Let's say ai live in a city where there are 4 electric providers.
In January, i switch to the provider A.
in February, still at the same house, i switch to provider B.
In April to provider D.
My question is: since i did not move from my house, and none came to change any cable or wires at home, how does it happen that with a telephone call i'm provided with electrical energy from one provider to another apparently with no work around my house?
Thanks.
It's all one big grid that everyone feeds into and draws out of. You are billed by your consumption by the company that handles your service, it doesn't affect where your electricity actually comes from.
Thankfully we don't have such silliness here, the last thing I want are solicitations from electric companies to go along with all the solicitations from phone companies. Just give me energy and send me a bill. The product is the same regardless who you buy it from.
Wouldnt be suprised if the same guy read the meter, assuming it is not of the 'smart' variety. Rheilly P
With all the 'providers', they only bill for the *supply* of the electricity, not the *delivery*. The delivery is always handled by the same utility (assuming you're in the US).
THey simply make a note of the change and when you're meter is read that month (directly, via radio or whatever), they stop telling the first provider and the next provider picks up where the meter reading was at.
In most areas, switching several times like that can cost you extra in switching fees. I think NY only gives you one 'freebie' a year.
daestrom
| Let's say ai live in a city where there are 4 electric providers. | | In January, i switch to the provider A. | | in February, still at the same house, i switch to provider B. | | In April to provider D. | | My question is: since i did not move from my house, and none came to | change any cable or wires at home, how does it happen that with a | telephone call i'm provided with electrical energy from one provider | to another apparently with no work around my house? | | Thanks.
You did not necesarily actually get electricity from the provider you have your account with. Some are resellers only. They buy electricity from the generators in bulk at discount, and sell to consumers. Those who generate electricity just dump it into grid. The delivery provider (the company that manages the wires) delivers electricity to you and probably does metering. The seller gets the metered amounts, pays the delivery provider some part, and bills you for that and their profits.
It doesn't even have to be in the same grid. If I generate electricity in Texas, I can dump it into the Texas grid, but sell it to someon in New York, as long as there is someone in Texas buying electricity from a generator (or reseller of one) that dumps it into the Northeast grid (such as generating it on Long Island or in Ohio). If it doesn't exactly balance out, some money is exchanged somewhere.
Electricity is bought and sold as commodity and futures.
Phil is absolutely correct.
Example: Enron, and SDGE (San Diego Gas and Electric).
There was criminality involved with their greed.
I want remuneration!
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