Ask any seasoned gambler and they will tell you the same thing; whether you are spinning the roulette wheel in Vegas or playing blackjack at your local casino, the house always wins.
When it comes to paying for your utilities in Alberta, the same principle applies. The house always wins. Only this time, the house isn’t some seedy casino that will at least comp you with a couple of free cocktails; the house is the government’s Regulated Rate Option (RRO).
Nearly half of Alberta’s residential customers are still stuck on the RRO, which means they are overpaying for their electricity. It’s a losing bet, and consumers are hamstrung by companies charging them for more than they need to pay for their electricity. Have you been dealt a lousy hand? The answer is ‘yes,’ and it’s time to switch dealers.
Get off the RRO
As the saying goes, the house always wins, but they don’t have to. There is a simple solution to beating the house: Don’t play their game.
If you’re a customer of Direct Energy (or other big utilities companies like ENMAX or EPCOR) and are stuck on the RRO, you’ll want to take a peek at some of the numbers we have to show you but be warned, they aren't pretty.
Over the last year, if you bet on the RRO being lower than rates supplied by UTILITYnet, you would have come up empty-handed 12 times out of 12. Month after month, UTILTIYnet rates were well below the RRO and had you made the switch, you’d have saved money and walked away a winner. Four months into 2022, the trend looks to be continuing:
If you’ve been stuck on the RRO, you’ve paid a lot more for your electricity than customers who’ve switched to one of Alberta’s 25 independent Energy Marketers.
Double Down
As you undoubtedly know, this past winter saw a brutal cold snap that resulted in soaring utilities bills for consumers. In an attempt to soften the blow, the Alberta government is planning to provide Albertans with $150 (in three installments of $50, details yet to follow) to help subsidize the high cost of utilities seen by many.
You could just sit back, take that $150 and say ‘thanks,’ but now is the perfect opportunity to get yourself out of a rigged game. Take your winnings and double down by switching retailers AND getting off the RRO. Why would you want to stay with RRO providers who have been hiding aces up their sleeve and show no signs of stopping?
It’s Your Move
Since 2021, customers on the RRO with Direct Energy have paid 23.5% more for their electricity than customers who have been with UTILITYnet. You might be wondering, ‘How is that possible? Why is UTILITYnet able to offer lower rates?’ The answer: We have purchased forward energy hedges directly from Alberta generators with prices guaranteed.
Reach out to our team at 1403-450-3458 or sign up online.
Save money and support local. It’s the smartest bet.
Cheers,
Nick Clark & Madeline Low
Founders of Utility Network & Partners Inc.