It’s been a while since I wrote about Direct Energy, an energy supplier here in the state of Illinois.  I thought it was a scam, but have since learned they’re actually a legitimate business, and even have competition here in Illinois.

I refused to sign up with them, even with the two representatives pressuring me about how I would save money with their company.  They wouldn’t tell me what my rate would be for electricity, only that with deregulation comes higher prices, and that energy costs are very volatile these days.

So far none of their dire price predictions have come true.  I’m glad I made the choice to not deal with Direct Energy, or any of the other alternative suppliers for natural gas or electricity.  Getting locked into a fixed rate while prices are going down (over time/averaged out year to year) doesn’t seem like a smart move.

Some more articles regarding these energy retailers:

http://www.suntimes.com/business/4175776-420/comed-no-longer-the-only-game-in-town.html

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110706/business/707069973/

http://www.citizensutilityboard.org/ciElectric_cubfacts_alternativesuppliers.html

Here’s how Direct Energy did when they attempted to switch folks over for natural gas:

http://www.citizensutilityboard.org/ags40.php

In Illinois, 95% of people who switched to an alternative provider for natural gas paid more than they did with their original gas supplier (since 2003):

http://www.citizensutilityboard.org/GasMarketMonitor.php

Hopefully the players in the deregulated energy markets can get everything figured out, and actually become competitive AND trustworthy to us consumers.