ENERGY CHEAT SHEET FOR SMALL BUSINESS...
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DON’T GET LOST IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY The energy market and the lingo that goes with it can be complex and confusing. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or brand new to energy buying, don’t let yourself get bogged down. Here are some key concepts to help you be a savvy consumer. SWITCHING TO A RETAIL ENERGY SUPPLIER IS EASY. Watts, Kilowatts & Kilowatt Hours A watt is the standard unit of measure for electric currents. There are 1,000 watts in every kilowatt. A kilowatt hour measures electrical energy taken from a circuit over one hour. Energy Load An energy load refers to the amount of energy your building needs to meet demand. Baseload is the minimum amount of energy required, such as during the night when the business is closed. Peak load is the maximum amount of energy needed, such as duringbusiness hours. Off-Peak and On-Peak Off- and on-peaks are periods of relatively low or relatively high system demand that can occur in daily, weekly and seasonal patterns, and that can differ for each utility or independent system operator. BONUS VOCABULARY TERMS You have the power to choose your energy provider. It’s called energy choice. Switching to a retail energy supplier is easy and you can start at Does your business operate in a deregulated energy market? YES NO Are you currently contracted with another energy supplier? (Check your energy bill.) Compare prices of energy suppliers to find a better energy price for your business. directenergybusiness.com What does my utility do? Your utility is the local organization that maintains the electricity wires and gas pipelines that deliver energy to your home or business. In states where energy laws have not been deregulated, the utility also serves as the energy provider. What is energy deregulation? In states where the energy market is deregulated, businesses like yours have the opportunity to purchase electricity or natural gas from a retail provider instead of from your local utility company. Why should I consider a retail energy provider? Retail energy providers are private companies that compete with utilities to sell energy to residential and business consumers. Retail providers deliver energy using the same wires or pipelines as the utility, but can offer more competitive pricing, greater energy plan choice and green options. 1 2 3 ENERGY CHEAT SHEET FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY OCCURS AT POWER PLANTS TRANSMISSION LINES CARRY POWER LONG DISTANCES THE ENTIRE ELECTRICITY GRID IS MILLIONS OF MILES LONG! DISTRIBUTION LINES CARRY POWER TO HOMES & BUSINESSES TRANSMISSION PIPES CARRY NATURAL GAS LONG DISTANCES UNDERGROUND STORAGE WELLS DISTRIBUTION PIPES CARRY NATURAL GAS TO HOMES & BUSINESSES HOW ELECTRICITY IS DELIVERED HOW NATURAL GAS IS DELIVERED
Transcript of ENERGY CHEAT SHEET FOR SMALL BUSINESS...
DON’T GET LOST IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRYThe energy market and the lingo that goes with it can be complex and confusing. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or brand new to energy buying, don’t let yourself get bogged down. Here are some key concepts to help you be a savvy consumer.
SWITCHING TO A RETAIL ENERGY SUPPLIER IS EASY.
Watts, Kilowatts & Kilowatt HoursA watt is the standard unit of measure for electric currents. There are 1,000 watts in every kilowatt. A kilowatt hour measures electrical energy taken from a circuit over one hour.
Energy LoadAn energy load refers to the amount of energy your building needs to meet demand.
Baseload is the minimum amount of energy required, such as during the night when the business is closed. Peak load is the maximum amount of energy needed, such as duringbusiness hours.
O�-Peak and On-PeakO�- and on-peaks are periods of relatively low or relatively high system demand that can occur in daily, weekly and seasonal patterns, and that can di�er for each utility or independent system operator.
BONUSVOCABULARY TERMS
You have the power to choose your energy provider. It’s called energy choice.Switching to a retail energy supplier is easy and you can start at
Does your business operate in
a deregulated energy market?
YES NOAre you currently
contracted with another energy supplier? (Check your energy bill.)
Compare prices ofenergy suppliers to �nd
a better energy price for your business.
directenergybusiness.com
What does my utility do?Your utility is the local organization that maintains theelectricity wires and gas pipelines that deliver energy to your home or business. In states where energy laws have not been deregulated, the utility also serves as the energy provider.
What is energy deregulation?In states where the energy market is deregulated, businesses
like yours have the opportunity to purchase electricity or
natural gas from a retail provider instead of from your local
utility company.
Why should I consider a retail energy provider?Retail energy providers are private companies that
compete with utilities to sell energy to residential and
business consumers. Retail providers deliver energy
using the same wires or pipelines as the utility, but can
o�er more competitive pricing, greater energy plan choice
and green options.
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ENERGY CHEAT SHEET FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY OCCURS
AT POWER PLANTS
TRANSMISSIONLINES CARRY POWER
LONG DISTANCES
THE ENTIRE ELECTRICITY GRID IS MILLIONS OF MILES LONG!
DISTRIBUTIONLINES CARRY POWER
TO HOMES & BUSINESSES
TRANSMISSIONPIPES CARRY NATURAL GAS
LONG DISTANCES
UNDERGROUNDSTORAGE WELLS
DISTRIBUTIONPIPES CARRY NATURAL GASTO HOMES & BUSINESSES
HOW ELECTRICITY IS DELIVERED HOW NATURAL GAS IS DELIVERED
