direct energy vs easy max vs other provider

[octothorp]

I once made the mistake of listening to one of the Direct Energy door-to-door salespeople, and deciding to give them a try; the offer sounded pretty good, and I had a week to opt out. So I signed up. By the next day, I had done enough research to realize that the deal I signed up for was actually awful compared to what I was already paying to Enmax. So I called Direct Energy and told them to cancel my plan, which they agreed to do. If that had been the end of it, I wouldn't have carried any grudge.

About three months later I get a gas bill from Direct Energy. Turns out they cancelled my electric but not my gas, which means not only to they felt that I'm locked in with them for three years, but I'm also locked in at a higher, unbundled rate. Took me several weeks of angry emails before I found out about the Alberta Utilities Consumer Advocate organization, and once I escalated the problem to them it was resolved quickly, and was released from my contract with Direct Energy, who did not receive a penny from me.

I'm polite to pretty much everyone who comes to my door, from the JWs to the crazies (we get a fair number of both), but I can't help getting into the Direct Energy door-to-door people about what a crappy company they work for.

[Dizzyedge]

Hey I'm thinking of switching over to Enmax, I was wondering if someone could list the fees that they're charged on their electricity bill, since the actual rate is sometimes only half the bill.

For example for Direct Energy:

for Aug 5 - Sept 5, 380 kwh

Usage: $62.33

Admin fee: $3.25
Transmission Charge $6
Dist Charge $13.30
Rate Rider $1.97
Local Access Fee $7.31

GST: $4.71
Total: $98.87

Which actually makes me think I'm getting ripped off as $62.33 / 380 kwh = $0.164 per kwh.

Does anyone have an Enmax bill with similar usage?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Dizzyedge

Hey I'm thinking of switching over to Enmax, I was wondering if someone could list the fees that they're charged on their electricity bill, since the actual rate is sometimes only half the bill.

For example for Direct Energy:

for Aug 5 - Sept 5, 380 kwh

Usage: $62.33

Admin fee: $3.25
Transmission Charge $6
Dist Charge $13.30
Rate Rider $1.97
Local Access Fee $7.31

GST: $4.71
Total: $98.87

Which actually makes me think I'm getting ripped off as $62.33 / 380 kwh = $0.164 per kwh.

Does anyone have an Enmax bill with similar usage?

Trust me, even us @ Enmax are "actually" paying nowhere near 8c/kWh once all the fees and riders are included. Your admin charges etc actually look quite a bit lower than my Enmax ones IIRC

[justkidding]

Originally Posted by Dizzyedge

Hey I'm thinking of switching over to Enmax, I was wondering if someone could list the fees that they're charged on their electricity bill, since the actual rate is sometimes only half the bill.

For example for Direct Energy:

for Aug 5 - Sept 5, 380 kwh

Usage: $62.33 38.64 (483kwh at 8cents)

Admin fee: $3.25 7.12
Transmission Charge $6 7.62
Dist Charge $13.30 13.67
Rate Rider $1.97 ?
Local Access Fee $7.31 9.08
Balancing Pool Allocation -.99
DAS Adjustment Rider .11
Trans Access Defer Acct Rider 3.36

Total is $78.61

GST: $4.71
Total: $98.87

Which actually makes me think I'm getting ripped off as $62.33 / 380 kwh = $0.164 per kwh.

Does anyone have an Enmax bill with similar usage?

I also get some money back each month on the total bill because of easymax.

[Dizzyedge]

Originally Posted by justkidding

I also get some money back each month on the total bill because of easymax.

EasyMax is about 100 bucks back a year right?
So that would almost cover the ~$10 extra in fees Enmax seems to charge (this is assuming those fees are completely flat, they may be a bit higher due to your bill having an extra 100 mhw).

I think I'll switch to Enmax, partially just due to the business being owned by the city.

That said, I think I should investigate any possible refunds from DE due to overcharging before doing so.

[THE SCUD]

There is no over charging, other than justkidding is on the fixed $0.08 rate with enmax, you appear to be on some variable amount. The variable amount is governed and should agree to the posted variable rates for AB.

[Dizzyedge]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

There is no over charging, other than justkidding is on the fixed $0.08 rate with enmax, you appear to be on some variable amount. The variable amount is governed and should agree to the posted variable rates for AB.

You're right, I'm on the "Regulated Rate" which now is purely a monthly market rate.

But that said, from Direct Energy Regulated's historic rates:

Billing Period		Residential
From	To	$ per kWh
1-Oct-11	31-Oct-11	0.12513
1-Sep-11	30-Sep-11	0.08161
1-Aug-11	31-Aug-11	0.13079
1-Jul-11	31-Jul-11	0.09754
1-Jun-11	June 31, 2011	0.07146
1-May-11	31-May-11	0.0721
1-Apr-11	30-Apr-11	0.12095

There's no indication why I should have paid ~ 16 cents per kwh

I'll have to look into it and make sure they didn't put me on some inflated fixed rate without my approval.

It's tough to figure out as DE's billing doesn't list anywhere what type of rate nor the rate itself you're paying.

The previous two months seem very close to the posted rates, with a slight difference due to each billing period including 5 days of the subsequent month. Looks like the Sept bill may just be a billing error.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Dizzyedge

So that would almost cover the ~$10 extra in fees Enmax seems to charge (this is assuming those fees are completely flat, they may be a bit higher due to your bill having an extra 100 mhw).

Well, to start with- those fees are not all flat. A few are based on your usage.

The most important point- he is paying $20 less per month for 27% more usage.

[Dizzyedge]

I figured it out. I'm with Direct Energy, not Direct Energy Regulated services.
So DE is the "competitive" brother of DERS.
The difference in historic prices seems to tend to be up to 25% less in the summer, and as much as double in the fall and winter. Great deal.

What's interesting is if you average out the year, it is about 8 cents per kwh, like Easymax, but if you look closer due to the amount of energy usage in the winter you're not at all paying that on average of all the Kwh you've used during the year.

off to Easymax!

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Dizzyedge

It's tough to figure out as DE's billing doesn't list anywhere what type of rate nor the rate itself you're paying.

The previous two months seem very close to the posted rates, with a slight difference due to each billing period including 5 days of the subsequent month. Looks like the Sept bill may just be a billing error.

Just last week I spent an hour on the phone with them trying to get them to explain my bill to me and they refused, saying they could send me out a summary of the charges but could not explain it on the phone. I was furious that they just couldn't tell me what I was being billed for as the numbers didn't make sense, much like your bill. It didnt help that every one of my last 3 bills has a different length billing cycle - ranging from 21 days to 40+ days.

After that call, I signed up for Momentis by Just Energy instead. Probably the same BS in the end (it always is, isn't it?) but I am paying a bit less for gas than I am now and a little bit more for electricity, which I think will balance out in the end if my usage numbers are what I think they are.

If anyone is interested, I can send you a link with the details to sign up for Just Energy. They do mostly direct marketing that I have seen - ie some door to door, some internet marketing, just send me a PM. I will make a donation to CP for everyone who signs up through the link.

[Ironhorse]

Looking to switch my DE gas to EasyMax this week (already have Enmax electric).

Anything in particular I should know?

[ken0042]

It is helpful if you have both your gas an electric bills in front of you; as there are meter numbers that they need. If not they can look it up.

I would lock in electric at 8¢, and let gas float. Other than that- it takes a few weeks for the account to move over. Quick and painless, $5 less per month in admin fees, and then $100 per year as a bonus.

[foshizzle11]

I hate to dig up an old thread but we interested in moving from Just Energy to something else. We do not have a good rate for electricity and would like to find something better.

What does CP suggest in 2015??