Providing the Facts about Residential Energy Deregulation

2024 U.S. Residential Retail Energy Results:

Retail choice is sold to consumers, the media, state regulators, and elected officials with promises of lower prices, innovation and increased renewable energy options. “Choice” sounds great.

Yet more than 25 years of real-world data reveals that residential consumers choosing competitive retail energy pay higher electricity bills.

As policymakers search for energy affordability solutions, it’s worth taking a close look at the role deregulation plays in how 11.4 million Americans are paying for electricity.

Our new report, Caveat Emptor: America’s $48 Billion Competitive Retail Electricity Bust, should be a wake-up call to both consumers and policymakers. In 2024 alone, 11.4 million accounts paid $4 billion more for “choice.”

Retail Energy Revealed is a resource to help you get up-to-speed on what’s really happening. Because “buyer beware” is not good public policy for an essential service.

Residential Retail Energy,

Explained

Driven by data, our mission is to provide factual information to individuals interested in the deregulation of energy markets. Whether you are a journalist, a state legislator, a regulator or a consumer trying to wrap your head around it all, consider us a resource. 

On this site you’ll find:

  • National & state data & results.

  • Insider’s POV from working with consumers on retail energy since 2016.

  • Under “Articles / Reports” tab, every article, radio show, webinar and official state reports.

What is Retail Energy?

Today, 13 states and D.C. opened up their consumer energy markets. Often called “retail energy choice,” residents & businesses can also choose an energy supplier that competes with their regulated utility. In Texas’ ERCOT market, 6.7 million families “choose” a retail supplier. In 2024 alone, the 11.4M residential retail energy accounts paid $4 billion more than regulated or government-negotiated energy rates.

The Numbers, Nationally.

Since 2003, Americans on a retail supplier have spent $48 billion more for electricity. And that’s from The Wall Street Journal reporting plus EIA data after their 2021 article.

Each state’s 2023 Retail Energy versus regulated rate results are revealed.

In the States