provided essential support to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The list of organizations that Starion Energy supports includes Connecticut Cancer Foundation, Toys for Tots, Soldiers Angels and Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital.
Starion Energy
Provider Score™: 4/5
Starion Energy is dedicated to cultivating long-term customer relationships. Starion created their business model understanding the challenges their residential and business customers face in this industry. Their entrepreneurial attitude leads them to work as your partner.
Learn MoreElectricity Provider with Best Reviews: Spark Energy
With over 2,400 verified reviews across trusted platforms like Consumer Affairs and Google, Spark Energy is the electricity provider with the best reviews and overall customer service track record. Founded in 1999, Spark Energy is a pioneer in the retail energy industry and focuses on three core areas: energy savings expertise, community support, and customer service.
Spark Energy
Provider Score™: 4/5
Spark Energy was found in 1999 in Houston, Texas and was an early pioneer in the retail energy market. Spark Energy prides itself on 3 specialties that set them apart from the rest: energy savings knowledge, customer service and community support.
Learn More2021 Best Electricity Providers: Best of the Rest
The following providers have been carefully selected by ElectricityRates.com as industry leaders as a result of their competitive rates, customer service track record and impact on their local communities.
TriEagle Energy
Provider Score™: 4.5/5
TriEagle Energy has been a well-respected leader in the Texas retail energy industry for close to 20 years. Their focus is delivering value through energy cost savings, instilling trust by understanding the energy needs of its customers and providing customized solutions and products.
Learn More
Rhythm
Provider Score™: 4/5
Rhythm is a Texas electricity provider that provides renewable energy plans sourced from Texas wind farms. The company prides itself on its selection of plans with straightforward pricing and no hidden fees or gimmicks.
Learn More
Direct Energy
Provider Score™: 4/5
Serving over 4 million residential customers, Direct Energy is one of the largest electricity, natural gas and home services providers in North America. They are also one of the largest commercial and industrial electricity with over 240,000 business electricity customers.
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Energy Harbor
Provider Score™: 4/5
Energy Harbor is a retail energy provider specializing in providing clean, carbon-free energy for residents and businesses. They’re headquartered in Akron, Ohio and serve nearly one-million customers across Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Safety, reliability and sustainability are outlined as Energy Harbor’s core values.
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Public Power
Provider Score™: 3.5/5
Public Power is a retail energy provider that serves states throughout the Northeast and Midwest. Since 2008, they have served over one million homes and businesses. They pride themselves on offering competitive, and straight-forward energy plans with hassle-free customer service.
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Frontier Utilities
Provider Score™: 3.5/5
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Frontier Utilities has been providing affordable energy plans to its customers for over a decade. Frontier’s mission is to create superior value and service for its customers, employees, communities and investors through the sale and supply of energy and related services.
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First Choice Power
Provider Score™: 3.5/5
First Choice Power, a division of Direct Energy, has deep roots in Texas and has been a leading electricity provider since Texans got the power to choose in the early 2000s. Their mission is to put customers at the forefront by offering the best electricity rates and plans that are basic enough for all to understand.
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Verde Energy
Provider Score™: 3/5
Verde Energy USA was founded to help residents and businesses take advantage of the savings associated with state energy deregulation and the choice it provides. They are also committed to helping Americans move toward a more environmentally sound and economically sustainable renewable energy infrastructure.
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Pulse Power
Provider Score™: 3/5
Pulse Power is a company powered by Texans, for Texans. Their commitment is to provide convenient, affordable, and hassle-free electricity plans that fit you and your lifestyle. Pulse Power offers the following types of rates in terms ranging from 12-36 months.
Learn MoreHow Do You Find the Best Electricity Provider?
If you live in an area with Energy Choice, you can switch energy providers and realize potential savings on your electricity bill. Or, if you live in Texas, you are most likely required to shop for your electricity supply.
The most crucial factor for most people is pricing and paying the lowest rate possible, resulting in a lower bill. However, to make the best possible decision, there are a few other factors to keep in mind.
- Plan Length: Are you able to lock in a longer-term fixed rate that will protect you from fluctuating market-rates and potentially save you more over time?
- Savings: Are there savings available over what you’re currently paying for your default service?
- Renewable Energy: Do you care about the environment and purchasing 100% renewable energy?
- Special Offers: Are there offers for smart-home products or any other special incentives that come with the plan?
- Terms and Conditions: Are there any early termination fees or other terms you should know about?
On ElectricityRates.com, you’ll find great rates from leading providers that clearly outline all of these considerations for you. To see rates in your area, enter your ZIP Code at the top of the page. There are hundreds of electricity providers in the United States. Follow the links below to learn more about different electricity providers and what they offer.
- Ambit Energy
- Amigo Energy
- Brilliant Energy
- Champion Energy
- Cirro Energy
- CPL Retail Energy
- Dominion Energy Solutions
- Energy Plus
- EverBright Energy
- Green Mountain Energy
- Just Energy
- Reliant Energy
- Respond Power
- Stream Energy
- Tara Energy
- Texpo Energy
- TXU Energy
- Varsity Energy
- Viridian Energy/prov
- Xoom Energy
How do Retail Electricity Providers Work?
There are several steps when it comes to how electricity reaches your home or business. First, electricity is generated through various methods and enters the grid. Once energy reaches the grid, two primary things happen: energy supply and energy transmission or delivery. Electricity providers are responsible for the supply portion.
Electricity Providers (Supply)
- Negotiate Rates
- Provide customer service and additional energy solutions
- Sells energy to the end user
Local Utility (Transmission & Distribution)
- Maintain energy infrastructure
- Respond to power outages & emergencies
- Provide default supply service for customers who don’t switch providers