Commercial businesses in deregulated states can purchase renewable electricity through their supply contract — either through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), renewable-backed supply products from retail suppliers, or direct power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable generators.
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How Commercial Renewable Purchasing Works
Three main approaches: (1) REC purchases — unbundled certificates representing renewable generation, bought separately from your supply contract; (2) Green supply contracts — retail suppliers offer electricity backed by renewable RECs bundled into the supply rate; (3) PPAs — long-term agreements directly with a renewable generator (solar, wind), typically for larger commercial accounts.
RECs: What They Are and What They Aren't
A Renewable Energy Certificate represents 1 MWh of electricity generated from a renewable source. When you buy RECs, you're claiming the environmental attribute of that generation — not that specific electricity flowing to your building. RECs are a legitimate mechanism for commercial renewable accounting and are tracked through state REC registries.
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Green Supply Contracts
Many retail electricity suppliers offer green supply products — supply contracts where the supplier sources your electricity from renewable-backed generation or purchases RECs to match your consumption. Pricing is typically a few dollars per MWh above standard supply. We source green supply quotes alongside standard quotes for comparison.
Large-Scale PPAs
Commercial accounts using 2M+ kWh/year can explore direct PPAs with solar or wind developers. PPAs lock a long-term (10–20 year) price for renewable electricity, often below projected market rates over the term. They require complex contract evaluation but can deliver both cost and sustainability benefits.
Renewable Options in Deregulated States
All major deregulated states (TX, PA, OH, IL, NY, NJ, MA, CT, MD) have robust renewable supply options. Some states have renewable portfolio standards (RPS) that require a percentage of supply to come from renewables — this creates both compliance products and green procurement options in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a commercial energy broker get paid?
Brokers are compensated by the supplier you choose — a small per-kWh fee built into the contract rate. This fee exists in every supplier's pricing regardless of whether a broker is involved. You pay nothing out of pocket.
How many suppliers will you get quotes from?
We submit to 30+ licensed retail energy suppliers active in your state. Not all will quote every account — load size, credit profile, and industry classification affect who bids. We pull from the full available market.
How long does the process take?
From data collection to competing offers typically takes 3–5 business days. Contract execution takes another 1–2 business days. Service transition happens on your next billing cycle — no interruption.
Is there a contract with the broker?
No. You authorize us to collect your usage data and solicit quotes on your behalf. There's no fee arrangement, no retainer, and no commitment until you choose a supplier offer to execute.
What if I'm currently under contract?
We'll review your existing contract terms, note the expiration window, and initiate a quote process 6–9 months before expiration. If there's an early termination option that makes economic sense, we'll flag it.