What to establish before acting
PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric have distinct delivery arrangements. Business size and tariff can also affect default supply treatment, so a simple small-account comparison should not be applied to every facility. Ask bidders to normalize dates, load, energy, applicable capacity, transmission, ancillary costs, fees, and adjustments. Gas needs its own account and unit review. Preserve current obligations and verify supplier acceptance rather than assume a new agreement immediately replaces them.
Illustrative decision boundary
A hypothetical New Jersey business receives an energy-only offer below its current supply subtotal but with separate market-cost pass-throughs. Request a full component comparison before claiming a reduction. The exact basic-generation-service or other baseline should fit its actual customer category and period.
Documents for a useful review
- Actual electric and gas utilities, service classes, usage, and dates.
- Applicable baseline and complete third-party component or fee schedules.
- Current obligations, business-change scenarios, notices, and acceptance records.
Questions & answers
Does a third-party supplier replace PSE&G delivery?
No ordinary supply purchase transfers local pipes or wires. The distribution utility still performs its network and emergency functions under the applicable service arrangements.
Can electricity and gas both be shopped?
New Jersey has eligible third-party arrangements for both, but verify utility participation, account conditions, and actual product coverage separately.
Is every commercial default price identical?
No. Utility, customer size, class, period, and supply structure matter. Obtain the relevant current tariff and baseline instead of use one statewide rate.
What operating changes should I disclose?
Tell bidders about planned closure, relocation, added equipment, solar, or material production changes. Request written volume and site flexibility suited to those plans.
Does a fixed rate eliminate every adjustment?
Only the written scope establishes what is fixed. Review delivery, taxes, market pass-throughs, fees, volume rules, and specific change provisions.
Can a supplier promise better local outage restoration?
An ordinary commodity agreement does not control the distribution network’s restoration. Require precise evidence for any claimed service difference and maintain the utility’s official emergency contacts.
Sources & scope
Primary references reviewed October 15, 2026. These sources support the stated concepts; actual tariffs, program rules and signed agreements govern the account. Decision examples and operational worksheets are original educational analysis.
- New Jersey BPU: Shopping for business energy
Commercial supply choices, contract questions, and utility delivery. - EIA: Natural gas customer choice programs
Gas marketing, distribution, and differences among choice programs. - DOE FEMP: Evaluating your utility rate options
Demand, ratchets, time-of-use rates, coincident peaks, and standby charges. - Pennsylvania PUC: Shop for business electricity
Business offer structures, supplier shopping, and fee comparisons.