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Rhode Island UTILITIES SERVED WHAT’S INSIDE Market Information National Grid Narragansett Enrollment & Billing Market Guide National Grid Narragansett 800-322-3223 JANUARY 2015 ELECTRIC National Grid Narrangansett

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Page 1: Rhode Island - Viridian TravelLight · 2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE Market Information VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY Viridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January

Rho

de Is

land

UTILITIES SERVED WHAT’S INSIDE

Market Information

National Grid NarragansettEnrollment & Billing

Market Guide

National Grid Narragansett 800-322-3223

JANUARY 2015

ELECTRIC National Grid Narrangansett

Page 2: Rhode Island - Viridian TravelLight · 2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE Market Information VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY Viridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January

2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE

Market Information

VIRIDIAN’S HISTORYViridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January 2015.

MARKET SNAPSHOTAs of January 2014, Rhode Island has a market of approximately 480,000

Residential Customer Equivalents (RCEs). In National Grid’s footprint, about 4,800

have chosen a third-party supplier, representing 2% of the residential accounts in

the state. About 235,000 RCEs have not chosen. In the commercial sector, 53%

of commercial accounts, about 127,200 RCEs, have chosen to be with a third-

party supplier. *Source: DNV-GL retail Energy Policy and Players, January 2014

LOCAL LANGUAGEIn Rhode Island, an alternate electric retail supplier is commonly referred to as

a Competitive Electric Supplier by the utilities.

REGULATORSThe Rhode Island Public Utility Commission (RIPUC) is the regulator, comprising

two distinct regulatory bodies: a three-member Commission and the Division

of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC). Although two distinct regulatory bodies,

the Commission and Division generally operate in concert. Both entities may

conduct inquiries, investigations and hearings to effectuate their respective

duties. Both may issue orders that have the force and effect of law.

Source: http://www.ripuc.org/generalinfo/commission.html

2%HAVE CHOSEN A SUPPLIER

53%HAVE CHOSEN A SUPPLIER

47%HAVE NOT CHOSEN A SUPPLIER

98%HAVE NOT CHOSEN A SUPPLIER

RESIDENTIAL MARKET SNAPSHOT*

COMMERCIAL MARKET SNAPSHOT*

Page 3: Rhode Island - Viridian TravelLight · 2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE Market Information VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY Viridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January

VIRIDIAN • RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE // 3

WHAT THE STATE SAYS ABOUT CHOOSING A COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLIER?

INFORMATION ABOUT COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC SUPPLY IN RHODE ISLAND“In Rhode Island, a Customer can choose to buy electricity

from a company other than National Grid. This is known

as Energy Choice. A Customer who chooses to purchase

electricity from a competitive supplier will still receive a bill

from National Grid to cover the cost of delivering the electricity

to your home or business.

“You do not have to choose a competitive supplier. You may

or may not save money if you switch to a competitive supplier.

National Grid will assess a one-time billing adjustment to

either credit or charge a Customer leaving standard offer

service.”

Source: http://www.ripuc.org/utilityinfo/electric/faq1a.pdf

CUSTOMER ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

As with all utilities, it is good practice to recommend that your Customer check if any true-ups or previously bundled charges will appear from the utility when enrolling with a Competitive Electric Supplier.

CONSUMER CHOICE SOURCESCustomers may find a list of Non-regulated Power Producers

Registered with the RIPUC on the RIPUC website. It lists

companies that have appropriately registered with the DPUC

in accordance with Rhode Island General Laws. It offers

addresses and phone numbers of these companies, including

Viridian, but does not provide a comparison of rates.

Source: http://www.ripuc.org/utilityinfo/electric/nonreg.html

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCECustomers on government assistance for electricity can use

Viridian as their third-party supplier.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Fuel Assistance, also known as the Low Income Home

Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), can provide financial

assistance to income eligible applicants, those who are at or

below 60% of the median income for Rhode Islanders, in

order to help them meet their home energy costs. Customers

must call LIHEAP to qualify. The funds they receive from

LIHEAP will appear as pending credits on bills until those

funds are released. If you have any questions about the

LIHEAP program, please visit the Rhode Island Office of

Energy Resources website.

Source: http://www.energy.ri.gov/lowincome/index.php

Credit Check

In states that have an active POR (Purchase of Receivables)

program, the utility pays independent suppliers like Viridian

for energy even if the Customer does not pay the utility. But

Rhode Island does not have this program in place (non-POR).

Consequently, the enrollment process for Rhode Island

includes a soft credit inquiry (either driver’s license information

plus date of birth, or a Social Security number), to ensure that

the Customer can pay his or her energy bill.

This personal information is kept confidential and has no

effect on the Customer’s credit score. Customers who do not

meet the credit check requirements will receive a letter from

Viridian explaining why their enrollment was not accepted.

ACCOUNTS IN ARREARSIf a Customer’s electric bill is past due and they have set up

a payment agreement with National Grid, it will be reflected

as a separate charge from National Grid on the Customer’s

bill. Viridian would bill at its current rate, with the repayment

charges appearing separately in the utility portion of the bill. If

a Customer does not have a good payment history, they may

be ineligible to become a Viridian Customer.

Budget Billing

National Grid Narragansett’s budget billing plan makes it

easier to manage your household energy payments each

season by taking the “peaks and valleys” out of your energy

bills. The budget plan spreads your projected annual electric

usage cost into 12 “balanced” monthly payments. You still

pay for the exact amount of electricity used annually, but your

consumption rate is divided by 12 to determine your monthly

budget amount.

Source: https://www1.nationalgridus.com/BudgetPlan

UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMSThere are several financial assistance programs offered

through National Grid Narragansett. National Grid‘s Payment

Assistance page explains various circumstances in which

Customers may be eligible for assistance.

2%HAVE CHOSEN A SUPPLIER

Page 4: Rhode Island - Viridian TravelLight · 2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE Market Information VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY Viridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January

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RENEWABLE ENERGY CHARGEThe utility portion of the bill may include a low (usually less than

a dollar) “renewable energy charge” that helps fund energy-

related programs, including energy assistance programs. This is

a standard charge from National Grid regardless of the supplier.

ENROLLMENT AND BILLING

COMPARING RATESYour Customer will likely ask to see a rate-to-rate comparison.

To help you in that conversation, Viridian will include the utility’s

comparison rate, or Utility Price Index on the State Rate sheets,

whenever possible. The Utility Price Index is a blended average

of the utility’s rate that considers the different rate classes and

rates offered by the utility in the month. Viridian uses this average

as a comparative factor to calculate the rebate at the end of

a 3DOM Fixed™ term, if one applies. Utility Price Index rates

may change on a monthly basis depending on the utility. A local

utility’s prices that are offered to their consumers are based on

market information and represent the price to compare for an

indicated time period. Please remember that any comparisons

are strictly estimates, as Viridian’s rates and the Customer’s

usage could vary. Viridian’s rate will replace the supply service

rate on the utility bill. According to DNV-GL Retail Energy Policy,

National Grid provides a Price to Compare that changes every

six months. This rate may be found on the homepage of the

RIPUC website.

THE ENROLLMENT PROCESSTo enroll with Viridian, National Grid Narragansett Customers

must provide their 10-digit Account Number, located on their

bills. Credit checks will be required for new Customers. After

they enroll, the Customer will get a message on their bill about a

supplier switch.

Before you approach a potential Customer to enroll with Viridian,

you’ll first want to make sure you know how to explain enrollment.

The following pages will help you become familiar with the

electric utility bills. You will see a utility bill sample and where to

find the information the Customer will need for enrollment.

FOLLOW COMPLIANCE GUIDELINESFamiliarize yourself with Viridian’s Marketing Do’s and Don’ts,

as well as the Associate Policies & Procedures, to ensure you

acquire your Customers compliantly. Failure to follow these

guidelines may result in disciplinary actions.

Page 5: Rhode Island - Viridian TravelLight · 2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE Market Information VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY Viridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January

VIRIDIAN • RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE // 5

National Grid Narragansett (Electricity) Enrollment & Billing

Page 2 of bill BEFORE enrolling with Viridian

ENROLLMENT

To enroll with Viridian, a National Grid Customer must

provide his or her 10-digit Account Number and

service address located at the top of the utility bill.

RATES

Most National Grid Customers who are eligible for

Viridian’s service will have one of the following rate

codes, listed next to Rate: residential (A-16 or A-60),

small commercial (C-06, G-02, S-05, S-06, S-10 or

S-14) and large commercial (B-32, B-62, G-32, G-62

or X-01).

For rate codes not listed, please contact the utility to

fully understand how choosing a supplier will impact

the Customer’s service.

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Notes

Page 7: Rhode Island - Viridian TravelLight · 2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE Market Information VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY Viridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January

VIRIDIAN • RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE // 7

Notes

Page 8: Rhode Island - Viridian TravelLight · 2 // VIRIDIAN RHODE ISLAND MARKET GUIDE Market Information VIRIDIAN’S HISTORY Viridian began marketing to Rhode Island Customers in January

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© 2015 VIRIDIAN ENERGY. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying or reproduction of this product, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. MarketGuide_RI_011615.