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Frequently Asked Questions
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Where does Constellation NewEnergy offer electric service?
Fully staffed in every competitive energy market in North America, we are active in 15 states, two Canadian provinces, and Washington, D.C. We are also experts on the regulations that govern every local electricity market that we serve. Our presence across North America, coupled with our local expertise, ensures that your organization is serviced by the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry.
In addition to supply procurement, what other services can Constellation NewEnergy offer my company?
Constellation NewEnergy, along with its sister companies, offers a broad range of energy cost management and energy efficiency services, from assistance with such services as energy conservation initiatives, equipment retrofitting, performance contracting and energy audits to providing energy information systems that enable your company to monitor and track energy usage. We'll be happy to provide no cost, no obligation initial consultations to explore the applicability of these products and services for your company. Please contact us with your specific needs to learn more.
Are the electric services you offer just for large industrial users, or can other non-residential businesses realize savings?
We know how to maximize the value of your energy investment regardless of the size and scale of your business - from a single-site commercial business to a multi-site industrial operation with significant aggregated energy usage. Constellation NewEnergy offers no cost, no obligation proposals to any size commercial business and industrial customers. Contact Info.
Is Constellation NewEnergy affiliated with any trade or business organizations?
Yes, Constellation NewEnergy is a member of a variety of local and national organizations supportive of the energy industry and local commerce. Click here for a complete list of our affiliations by state or province.
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What is Energy Choice and what is its purpose?
Energy Choice is a term used to describe the ability for consumers to select who provides their energy products and services. In competitive or restructured markets, the traditional monopoly structure for generating and delivering energy to retail consumers is opened to choice and competing suppliers. This happens via a legislative or regulatory initiative and is addressed at the state or provincial level. Energy Choice is still in its early stages, yet customers are already realizing its benefits - more competitive energy prices, improved customer service, and technological and product innovations never considered under regulation.
What exactly is open to competition as a result of Energy Choice?
When a state or province restructures its electric utility industry, customers can select their competitive electricity supplier. The electricity "generation" (power plants) or "supply" part of the business is open to competition. Still regulated, however, is the local electric distribution company that owns the poles and wires that actually deliver that electricity supply to your business. Additionally, the local utility company keeps responsibility for the overall reliability of the transmission and distribution system.
In states where customers can choose their provider, a customer's electric bill will show a "generation" or "supply" charge representing the fee for how much electric supply was used. The bill will also include the charges owed to the utility (also known as the "distribution company") for delivering power to customers via its poles and wires.
How does energy choice and competition help keep costs down?
Energy Choice means that you, as a customer, can choose the product and supplier best suited to your needs. Competition forces suppliers to compete for your business, thus encouraging them to find more efficient and better ways to serve you. In a traditional utility system model, there is no competition, thus there is little to no incentive to create efficiencies or manage the overall cost risks.
Cost-effective energy is important for keeping the North American economy healthy and prosperous. Electricity is linked to all aspects of the economy. The cost of energy is a component of virtually everything we buy or use. Just as businesses shop for the best prices and products in long-distance phone services and airline tickets, Energy Choice can help businesses keep expenses down.
If Energy Choice is so good, why are our utility bills so much higher than they were in the past?
Energy Choice leads to options and competitively priced electricity. Pressures from competitive marketplaces historically drive long-term prices down lower than they would be for the same products and services under a monopoly. Other factors, such as the price of fuel for power plants, weather patterns, and tension in the Middle East, can create upward pressure on electricity prices. These market factors aside, wherever sound Energy Choice legislation is enacted, the best prices are available in an open, competitive market. Constellation NewEnergy offers innovative products that have often beaten the traditional utilities' market-based prices for customers. Price caps and other regulatory actions that artificially lower energy prices when real costs are rising can have dire consequences for our energy security and our economy.
Does Energy Choice cause price spikes and blackouts like California experienced in 2001 and 2003?
No. Energy Choice creates choices for customers as well as better opportunities for the economy and the future. California never fully deregulated. If it had, we believe it would be in a much stronger position today. The problems in California stemmed primarily from a lack of new generating capacity and an ill-designed restructuring law. The California legislation barred utilities from entering long-term wholesale agreements for electricity and simultaneously capped retail rates that utilities could charge consumers. As a result, the utilities were unable to protect themselves from wholesale price spikes and consumers were shielded from price signals that would have led to conservation.
What is Constellation NewEnergy doing to ensure that more customers have the power of choice in energy?
We strive to be the leading advocate for bringing the power of choice in energy to consumers throughout North America. We are active in many regulatory proceedings, both on the local and federal level, and have provided expert testimony in cases before many state and provincial regulatory commissions across North America. We are committed to ensuring that a fair marketplace exists for electricity service.
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Are there any fees incurred when switching service to Constellation NewEnergy?
We do not add additional charges or fees when a business switches to our service. Some utilities may charge a fee or do a true-up when a business switches from utility service.
Will Constellation NewEnergy need to replace any existing electrical service components such as service wires and transformers at my location?
Generally, physical modifications are not required because we deliver electricity through the same transmission and distribution system owned and operated by your current utility. Some locations offer advanced metering services for those customers interested in more accessible and accurate usage information.
If you live in Michigan, depending upon your electric service, an interval meter and phone line may be required to complete the switch. If this is required, your local utility company will be responsible for supplying and installing the new meter. Constellation NewEnergy will work with you to coordinate the installation of the phone line and make sure it is working. Once the installation of the meter (if necessary) and phone line (if necessary) is complete and verified by the local utility, you will be notified of your official switch date.
Will my reliability be affected by buying electricity from Constellation NewEnergy rather than buying from my local utility company?
No. The reliability of your electric service will remain the same as it has always been.
Will my local utility treat my company differently if I buy power from an alternate energy provider?
No. Your utility is bound by law to provide equal service to all of its customers on a non-discriminatory basis.
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Usage Reports
How do I view detailed information about my business's energy consumption?
If you have interval meters, go to NewEnergy Online and select Interval Usage to view exactly how much energy your organization consumes, down to 15-minute intervals. Specify the accounts, meters, and clusters within a time frame, and NewEnergy Online will generate a report detailing your energy consumption that you can print.
How do I view summarized information about energy consumption?
If you have summary meters, go to NewEnergy Online and select Summary Usage to view monthly averages of daily use. Specify the meters, and NewEnergy Online will generate a report detailing your energy consumption that you can print, save, or subscribe to.
Billing Reports
How do I view invoices?
NewEnergy Online displays your current and past invoices in PDF format.
How do I view how much energy is being consumed?
This is listed on NewEnergy Online under Billed Usage, which refers to how much energy your facility(ies) consume on a monthly basis. You can view your billed usage by selecting the account.
How do I view what the energy costs for my facility(ies) are?
This is listed on NewEnergy Online under Billed Charges, which refers to the daily average of energy costs over the past year. You can view your billed charges by selecting the account. Billed Charges reports are also available for downloading and printing.
How do I create an energy budget?
You do this by going to NewEnergy Online and selecting Budgeting. By using historical data, you can create, modify, and graph budgets. To generate a budget report, you can simply select the applicable account and start date and the entire budgeted amount. NewEnergy Online will calculate the percentage differences according to the budgeted amount that you have entered. Budget reports are also available for downloading and printing.
How do I set up my NewEnergy Online profile?
You do this by going to on NewEnergy Online and selecting My Profile. It's easy to manage your NewEnergy Online profile. Simply verify contact information or change your password, and save your changes.
How do I sign up for e-mail subscriptions, invoice notifications and price alerts?
You do this by going to on NewEnergy Online and selecting Invoice Notification. NewEnergy Online can notify you once your invoice is available for viewing. Simply enter the e-mail address(es) of where you would like to receive account invoice notifications.
For Price Alerts, you can specify the conditions for price alerts, and enter the e-mail address(es) of where you would like to receive alerts when energy prices escalate or fall.
Can I rename my account numbers and meters for easy viewing?
Yes. By going to on NewEnergy Online and selecting Aliases, you can personalize the way you view your accounts and meters by creating "aliases" for easier identification on reports and graphs. Just type what you would like to rename your accounts and meters. Typical aliases include actual addresses or names of facilities.
How do I keep track of a group of meters?
You do this by going to on NewEnergy Online and selecting Clusters. Meters can also be grouped into "clusters" that you can use to monitor the aggregate energy use of multiple facilities at one time. Typically customers group clusters by location or business function.
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Where are Constellation NewEnergy's Customer Service and Billing departments located?
Constellation NewEnergy maintains local customer service and billing staff in most of its regional offices. Constellation NewEnergy prides itself on its ability to respond to customer issues as quickly as possible.
What happens if I lose electric service at my facility?
Call your local utility. Your utility company owns and operates the transmission and distribution system connected to your facility. As such, it will make all repairs and manage ongoing maintenance, including the restoration of power following an outage.
What happens if Constellation NewEnergy fails to schedule enough power for my facility's needs?
Constellation NewEnergy employs an expert staff of highly skilled professionals responsible for assessing the requirements of your organization. Our responsibility for forecasting and scheduling power for your facility will be detailed in your Constellation NewEnergy electricity service agreement.
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Why Switch?