Alphabuyer Survey Finds Most Cited Reason for Not Shopping is Lack of Perceived Savings

The most cited reason by Pennsylvania customers for not switching energy providers is that, "the perceived cost savings was not significant enough to make switching energy providers worthwhile," according to a survey conducted on behalf of aggregator Alphabuyer.

Alphabuyer, which first posted the results on its blog, commissioned Zoomerang Data Service to survey 477 Pennsylvanians from June 9 to June 13.

Some 40% of customers cited the perceived lack of worthwhile savings for not shopping, Alphabuyer said.

The survey found that 24% of customers cited either the confusing shopping process or overwhelming number of competing offers and suppliers for not switching. Some 15% of residents cited potential risks from shopping for their inertia.

Alphabuyer found that 86% of Pennsylvanians are aware of electric choice, versus only 54% aware of natural gas choice.

Alphabuyer reported that customers in Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley have the highest awareness of electric choice (93% versus 86% statewide), which is not surprising given suppliers' concentration on marketing at PPL and PECO.

Customers in the Pittsburgh area have the highest awareness of natural gas choice (72%), Alphabuyer reported, which is expected given that Columbia and Peoples Natural Gas are the most active LDCs for residential gas migration.

Additional findings from the survey are discussed in Alphabuyer's blog posting.