Frequently Asked Questions on Duke Retail Seasonal Flex Plan
Q: What is this program all about? A: This program is about switching who you buy your electricity from to get a discounted price. Your local electric distribution company will still deliver the electricity to your home and maintain all wires, etc.
Q: Why should I switch?
A: 1) To save money!
2) To let FirstEnergy know that you DO NOT agree with their decision to phase
out part of the 30 year old All Electric discount.
3) To promote competition among electric suppliers the way that deregulation was
supposed to work in the first place. Just Say NO to monopolies!
Q: Will I still keep my All Electric Discount/Credits?
A: Yes, you will still keep your All Electric Discounts/Credits for as long as they are offered. The RGC credit is scheduled to be phased out by 2019. No changes are currently planned to the EDR and RDC credits. The current tariffs state that all three credits will continue for All Electric Customers who switch to a certified supplier of electricity, such as Duke Energy Retail. CKAP also sought, and received a signed letter from the PUCO Chairman confirming these facts!
Q: How can Duke Energy Retail sell electricity at a lower price?
A: Your local electric distribution company is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and must charge prices approved by the PUCO. However, Duke Energy Retail is a competitive supplier of electricity and can sell electricity at market prices.
Q: How does this program compare to NOPEC or FES' program?
A: As of Sept. 2011, NOPEC offers 4% off your "Price to Compare" per kwh rate listed by your local utility company. FES offers 6% off for non-All Electric customers, but reduces the discount to 4% off for All Electric customers. Thus, with either program you would receive 4% off your "Price to Compare." To illustrate comparative savings, last year's "Price to Compare" for the winter months was 6.85 cents per kwh. Under NOPEC and FES' program, your discounted rate would be 4% less or 6.58 cents per kwh. Under Duke Energy Retail's program, your discounted winter rate would be 5.85 cents per kwh, a much better rate!
Q: Are there fees for switching?
A: No. The customer does not pay a fee to switch from his or her local electric distribution company.
Q: Will I still be a customer of my local electric distribution company--FirstEnergy? (i.e. Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison)
A: Yes, you will be a customer of both your local electric distribution company (FirstEnergy) and Duke Energy Retail. FirstEnergy will "deliver" the electricity to you that you purchase from Duke Energy Retail.
Q: How long is the term/contract?
A: The contract is for two years.
Q: What happens after my two year contract is up?
A: Towards the end of your two year contract, you will be offered new pricing. If you like the pricing, you can renew your contract. If you do not like the pricing, your old contract will automatically expire and you will become a generation customer of your local electric distribution company again.
Q: What part of the all electric discount is being phased out and how will the Duke Energy Retail discount help "make up" for this loss?
A: The part of the All Electric Discount that we are keeping (for now) is the EDR of 1.9 cents and RDC of 1.7 cents for a total of 3.6 cents discount per kilowatt for usage above 500 kilowatts. The part that is being phased out over the next 8 years is the RGC. In the PUCO Case, the Ohio Consumer Counsel proposal (supported by CKAP) was to keep a portion of the RGC in place long term. That portion we were fighting to keep in place as our "ideal solution" was approximately 1.4 cents. So, given that Duke Energy Retail's winter rate discount is approximately 1.0 cent with this program, we have achieved a large portion of the 1.4 cents we were fighting to keep in the PUCO Case.
Q: I wish the term was longer than two years. Is this a short term arrangement or do CKAP and Duke Energy Retail plan a longer partnership?
A: The goal of the relationship is a long term partnership. As long as pricing remains mutually beneficial to each, both CKAP and Duke Energy Retail look forward to serving All Electric customers well into the future!
Q: Who is Duke Energy Retail?
A: Duke Energy Retail is a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corporation and an affiliate of Duke Energy Ohio. Duke Energy Retail provides competitive retail electric services to businesses, non-profit organizations and residential customers throughout Ohio. Duke Energy Retail sells electricity to customers at market-based prices rather than the preset prices offered by local electric distribution companies.
Q: Does CKAP's leadership feel it is safe to switch?
A: Yes! CKAP and its attorney have thoroughly investigated the terms of this offer and feel it will be safe and beneficial to All Electric customers. The current tariffs state that all three credits will continue for All Electric Customers who switch to a certified supplier of electricity, such as Duke Energy Retail. CKAP also sought, and received a signed letter from the PUCO Chairman confirming these facts!
Q: If I try it and don’t like it, can I switch back?
A: If you enroll with Duke Energy Retail, you have 7 days to rescind the contract. After that, you are committed to taking your generation service from Duke Energy Retail until your contract ends or until you pay the $50 early termination fee.
Q: Why haven't we had a choice of other electric suppliers before now?
A: Although electric deregulation has been around since 2000, it is expensive for electric suppliers to service typical, low volume residential customers. Instead, they usually seek out larger commercial customers. However, Duke Energy Retail realized that the all electric customer uses considerably more kwh in the winter than the average residential customer, and knew it made economic sense to offer them a quantity discount.
BILLING AND PAYMENT
Q: Will I get two different bills?
A: No. Both Duke Energy Retail's generation charges and your local electric distribution company's charges will appear on a single bill. The amount that you owe to Duke Energy Retail will be separately stated on that bill and your payment for Generation service will be forwarded by your local utility to Duke Energy Retail.
Q: Where/How will I make my payment?
A: You will make your payment by whatever method you currently use.
Q: Can I be on budget billing?
A: Yes, you can be on budget billing for your local electric distribution company's part of the bill. However, the amount you owe Duke Energy Retail must be paid in full each month. This means that about half of your electric bill will be equally billed each month, but the other half (Duke's part) will be owed in full each month. If you rely on budget billing to maintain your family budget, this program may not be right for you due to the varying amounts you will owe each month.
Q: When will my pricing begin?
A: Your revised rate will begin on the next available meter reading date after your local utility company confirms your enrollment as a customer of Duke Energy Retail. Your local utility company is either the Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison, or Toledo Edison, all part of FirstEnergy.
Q: What will my rate be each month?
A: Rates in effect for the two year contract term are:
Winter (Nov. thru Mar.) = 5.85 cents
Summer (Jun., Jul., Aug.) = 6.99 cents
Fall/Spring (Sept./Oct. and Apr./May) = 6.35 cents
Q: When will each monthly rate "kick in?"
A: Since meters are read at different times throughout the month, your monthly price will be set based on the date (month) your meter is read. For example, if your meter is read on Nov. 15, then that bill's usage will be charged at the Nov. price.
Q: How can I tell if I am saving money on the program?
A: You can see how much you are saving each month by comparing your Duke Energy Retail rate to the "Price to Compare" per kwh rate listed by your local utility company. The difference between these two prices multiplied by your total kilowatts used equals your total monthly savings.
OUTAGES
Q: Who do I call when the power goes out?
A: You will continue to call your local electric distribution company for all service related issues, such as outages.
ELIGIBILITY and ENROLLMENT
Q: Who is eligible?
A: Eligible homes included those all electric homes who use electricity as their primary or sole source of heat in FirstEnergy distribution territory.
Q: Am I eligible even if I built/converted to all electric after 2007?
A: Yes! This program is intended for any FirstEnergy customer who heats with electricity no matter when the home was built and/or converted to electric heat. You are eligible for this program regardless if you currently receive all, none, or partial all electric discount credits.
Q: Is Cleveland Electric Illuminating the same company as The Illuminating Company?
A: Yes. The Illuminating Company is just the more familiar name of Cleveland Electric Illuminating or CEI.
Q: I signed up online. How do I know if I enrolled properly?
A: You will receive a confirmation email within minutes of enrolling.
Q: I'm considering converting to gas. Can I still join the program?
A: Yes! You can still join the program, and if you happen to convert to gas in the future, you will not be "kicked off" this program. You can continue to enjoy your savings for the remainder of the two year contract term!
Q: I want to signup for the program but don't want to do it online. Can I do it any other way?
A: Yes. You can call Duke Retail Toll Free at: 855-999-8817
Q: Can I join even if I’m on NOPEC or FES?
A: Yes! Customers currently on NOPEC can also enroll and enjoy greater savings by switching from NOPEC to Duke Energy Retail. If NOPEC charges you a $25 early termination fee, the overall savings with Duke Energy Retail will more than make up for the $25 fee.
Q: Can I review the official. "Terms and Conditions" before I sign up?
A: Yes. Click to download the "Terms and Conditions" for:
Cleveland Illuminating Company
Ohio Edison
Toledo Edison