AUS incorporated in 1993 to market single-structure alternative energy sources: modular cogeneration units for onsite generation as part of a distributed energy generation strategy. Did we mention that we're serious energy geeks?
Our mission changed in the late 90s as states began to open their energy markets to competition and we tracked and analyzed the effect of deregulation on consumer costs for electricity and natural gas. What quickly became clear was that the predicted effect of a competitive energy market...lower prices... was not happening for the vast majority of energy consumers.
There were many reasons for this, but one key factor was lack of understanding leading to poor choices by most energy users.
It's easy to see why. Energy used to be very simple. Suddenly, it became very complex.
We all grew up in an age when energy was provided by a single, monopolistic utility. There was one provider, one price. You paid your bill and went on about your business.
With deregulation, there were suddenly multiple providers offering multiple plans and multiple pricing schemes. Energy itself has become a commodity, traded on the open market, with a price that shoots up and down on the whims of speculators and the effects of the rapidly expanding global demand. Providers describe their plans using language that is arcane and inconsistent, making apples-to-applies comparisons nearly impossible.
In the modern energy market, there is no room for amateurs. Getting the best plan and the best price for your energy requires understanding the market, the terminology, the technology, the trends and the protocols. It also requires that you know yourself and your business needs at a highly analytical level: your energy use patterns, your budgeting process and constraints, and your tolerance for risk...because there is no longer a "safe and sure" choice.
In short, you need an energy expert on staff. Yet most people can't afford an energy expert. So AUS was created to be everyone's energy expert for hire.
The service we provide is called energy procurement. Our job is to analyze customer needs, to recommend the best energy plan, aggressively negotiate with multiple providers to get the best overall price, and continually audit bills to make sure that savings are protected.
AUS brings two things to the table which customers don't have: deep understanding of the industry and long-standing relationships with multiple energy providers. We know how the game is played, and we have enough clout to play it well. Because we represent thousands of customers, we are offered prices which individuals would not be offered on their own. Because we have established relationships, we can bargain and negotiate more effectively. And because we know the lingo, we know exactly what we're being offered.
We take final payment either from the providers who make the successful contract bids or on a shared savings plan, so we can offer our services on a no-cost basis to our customers. From the customer's perspective, it's money for nothing. And once a relationship has been established, we look to maintain it for the long term. As our agent, that means consistent, long-term commissions for you, and an easy re-sell once a new customer has signed their initial contract and started on the path to lower energy costs.