Charlotte manufacturing client considering switch from Duke Energy Carolinas to competitive supplier. Current all-in rate is $0.089/kWh on schedule LGS. Competitive quotes ranging from $0.075-$0.095/kWh fixed for 3 years. North Carolina has limited competition but this looks legitimate. Worth pursuing?
Duke Energy Carolinas - competitive vs regulated comparison
Sam - North Carolina competitive market is pretty thin. Most REPs are just brokers adding markup. Make sure you're comparing total delivered cost including any Duke delivery charges that would remain. Also verify the REP is licensed with NC Utilities Commission.
Iris raises good points. I looked into NC competition for a Savannah client with facilities in Charlotte. The regulatory structure is complicated and most savings disappear when you add back delivery charges. Duke's bundled rates are usually competitive with the alternatives.
Pete's experience matches mine in Oklahoma. These partial deregulation states often create more complexity than savings. Unless you're seeing guaranteed savings above 12%, the administrative hassle isn't worth it.
I disagree with Bev. Had a good experience with competitive supply in North Carolina. Key is finding a REP that actually owns generation assets rather than just reselling. Direct Energy has been reliable for my clients in the Carolinas.
The key in any partially deregulated market is understanding what costs remain regulated versus competitive. Run detailed cost comparisons including all fees, taxes, and delivery charges before making switching recommendations.