Term plans require a contract, usually between 6 and 24 months, and may require a deposit. Once you sign that contract, your plan's price will not change, but your average rate may vary depending on your usage and TDSP fees. If you decide to exit your contract, you will most likely be charged an early termination fee.

Bundled rate plans usually require a contract and are the most predictable of all the plan types. As long as there are no base charges, your average rate will not change, regardless of how much you use. This is because the TDSP fees that are usually passed through to you are already rolled into the energy rate charged by your electric company.

Month-to-month plans (usually) do not require a deposit and do not have early termination fees. Each month your rate will change depending on what the market rate is. During summer, when usage is at it's peak, you can end up paying more than 20¢/kWh if you are on a month-to-month plan.

Pre-paid plans don't require a deposit or a credit check, though you will have to add funds to your account prior to activation. As you use electricity, your funds will deplete, and companies usually require a minimum blance of at least $20. If your balance falls below their minimum, you could be subject to higher rates or extra fees.

Tiered rate plans can be tricky. Your actual rate can vary widely depending on the price structure and how much electricity you use. Sometimes these plans have high base charges and low usage charges. Other times your rate will be 10¢ for the first 1,000 kWh and 5¢ for the next 1,000, and then bump up to 15¢ for any remainder. You really need to read the EFL.