In Albany, NY (and across New York State), you don’t have to just buy your electricity or natural gas supply from your local utility. Instead, you can choose from a range of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). ESCOs are third-party energy suppliers that compete to sell you the “supply” portion of your energy, the actual electricity, while your utility (like National Grid or NYSEG) continues to deliver it and handle your meter and service reliability.
When you shop for electric rates, you’ll see different options like fixed or variable rates. And sometimes products with renewable energy or special terms. Comparing offers can help you find a rate that fits your budget and usage patterns, but it’s important to understand the contract details and how rates could change over time.
If you want to explore current ESCO plans and pricing for your ZIP code in Albany, tools like the NY Power to Choose or the EnergyBot marketplace list eligible suppliers and their offers side-by-side, making it easier to compare before you decide.
The PSC, or Public Service Commission of New York State, provides a variety of services to protect and assist utility customers. This includes service quality, competition, and electricity metering. The PSC was created to ensure the residents of New York State have adequate, efficient, reliable, and safe public utility services at a fair price.In doing so, the PSC impacts every business in Albany by regulating all providers of utility services, including electric and natural gas companies, local and long-distance telephone companies, water companies, and steam generators. The PSC is responsible for ensuring that the utility companies it regulates are responsive to the needs and concerns of individual consumers and the public.As an Albany business owner, it is important to understand that the PSC is also synonymous with the “NYS Power to Choose” energy comparison charts.
Utilities are the entities responsible for the operation and maintenance of energy infrastructure, such as wires and towers. The local utility in Albany is North American Power, which is responsible for transporting electricity from generators to residential homes and businesses.
Energy providers in New York, like Direct Energy, are competitive energy retailers. Each energy provider buys energy from the wholesale market (generators) and resells it to consumers (homeowners, renters, and businesses).In most cases, the consumer, the homeowner, renter, or business signs a contract with an energy provider for a specific energy plan. The basic energy plan details the rate class, the energy rate per kWh, the contract term length (6, 12, 24, 36 months), and other contract terms, such as the cancellation fee policy.
Energy choice, also known as energy market deregulation, allows Albany business owners to select their energy supplier. Mount Vernon has been a deregulated market since May 1999.
Energy spend can be a significant line item on your business's operating budget. In addition to investing in energy efficiency, you can save money on your energy bills by shopping for business and finding the lowest rate possible.
Energy pricing varies greatly based on how much energy your business uses, market conditions, and numerous other factors. It can get complex quickly.
You can quickly search energy rates for your business here. Our system combines market data and your business's energy usage to find you the lowest possible rate.
In 7 years of working to demystify the energy industry, EnergyBot has helped over 100,000 customers. Whether you're looking to find the cheapest electricity rate, a stable contract that fits your budget, or plan for unique energy needs, we’ve been there to help. And we've gotten pretty darn good at it, with over 2,000 5-star reviews and millions in savings for our customers.
By pulling real energy usage data and sharing expert insights directly with you, we're empowering you to take control of your electricity bill. Whether that means cutting your monthly bill, improving energy efficiency, or both — we're always here to help.
Most importantly, we're here to help you save money. Not to sell you something you don’t need. We're paid a small commission fee by electricity providers when you sign a contract — not out of your rate. That means we can help you make the best energy decision for your home or business without taking a dime from your wallet.