Create one request that every supplier can answer
Specify the service utility, business rate class, requested start month and term. Provide usage through an appropriate private channel after the initial inquiry, rather than posting bills or account numbers publicly. State whether the business needs fixed pricing, an index exposure or a renewable attribute. Suppliers quoting different information may produce numbers that cannot be fairly ranked.
Record pricing components in separate columns
List energy, capacity, transmission, losses, monthly charges and any other identified supply components. Mark each as included, excluded or uncertain. Record usage-band tolerances and what happens when the site expands or closes. A blank field is not zero. Ask the supplier to resolve unknowns before using the calculated result as a purchasing recommendation.
Review flexibility before the signature
Read the start and end provisions, renewal language, notice window, termination formula and change-in-law clauses. Ask how adding or removing meters affects the agreement. Compare the legal entity being contracted, rather than relying solely on a brand logo. Check current certification using the regulator’s resources; a provider name in an article is not a present endorsement or verification.
Keep a decision record
Document why an offer fits the business’s risk tolerance and operating plans. Save the dated quote, full agreement and inclusion list. A decision can rationally prefer a more inclusive product over a lower energy-only price. Recheck the expiration time before signing and confirm acceptance through the supplier’s process. An inquiry to this website is not an enrollment or an acceptance of a quoted contract.
A practical example
Illustrative explanation, not a customer outcome.
For the same usage and term, a 0.1¢/kWh difference equals $10 per 10,000 kWh before fees. A $20 monthly fee can reverse the apparent ranking. Use the offer tool for the arithmetic and the contract checklist for costs the tool cannot infer.
Put the review into practice
| Review step | What to record |
|---|---|
| Match the request | Use the same utility, class, quantities, start and term. |
| Resolve exclusions | Ask how every omitted cost is calculated; unknown is not zero. |
| Read the exit terms | Review renewal, cancellation, relocation and usage conditions. |
| Retain the evidence | Save the dated quote, complete agreement and decision rationale. |
Questions worth asking
Does listing a supplier mean you recommend it?
No. A current, account-specific review is needed before any recommendation.
Can the calculator choose my supplier?
It can compare entered cost assumptions. It cannot verify certification, contract clauses or service suitability.
Continue the comparison
Sources and scope
Reviewed October 15, 2026. Follow the source’s own data period, effective dates and current terms. Examples are hypothetical unless expressly identified as a dated published result. A source is context, not a guarantee of eligibility or a product endorsement.