1.
UNDERSTANDING ENERGY CHOICE
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS SUPPLY

2.
It used to be that your
utility company was your
only choice as supplier of
electricity or natural gas,
no matter where you lived
in the United States or
Canada.
YOU ONCE HAD NO CHOICE

3.
States and provinces with
deregulation have replaced
a monopoly system of
electricity and natural gas
utilities with a system of
several competing retail
energy providers, giving your
business real energy choice.
BUT NOW YOU HAVE OPTIONS

4.
IF YOUR BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN A DEREGULATED
ELECTRICITY OR NATURAL GAS MARKET, IT CAN CHOOSE A
GOVERNMENT-LICENSED RETAIL ENERGY PROVIDER THAT
MAKES THE MOST ECONOMICAL SENSE.
WHICH BUSINESSES CAN MAKE THIS CHOICE?

5.
BENEFITS OFFERED BY A RETAIL ENERGY PROVIDER
A retail energy provider can:
• Procure your power supply
• Provide green energy options
• Offer pricing options
• Provide knowledgeable customer service

6.
SEE HOW COMPETITION STACKS UP
Energy choice enables your business to compare:
• Provider rates
• Provider services
• Provider contract terms

7.
When you purchase energy through a retail energy supplier,
you are choosing who supplies your electricity or natural
gas. The utility still provides the transmission and
distribution of your commodity. Let's take a look at how
each of those three things work.
HOW ENERGY CHOICE WORKS

8.
1
Transmission is
movement of the
electricity supply from a
power plant to the
utility’s substation.
Transmission is also
regulated by the
government to ensure
the reliable delivery of
energy.
TRANSMISSION

9.
Distribution is the
transfer of electricity
from the substation to
your business via wires.
Distribution is also
regulated by federal
government agencies.
2DISTRIBUTION

10.
Companies that
generate electricity
make their supply
available on the
wholesale market. As a
retail energy provider,
Direct Energy Business
purchases energy at
competitive rates and
sells it to businesses.
SUPPLY 3

11.
TO FIND OUT IF YOUR BUSINESS IS IN A DEREGULATED MARKET AND
HOW ENERGY CHOICE MIGHT HELP YOUR COMPANY SAVE MONEY,
VISIT DIRECTENERGYBUSINESS.COM/WHATISDEREGULATION
LEARN MORE ABOUT ENERGY CHOICE

12.
© 2016 Direct Energy. All Rights Reserved. Direct Energy and the Lightning Bolt design are registered trademarks of Direct Energy.
(DC PSC License No. EA-04-4-4; EA-13-12; GA-13-03-1; NJ BPU License Nos. ESL-0165, ESL-142, GSL-0145, GSL-0128; MD PSC
License Nos. IR-437; IR-2697; IR-3123; IR-3108; PUCT Cert. No. 10011; Direct Energy Business, LLC CT PURA License Nos. 12-03;
00-05-14RE01; MA DPU License Nos. CS-021; GS-052; CS-108; GS-051). Products and services vary depending on region or market.
DEB-0659-2016