Verify the meter and existing agreement
Identify the delivery utility, service class, current supplier and contract end date. Check notice windows, automatic renewal language and termination provisions before requesting a switch. For leased space, establish who holds the account and who can authorize changes. Municipal and cooperative service requires separate eligibility review. Keep account numbers out of the initial inquiry form.
Compare offers before authorizing anything
Request the complete written terms and a dated price. Check inclusions, fees, usage conditions and what happens after the initial term. Confirm that the supplier is certified for the relevant service. Avoid verbal consent to a product you have not reviewed. A sales message saying that an offer expires soon should not substitute for checking the agreement.
Coordinate the start with the old contract
Ask the selected supplier and utility how the proposed start aligns with meter-reading and enrollment processing. Do not assume the date of signature is the first service date. Confirm what happens if the requested enrollment cannot be completed on time. Retain acceptance and enrollment notices and review any cancellation rights that actually apply to the transaction.
Check the first bill and renewal record
Verify the supplier name, effective price and any fees against the agreement. Investigate an unexpected default or overlap charge promptly. Save the documents and record planning dates before the next renewal. Supplier choice generally changes the commodity arrangement while the utility continues delivery functions; a normal supplier change is not a new physical service connection.
A practical example
Illustrative explanation, not a customer outcome.
A contract ending November 30 and a new offer beginning December are not enough by themselves to prove a clean handoff. Check the notice requirement, billing-cycle alignment and confirmed enrollment date. Our renewal planner provides preparation dates, not legally binding deadlines.
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
Will a normal supplier switch interrupt service?
The local utility continues delivery. Confirm any separate account or service changes with it.
Does sending this website a request enroll me?
No. The inquiry requests contact only and does not authorize a supplier contract.
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.