What You Should Know Before Choosing Gas Suppliers

Photo credit: Michael Tapp (flickr.com)

When we first moved to our new place, it wasn’t just packing up the life we knew and starting over somewhere where we didn’t know a soul that bothered us but also the fact that we had to find new utility providers as our current one didn’t provide service in the area we were moving to. My wife and I already had too much stress going on so really, we didn’t need more grief to be honest.

But grief we did experience because who knew how difficult and challenging it could be to find new gas connection service? About a month before we were scheduled to move, we were already taking turns calling up a few companies we came across online and some that were recommended by friends.

Too many high rates and a few rude customer service representatives later, we came across a moving home company that offered to not only provide us with a list of reputable providers in the area we were moving to but also take care of the connection and needless to say, by the time the last box was deposited into our new home by the movers, we already had electricity, water, phone, internet and gas service going on.

While not many moving home stories end up happily like ours, it doesn’t mean you will be doomed to a dark fate when it’s your turn to experience moving day. Planning ahead and some exceptional organizational skills can ensure that moving day isn’t as stressful and drama-filled as you imagine it to be. That and hiring moving home companies who offer free services on the side like connecting your utilities and you’re well on your way to starting your new life.

However, I have to admit that choosing our utility providers was tough. I was concerned about high energy bills and while we did our best to conserve our energy consumption and had the house specifically built to allow for excellent heating and cooling conditions, there was the matter of making sure everything else was peachy.

Photo credit: Phoenix Energy (flickr.com)

If anything there are tons and tons of utility providers you can choose from, all claiming to give you the best rates and the best service but that makes it all the more confusing doesn’t it? Shopping around for the best rates is the first thing you need to do after you’ve determined how much you can afford to pay. Determine how much you are paying with your current provider and compare that with the rates your potential suppliers are offering. Figure into the costs the discounts you can get and cancellation fees if you decide to end your contract early. Getting the best utility services for your home means being able to pay for everything within your budget so you can manage your household expenses well. Make sure you read the fine print on your contracts and understand the terms and conditions clearly before signing on the dotted line.  

One thing that you should do a lot of when shopping around for the best utility providers is to ask questions. Remember that if something is not part of your contract, then it is not part of the plan you signed up for so you need to make sure that everything you agreed to is written in your contract. You can always ask for an offer summary from your utility companies  and remember that you are entitled to a cooling-off period before finally deciding on the company you want to sign up with.

You might also like:

What You Should Know About Getting Utility Services (consumer.ftc.gov)

Choosing Utility Providers (neighborhoodlink.com)