Energy deregulation gives consumers choices when it comes to the companies that provide their home electricity. Suppliers can compete for your electricity dollars in a variety of ways, offering low prices, short and long-term contracts, fixed or variable rates, and a choice in how your energy is generated. The sheer volume of options can seem so complicated that you need to ask an electrician to help you tangle out the pros and cons of the available plans. One area in particular that can trip up consumers has to do with whether the source of their electricity is green or renewable. Read on to learn the difference.

Green Customers are Loyal Customers

Currently, 15 states plus Washington, D.C. have active electricity deregulation programs, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and these states are largely concentrated in the Northeast. Consumers who live in deregulated states are likely to be flooded with energy offers, often promising electricity that is derived from green or renewable sources. Purchasing this environmentally friendly power usually costs a bit more than electricity that comes from more traditional sources like coal, but some homeowners like to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to reducing carbon emissions.

Those customers who go green are valuable to the supplier because they are less likely to jump ship based on the availability of a cheaper energy source. "A customer on a renewable-energy product has actively decided what is important to them and has selected their supplier accordingly," Ritchie Hudson, Pennsylvania chairman of the Retail Energy Supply Association, said to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A Question of Semantics

However, while many suppliers and consumers treat green and renewable sources of electricity as synonymous, there is a distinction. Green energy is that which comes from specific sources that have the highest environmental benefit, including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass and small hydroelectric sources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, renewable energy “includes resources that rely on fuel sources that restore themselves over short periods of time and do not diminish,” which includes all the green options but also other sources such as large hydroelectric dams, which present certain environmental tradeoffs.

That means that if you really want to limit your impact on the Earth as much as possible, go green in lieu of simply choosing renewable energy. You can further refine your choices by asking about the specific source of the electricity, if you have a preference for solar, wind or another option.

Ask an Electrician About Your Options

Deregulated energy markets give you flexibility, but can also sow consumer confusion. If you need help deciphering the offerings of your state's electricity providers, ask an electrician who can walk you through your choices.

People opt for an electric panel upgrade for many reasons, many of them linked to the increasing electrical demands of modern households. In today’s world, we need more power than ever as the devices we use become more sophisticated. With the growing importance of the technology around us, having an electrical panel that can support it all is critical. Beyond maintaining the standards of living we desire for ourselves and our loved ones, an electric panel upgrade is also necessary when it comes to safety.

With studies today showing how harmful internal combustion engines can be to the environment, it’s little wonder that the electric car is becoming a more popular option among consumers. Not only do gasoline powered cars contribute to pollution, but extracting and processing the oil needed by these cars causes pollution and contamination as well. The hybrid market is beginning to heat up, especially as many people begin to realize that benefits that these vehicles have to offer. If you’re considering the purchase of an electric car, here are several of the top benefits you can enjoy.

Benefit #1 – Environmentally Friendly

One of the main benefits of going with an electric hybrid vehicle is that these vehicles are environmentally friendly. These vehicles produce no waste, eliminating problems like carbon monoxide pollution. Internal combustion engines allow waste to permeate the air by releasing chemicals through the vehicle’s tailpipe. Electric vehicles don’t even have a tailpipe and will not create pollution to the environment.

Benefit #2 – Energy Efficient

If you’re interested in energy conservation, you’ll find that an electric car has the benefit of being energy efficient. Energy is consumed in an efficient manner within these cars. Approximately 75% of the energy from the batteries is converted into energy. On the opposite side, traditional engines lose about 80% of the energy that comes from the fuel.

Benefit #3 – Reduces Dependence on Oil

You’ll also find that an electric car has the benefit of reducing dependence on oil as well. Much of the gasoline used for internal combustion engines is imported in from other countries, making these vehicles reliant on foreign oil. Many feel that dependence on foreign oil is a natural security problem, not just an environmental one. Cars that run on electricity get the electricity needed from the car’s batteries. While hybrids may use some gasoline, they are not fully dependent on the oil imported from other countries.

Benefit #4 – Provides Savings

Those who purchase and use an electric car can enjoy money saving benefits too. Although the initial investment may seem more expensive, tax credits and lowered long-term expenses actually provide savings in the long run.

Benefit #5 – Great Performance

Electric vehicles today can offer great performance as well. Electric engines have fewer moving parts, which makes them less likely to have a problem. This lowers maintenance costs and provides users with a smooth and efficient driving experience.

It’s easy to see that the electric car provides some excellent benefits to consumers today. These benefits can be maximized by having an electrical charging station installed at your home as well. Professional electric companies install these charging stations, which make it easier to keep your electric vehicle charged. With installation of a quality charging station, you can enjoy faster and more efficient charge times, making the most of your hybrid vehicle.

Custom Electrical Services was able to present this amazing young girl Keeley Keller with a donation to benefit the JDRF or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Keeley has been living with type one diabetes for over 6 years.  Three years ago after trick or treating Keeley’s parents asked her what she would like to do with her candy.  She said trade it in for a cure.  Every Halloween she takes the candy from trick or treating and holds an auction for her bowl of candy.  The benefits from the action go to the JDRF were the money is used to help with research to find treatments and one day a cure to end diabetes.

“Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. Its onset has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent T1D, and—at present—nothing you can do to get rid of it.” (JDRF)

Most of us know someone affected by T1D.  Ron with Custom Electrical Services has a close cousin who grew up T1D so he sees the way it effects peoples lives.  It’s more important then ever to get involved with the JDRF.  With scientific advancements researches are closer than ever before in finding the cure.  You can get involved in many different ways.  You can volunteer, donate money, or become an advocate.  The JDRF also allows for a tribute donation, as well as a memorial donation.  Please make a contribution today.  Thousands off kids across the USA are waiting for a cure.

Categories: community« Veterans Day  |  Authorized Tesla Charging Station Electrician »