I was on Facebook and I saw an advertisement with what appeared to be an electric provider called, Everlast Energy.
They were showing a rate of 7.5 to 8.5 “energy charge” depending on your area. Everlast Energy did not say in the ad if it was fixed or not. However, it is pretty obvious that it must be a fixed electric rate because the meme like advertisement was about how high your energy bill will be if not on a fixed rate plan.
Variable electric rates can be advertised at a low price and indiscriminately go up the same billing cycle or on the next billing cycle. I at first wondered if these rate plans were variable because it did not disclose this on Facebook or on the Everlast Energy website.
Even though the meme made it understood a fixed plan was likely what they offered you can never be too careful. Always check the Electricity Facts Label to be sure.
The Good Charlie link I was sent to sign up on their advertised rate plan showed clearly these are all “Fixed electric rate plans”.
Have you used “Everlast Energy or Good Charlie? Leave a Review here
Leaving Off the “TDSP Charges” in Advertisement
I haven’t even discussed that Everlast Energy is doing one of the unsavory advertising tactics that is often pulled during door to door electric plan sales.
Everlast Energy is giving an electric rate in their Facebook ad that is just the “energy only” rate. They aren’t using the term “energy only” but “energy charge”.
If they were going to be somewhat clear they would have at least said, “energy only” but instead they resorted to calling it the “energy charge”.
They do not say if these rates are fixed terms for like a 12 month agreement but a Facebook commenter mentioned none of their rates show as fixed.
When I called they just told me about fixed rates so I assume these are fixed rates they are talking about.
I went to their website to confirm. They had an area to enter zip code and click “get quote”. I did this and chose switching and that I live in a house. I clicked “submit” and nothing came up. I tried using their website in the latest versions of chrome and Microsoft Edge. In both browsers no rate plans came up. From all looks it appears the website does not work and you can only sign up for their electric rate plans through their call center.
Even if these electric rates by Everlast Energy are fixed (turns out they are) they left off the TDSP charge which means their rate looks 3 – 4 cents cheaper. When you call they make sure to clarify the TDSP charges must be added to the “energy charge” and they give you the whole rate to consider.
Your electric bill from Everlast Energy will show a pass-through charge from your TDSP pole and wires distribution company which is a 4.4 cents charge they left off the advertisement for the Oncor electric utility area.
Oncor is in North Texas like in Dallas and CenterPoint is in the Houston area. These TDSP pole and wires companies maintain the lines and have mandatory 3 – 4 cents per kWh they pass through onto your electric bill.
One of many tactics electric providers use to sign you up for electric service is to leave off these TDSP charges. Leaving off the charges makes the electric rates they offer look cheaper than all their competitors. Now you tell me, does this sound like an honest acceptable way to do business?
I called them and they did explain there is an Oncor TDSP charge in my area that is 4.4 cents on top of the “energy charge”. He explained the total rate came out to be 12.276 cents per kWh for the 3 year electric rate plan.
The 4 year electric rate plan with Everlast Energy was a 9.2 “energy charge” but when adding the 4.4 Oncor TDSP charge it came out to 13.6 cents per kWh.
The 1 year electric rate plan with Everlast was 8 cents per kWh when only considering the “energy charge” but 12.4 cents per kWh when adding in the Oncor 4.4 cents per kWh charge.
He tried to be as clear and transparent as he could that the “energy charge” was not the entire rate.
The link he sent me clearly displayed the total electric rate with the included TDSP charges.
Everlast Energy Hooked Me But Told The Truth in The End
The advertisement was definitely a hook to get the average electric provider finder to call or click. At the end of the day the advertisement was that shiny thing to get you to take notice and click to find out more. The price Everlast Energy offered seemed too good to be true and when I called it was determined that yes it was “too good to be true”.
They had an added bonus if I signed up and that “pet insurance”. I asked if they would provide a free burial plot when my pet died and he looked up what the insurance plan actually provided.
The pet insurance bonus gives you free 24 x 7 video vet care. Is it a real veterinarian on the video? I’m not sure because the affordable care act video doctor office calls are not always doctors. The insurance covers $750 in life threatening vet bills.
Everlast Energy Free Bonuses Like Pet Insurance
Just like a car warranty or home warranty has been extremely disappointing to millions of customers that have purchased them I am skeptical. The fine print for this pet insurance would be interesting to read.
He explained that your pet would need to be choking from something toxic that was ingested. If something internal or external occurred that was “life threatening” the pet would be covered. If your pet had a diabetic seizure that also would be covered.
Just like a home or car warranty supposedly covers you for printed items described in the sales literature but when down to the brass tax of the matter it doesn’t I wonder if this “pet insurance” is similar.
I hope this review of Everlast Energy has helped the people in Houston, Dallas or East Texas where they have been advertising on Facebook. Leave a comment if you have used them or considered using them. What do you think about their advertisement?
It turns out Everlast Energy refers to themselves as “Brand Ambassadors” which may be another name for marketers or affiliates that make money by selling retail electric service.
The brand I was sent to order electric service for was a brand called “Good Charlie”.
Good Charlie is a retail electric provider in Texas and after looking at the different rate plans they all looked legitimate and each one was a “fixed electric rate” which are the good rate plans.
There rate plans seemed to be competitive and I would recommend these plans for myself or friends, and family. The main thing that was fishy was leaving off the TDSP charges in advertisement. The phone representative explained these TDSP charges immediately and added them to the “energy charge” and clearly explained the full rate.
I myself am an energy consultant that sells electric service to businesses and residences and would also be considered an affiliate or energy broker. There is nothing wrong with being an affiliate or energy broker like Everlast Energy.
I point out advertising tactics used by electric providers for educational purposes and to help teach energy consumers how to evaluate and audit an electric companies rate plans and sales pitches.
By learning what the reality is behind the glossy advertisement energy consumers can be better informed about what the electric rate plan is they are signing up for.
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