Families across our area can save
hundreds, even thousands of dollars
if they would only switch to an
energy provider that charges less.
But you know what, most people
just won?t switch and we?ve wondered
why. 11 News reporter Jeremy
Diesel shows us what he?s uncovered.
You have the power to choose.
Power that can literally save you
hundreds of dollars a year on your
bill.
But in the four years since electricity deregulation began in Texas only a little more than 25% of people
in the Houston area have left Reliant Energy, even though the price it?s forced to charge is generally the
highest.
Minnie Lee Coleman is like so many others. ? If it gets unbearable here I will cut it off and just sacrifice
something else to pay my electric bill. Because paying half and part I don?t do that.? Last night she told
us she?s willing to sacrifice. But not willing to leave Reliant for a cheaper price. ?I don?t trust them. And
that?s it.? But why?
the lights on or what happens if there is a storm -- who is going to turn back on the power.?
Here?s the deal, when deregulation happened five years ago, Reliant Energy divided into two completely
separate companies. Reliant which sells power and Centerpoint which delivers it. CenterPoint
owns the lines which carry power, maintain them and reads the meter no matter who your power
provider is.
Come storm time, its CenterPoint which restores power to those who lose it. Not the power provider
you pay. All of the power companies Reliant, TXU, Green Mountain, Commerce and more than a dozen
others all put their power on the Texas grid. Its then used by everyone. Your meter read by CenterPoint
shows the amount you used. CenterPoint forwards that information to your provider who bills you.
?Who you buy your power from does not affect the reliability of that power. But it can affect your
bottom line.
