Energy choice explained
How energy choice works
In parts of the United States, customers can choose who supplies their electricity or natural gas. Here's how the pieces fit together — and why your ZIP code matters.
Three roles
Generation, delivery and supply
Generators & producers
Power plants and gas producers create the energy that enters the regional grid or pipeline system.
Your utility
Owns and maintains local wires or pipes, delivers energy, reads meters and responds to outages. Regulated by your state.
Retail supplier
Where choice is allowed, a licensed retail supplier sells you the energy commodity at a rate you choose.
Eligibility
Why availability varies
Deregulation is not uniform. Some states allow electricity choice but not natural gas choice (or vice versa). Within a state that allows choice, certain utility territories — for example municipal utilities and cooperatives — may not participate.
Eligibility can also differ for residential and commercial customers, and individual suppliers choose which territories and customer types they serve. That’s why Tronix matches at the ZIP and utility-territory level rather than by state.
Switching
What happens when you enroll
- 01
Choose a plan
Compare rate, term, fees and documents for plans eligible at your address.
- 02
Confirm and consent
Review state-required disclosures and authorize the switch.
- 03
Supplier review
The supplier verifies eligibility and accepts or declines the enrollment.
- 04
Utility processes the switch
The change usually takes effect on a future meter read date.
- 05
Same delivery, new supplier
Your utility keeps delivering; the supplier charge appears on your bill.