Energy Providers

If you live in a state with a deregulated electricity or natural gas market, you have the freedom to choose from electricity providers and plans near you to find the one that works best for your needs and budget.

By using the free Choose Energy marketplace, you can compare energy plans available in your area. It’s as easy as entering your ZIP code, filtering based on factors like term length, plan type, provider, and more, and signing up with one of the top energy companies in a matter of minutes.

Check if you live or work in one of the 17 states or territories with electricity and natural gas deregulation, or read on to learn more about which providers serve your area.

OR

Click to jump:

• Check if you live or work in a state/area with electricity and natural gas deregulation.
• Learn more about which providers serve your area.

In a deregulated energy market, energy providers are allowed to compete for energy customers’ business with affordable rates and valuable plan features. In contrast, a traditional energy market depends on rates set by a utility company.

Not every state offers the power to choose electricity and natural gas providers. Likewise, some cities within a majority deregulated state may not provide deregulation, so it’s important to check out the type of market in your area to determine if you’re eligible to choose your own energy provider.

With this in mind, here’s an overview of the 17 states/areas that typically have energy deregulation.

States/areas with a deregulated residential electricity and natural gas market

• California (limited options)
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Virginia (only for 100% renewable energy plans if the local utility does not offer them)
• Washington, D.C.

States with a deregulated residential natural gas market

• Colorado (deregulated by law, but currently no provider choices in 2025)
• Florida (only for Central Florida Gas territory)
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Montana
• Nebraska (market only open for two weeks in April)
• New Mexico (limited options)
• South Dakota (limited options)
• West Virginia (limited options)
• Wyoming

Choosenergy.com is not affiliated with Power to Choose, powertochoose.org, or the PUCT.

If you’re new to deregulation, it’s important to learn the basic differences between energy providers and utility companies in a deregulated market.

• Energy providers: Also called electricity suppliers, retail energy providers (REPs), or energy service companies (ESCOs), energy providers sell you the energy that powers your home or business. Providers manage your account billing, electricity plan, and energy usage.
• Utility companies: Utilities are responsible for delivering electricity to your home or business and maintaining power lines and infrastructure. Unlike your provider, you can’t choose your utility, which is determined by where you live. If you experience an outage or other power emergency, you should contact your utility — not your provider.

For customers shopping in Texas, check out our guide to the best electric companies in Texas.

The location of your home or business determines the providers and plans available to you. Enter your ZIP code on this page to explore the electric companies and current energy rates near you. Keep in mind that electric rates vary by location and can fluctuate daily.

The following are some of the top electric and natural gas companies offering residential or business energy in deregulated areas.