Survey: Nearly 9 Out Of 10 Americans Want Options in Their Electric Service

A study released today by NRG and Quadrant Strategies says that eighty-nine percent of U.S. residents support having the ability to choose their electric service provider

While finding that customers prefer choice, the survey found that nearly 80% of the U.S. feels they have limited or no choice in their electric service provider; and most feel like they have less choice in their electric service than they do in their cable providers.

"In the most important services people buy, consumers have a choice on who they buy from; but in many states, electricity -- a product that powers life as we know it -- consumers are stuck with no choice on who to do business with and the technology is the same as it was back in the 20th century," said Elizabeth Killinger, President, NRG Retail.

NRG and Quadrant Strategies surveyed 1,000 people in the U.S. General Population, mapped to census demographic data.

NRG said in a news release that, "Consumers in states with the ability to choose their electric service provider are markedly happier than those in states without choice."

This is based on 42% of respondents in choice states saying that they are "happy" when asked how they feel about the fact that their state allows them to choose, "an environmentally friendly electric service option," versus 34% of respondents in non-choice states expressing frustration that they do not have the ability to choose, "an environmentally friendly electric service option."

According to the research, 70% of U.S. respondents think increased choice in electric service would have an impact on the deployment of innovative energy technologies.

Americans are happier with their cable provider options -- and every other consumer category surveyed (auto insurance, wireless service, healthcare, among others) -- than their electric service options, the survey says

Survey results for several of the questions can be found here:

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