32 pieces published
Riya Mehta
Editorial lead
Editorial lead at Seenra. Riya translates US energy regulatory filings, capacity auctions, and supplier contracts into plain English for households and small commercial buyers. Five years covering PUC dockets across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
- Editorial
- PUC + regulatory
- Reading the bill
- Switching basics
Guides written by Riya
Default rate vs locked rate: the math, the risk, the trap
Why "doing nothing" is itself a financial choice. How the variable default rate works, how teaser offers expire, and how locking compares.
switching · 5 minWhy switching does not change your utility
In deregulated markets, the utility owns the wires, meters, and outage response. The supplier is a separate market layer.
lock in · 5 minHow to avoid the renewal trap
Most commercial accounts lapse from a fixed lock back into a variable default — and the supplier is not required to warn you.
reading the-bill · 9 minHow to read your electricity bill, line by line
Supply vs delivery, generation, capacity, riders, surcharges, and taxes. The single most-misunderstood section of every US energy bill.
state by-state · 8 minSwitching energy supplier in Pennsylvania
PA's PaPowerSwitch.com, the Price-to-Compare, and the PUC's supplier license registry. PECO, PPL, Duquesne, and West Penn.
commercial · 8 minCutting the demand charge on a commercial account
Demand charges are the single biggest commercial line item Seenra cannot directly shop. Here is how facilities teams can reduce them at the meter.
renewables · 7 minRenewable energy supply, explained
RECs, green-power certifications, and what "100% renewable" actually means on a commercial supply contract.
reading the-bill · 10 minHow to read your natural gas bill, line by line
Decode every line on a US residential natural-gas bill. Therms vs CCF, supply vs delivery, customer charge, riders, sales tax — and which lines you can actually shop in deregulated states.
saving money · 11 minHow to lower your natural gas bill this winter
The 18-step heating-bill defence checklist — thermostat strategy, weatherization ROI ladder, water heater optimization, and where every therm of gas dollars actually escape your house.
disputes and-rights · 8 minEstimated vs actual meter readings, explained
When utilities estimate your meter, what the "E" vs "A" on the bill means, when you can demand a re-read, and the 5-business-day rule that protects every US energy customer from estimate-driven overcharges.
switching · 8 minHow to switch your natural gas supplier in 5 minutes
Switching gas suppliers in deregulated states works exactly like electricity — the utility keeps the pipe, the supplier sells the molecule. The 5-step process and the timing rules that catch first-time switchers.
disputes and-rights · 6 minYour 3-day cooling-off rights when switching energy suppliers
Every state PUC mandates a cooling-off window after you sign a supplier contract. Length, mechanics, and how to invoke if you change your mind.
saving money · 6 minThermostat settings by season — the 3% per degree rule
Each degree on the thermostat moves your HVAC bill 2–3%. The DOE-recommended seasonal schedule, the smart-thermostat 8% Energy Star saving, and the setpoint sweet spots for comfort + cost.
renewables · 8 minHow to buy 100% renewable electricity for your home
RECs, Green-e certified, direct PPAs — the three tiers of renewable supply. Cost, certification, and what "100% renewable" actually puts on your bill.
outages and-backup · 8 minHow to prepare for a power outage — checklist + kit
Outage prep before, during, after. Food-safety temperature rules, water + battery + generator math, and the carbon-monoxide perimeter every backup system needs.
disputes and-rights · 9 minUtility shutoff protections — moratoriums by state
Most US states prohibit electricity disconnection during cold-weather months and many during summer heat events. State-by-state moratorium calendar and the formal extension paths.
disputes and-rights · 8 minWho pays the utilities — renter vs landlord by state
State-by-state rules for who is responsible for which utility. Master-metered buildings, sub-metering, RUBS allocation — and the lease clauses that override defaults.
state by-state · 9 minSwitching electricity in Massachusetts — municipal aggregation explained
Massachusetts deregulated electricity in 1998. Eversource (Boston + western MA), National Grid (Worcester + central), Unitil (parts of north-central) own the wires; competitive suppliers compete. Many MA towns use municipal aggregation to bulk-buy supply for residents.
state by-state · 7 minSwitching electricity in Rhode Island — Rhode Island Energy, supplier choice
Rhode Island deregulated electricity in 1996. Rhode Island Energy (formerly National Grid Rhode Island) owns the wires statewide; competitive suppliers compete on supply. RI PUC regulates licensing and dispute resolution.
appliances and-equipment · 6 minDishwasher vs handwashing — the energy cost truth
Handwashing uses 2-4x more hot water than a modern dishwasher. The energy + water math, the booster-heater impact, and why ENERGY STAR dishwashers actually save money.
renewables · 7 minIs your roof good for solar? Orientation, shade, slope
South-facing roofs maximize annual production. East and west work but produce 10-20% less. North roofs in northern hemisphere are non-starters. Shade is the silent killer — even partial shade tanks output.
heating and-cooling · 7 minPropane vs natural gas — the 2026 cost comparison
Propane runs $2.18-$4.15/gallon (regional) — 55-65% more expensive per BTU than natural gas. When propane is the only option vs when it is a deliberate choice.
commercial · 8 minRetail store electricity — lighting, HVAC, refrigeration
Retail electricity splits ~40% lighting / 30% HVAC / 20% refrigeration / 10% other. The LED conversion ROI, the open-door HVAC penalty, and the closed-case refrigeration upgrade math.
smart meters-and-ev · 7 minSmart thermostat savings — Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell compared
Energy Star certifies smart thermostats at 8% savings on heating + cooling. Nest Learning ($230), Ecobee Premium ($250), Honeywell T9 ($200). The feature comparison + the install considerations.
seasonal · 5 minHoliday lighting — what your strands actually cost in December
A 100-bulb incandescent string draws 40 watts. A 100-bulb LED string draws 4 watts — 90% less. The actual dollar cost per 6-week holiday season + the upgrade payback.
disputes and-rights · 6 minHow to split utilities with roommates — fair-share strategies
Even split is simple but unfair. Per-room is fairer but ignores usage patterns. Per-bedroom + per-person hybrid is the most defensible. The 3 strategies + the tools that automate the split.
energy literacy · 7 minTransmission vs distribution — two grids, one bill
Transmission moves bulk power from generators to regional substations at 138-765 kV. Distribution moves it from substations to your meter at 120-13,800 V. Two different systems, two different line items.
saving money · 6 minHome office electricity cost — what your remote work adds to the bill
A typical home office (laptop + monitor + lighting + climate control) adds 200-400 kWh/month. The breakdown by device, the tax-deduction angle, and the office equipment that punches above its weight.
reading the-bill · 6 minThe delivery charge on your bill — what you're actually paying for
Delivery covers the wires, transformers, and line crews that move electricity from the substation to your meter. Set by utility tariff, regulated by state PUC, identical for every customer in the same delivery zone.
reading the-bill · 5 minThe customer charge — the fixed monthly fee on every bill
The customer charge covers the cost of having you on the utility books — meter, billing system, customer service. Fixed monthly fee, $5-$25 residential, $30-$200 commercial. Not negotiable.
Editorial by Riya
Why fixed-rate beats variable in winter
The mid-Atlantic average household paid $500 above their summer rate during the 2024 January cold snap. Variable rates are not bad — they just price the spike to you.
state-spotlight · 9 minTexas ERCOT 2026 summer outlook
ERCOT's reserve margin, the gas-fired peaker fleet, and what variable-rate Texans should expect in the next four months.