Entrepreneurs and small business operators often approach electricity contracting for their businesses the way they do for their homes. That can be a costly mistake, particularly in competitive areas of the state.

TXU Energy on Thursday will present a seminar on power purchasing as part of the Small Business Expo at the Dallas Convention Center.

“TXU Energy is proud to sponsor the Small Business Expo, the largest national business-to-business trade show, conference and networking event,” said Gabe Castro, vice president of business for TXU Energy. “We are especially excited to provide insights for purchasing electricity.”

While the seminar will focus on power purchasing strategies, small business experts at TXU Energy also are sharing these common pitfalls:

Buyer beware
Some providers offer stripped-down per-kilowatt-hour energy rates without outlining add-on and pass-through charges – which could at times double the monthly costs for businesses and expose them to unwanted risk.

Missing the fine print
Some retailers use contracts that give them unilateral options to change customers’ rates.

Missing the end date
Busy business leaders sometimes put off renewing electricity plans or switching to a preferred provider. That can mean expensive month-to-month rates and hasty decision-making.

Time your term
Not all providers offer unique contract lengths to fit a business’s needs or align with a business’s lease.

Ceding control
With electricity consuming a significant amount of business spending, it’s a bad idea to leave things such as lighting and HVAC controls uncontrolled. With the two-way Brighten® iThermostat, business owners can control their thermostat settings across their business, even remotely.

Right to choose
Unless their signed leases say otherwise, all business owners in the competitive areas of Texas have the right to choose their retail electricity provider. Be aware that some property owners may get a commission for steering business toward particular retail electricity providers.

Trusting the nonexpert
There are many brokers and consultants in the market claiming to be energy experts. Business owners need to know their credentials, as well as their fee structures.

Sacrificing service
Business owners know that customer service counts, and an electricity retailer that says customer service isn’t important probably won’t provide much service when a customer needs help – and might actually charge more for it.

“We provide business customers choice, convenience and control over their electricity spending,” Castro said. “We have a wide range of solutions and services to help small businesses grow, as well as deep experience serving business customers in Texas.”

About TXU Energy
TXU Energy is a market-leading competitive retail electricity provider, powering the lives of more Texans than any other retailer. TXU Energy offers a variety of innovative products and solutions, allowing both its residential and business customers to choose options that best meet their needs, including exceptional customer service, competitively priced electricity service plans, innovative energy efficiency options, renewable energy programs and other electricity-related products and services. Visit txu.com for more information about TXU Energy. REP #10004.