What electric company to use?

Dominion Electric

Promises 30 percent savings on your electric rates.

Here's how they get that figure:

• Dominion is offering 6.55 cents per kWh as of Spring 2010
• Duke charges 9 cents per kWh

The fine print:.

• The discount is only on the supply half of your bill.
• The other half of the bill -- Duke's delivery fee-- is unchanged.
• Taxes and state fees are also unchanged.

The discount might be 10 to 12 percent on your electric. Most importantly, this has no effect on your Natural Gas bill, which is often the larger portion of the bill.

First Energy

They are offering a guaranteed 50 percent discount on your first month, and at least 10 percent off each subsequent month during your two year contract.

The fine print:

• The discount is only on the supply half of your bill.
• The other half of the bill -- Duke's delivery fee-- is unchanged.
• Taxes and state fees are also unchanged.

The discount might be smaller than you expect. It also has no effect on your Natural Gas bill.

Duke Energy Retail:

• Lock in to an 15 percent discount through December 2011, or
• Sign up for a locked in fixed price of .0639 per kilowat hour.
• If you are with a Township or Village that has a special agreement, you will get a bigger discount of 18 to 20 percent.

The fine print:

• The discount is only on the supply half of your bill.
• The other half of the bill -- Duke's delivery fee-- is unchanged.
• Taxes and state fees are also unchanged

The discount might be 10 to 12 percent on your electric, and will have no effect on your Natural Gas bill.


Any of these three offers will save you money right now but be warned - do not sign up for an offer, especially the newest from Duke Retail, if you already signed a contract with Dominion or First Energy in the past year. You can be hit with an early termination fee of $100 or more for breaking your contract.