Not All ESCOs Are Created Equal
Many businesses claim to be Energy Services providers. But how do you know if they really have the depth of experience to make that claim legitimate? One foolproof method is to check them against statewide and national databases. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania keeps an approved list of ESCOs for state work (SEE LINK BELOW). The National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) also has a widely recognized accreditation process. Their approved list can be found here http://naesco.org/accreditation/companies.aspx. Companies recognized by these two agencies have undergone extensive and independent background checks.
DGS Approved ESCO Providers
Cost per BTU Part I
A vital aspect of being knowledgeable about energy costs is knowing the relative price of each fuel. Since most fuels are sold in different units (gallons, therms, kWh, etc.) comparing the relative cost can be difficult. One of the best ways to compare costs is to convert each fuel into a cost per million BTUs. The following table lists the cost per million BTUs for some common energy sources:
Cost per BTU Part II
As discussed in a previous Energy Tip knowing the cost per BTU is important information. However, to truly understand the cost of operating a piece of equipment, the efficiency of the equipment must also be taken into account. The following table lists the cost per million BTUs by taking into account typical equipment efficiencies:
Equipment Efficiencies
Renewable Energy
The term “Renewable Energy” appears to have gone mainstream in the American lexicon, and mainly due to the interest in wind and solar power. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) Renewable Energy resources are “naturally replenishing” sources of energy and currently account for only about 7% of our nation’s energy supply. The most common Renewable Energy sources are listed in the chart below.
This data indicates that wind and solar have a long way to go before they will become the dominant energy sources in our country!
Utility Companies Facing Deregulation
Sonny Popowsky, consumer advocate of Pennsylvania, was recently asked to estimate increases in residential electricity generation rates for all utility companies facing deregulation. Here's what he came up with:
Deregulation Chart