General Questions FAQs
If I switch electricity suppliers, will my reliability be affected?
By law, the local utility company is not allowed to provide different care levels to customers who have chosen an alternate supplier. You will continue to receive the same level of delivery quality, emergency response, and meter reading from your current utility. Your utility company will not change, just the supplier of your electricity and/or natural...
What is the difference between Direct Energy and my local utility company?
Direct Energy is a retail supplier of electricity and natural gas (depending on your location), and your local distributor is a regulated entity that delivers electricity or natural gas to your home. Direct Energy is able to purchase the electricity or natural gas on the competitive market and sell it to customers. Your local distributor continues to deliver that electricity or natural gas to your...
What is the role of my local utility company?
Your local utility company delivers the electricity that flows into your home. The utility company is responsible for the lines, poles, pipes, meters, power outages, repairs, and other issues with how energy gets to your home. For example, if a storm blows down a power line or a car hits a utility pole, your utility company still fixes the problem and restores your power.
Your utility company continues to be responsible for:
- Delivery of electricity to all users in their service area
- Reliability and safety of the electricity or natural gas distribution system
- Maintenance of the poles, wires, and pipes
- Meter readings and maintenance
- Providing customer services related to the electricity or natural gas distribution system such as cable/pipe locations and 24-hour emergency service
- Connecting and disconnecting the customer's property to the electricity or natural gas distribution system
