Frequently Asked Questions

Historically, your natural gas and electricity were supplied and delivered to you exclusively by utilities, also known as the Local Distribution Company (LDC). The energy industry was deregulated in the mid-1990s, giving you the power to choose an energy-service provider.

Until this time, you had no ability to choose a supplier or a pricing plan that fit your needs. Deregulation unbundled the supply and delivery portions, allowing competition. Today you can buy natural gas and electricity at a competitive price from the supplier of your choice. Your LDC will continue to deliver your energy, maintain the lines and wires, read your meter and respond to any emergencies.

The power of choice, made possible by energy deregulation, fosters competition and gives you more control than ever.

No. After deregulation, state commissions no longer allowed utilities to profit from supplying natural gas and electricity to you. Utilities can, though, make a profit on the distribution portion of your commodities. Therefore, your decision to choose a third-party supplier doesn’t affect your utility’s finances. You can see both your supply charges and your distribution charges as line items on your monthly bill.

Most utilities offer programs to educate customers about deregulation and choice. In fact, a competitive marketplace fosters enhanced services and price benefits, since retail energy suppliers can offer pricing packages that utilities can’t.

If you do choose a retail energy supplier, your utility will continue to deliver your energy, read your meter, send you bills and respond to emergencies.

Everyone wants an energy product tailored to their needs. Since 1997, we have been supplying natural gas and electricity to both residential and commercial customers, giving them more control over their costs. We do business in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada. We are approved to operate in each of these areas.

When you choose us, you get the Gateway Advantage:

• Immediate benefits and incentives for switching.
• Sales tax savings on the delivery portion of your bill, if applicable.
• Service to residential and commercial customers.
• Competitive and innovative products, including fixed- and variable-rate pricing plans for natural gas and electricity.
• Knowledgeable and friendly customer service department, located at our New York headquarters.
• Superior level of service highlighted by the Gateway Energy Plan.
• Leading independent energy supplier with more than 13 years in business, serving multiple competitive markets.

Our mission is to offer you innovative solutions that provide pricing stability plus exemplary service.

Gateway Energy offers you the tools to manage your natural gas and electric costs through various pricing plans. Whether you need energy for your home or business, we can work with you to devise the best plan tailored to your needs.

If you want security, our fixed-rate option provides price protection from market volatility with a locked-in rate for the term of your contract. You will get maximum price certainty, increased protection and a convenient renewal process.

If you want flexible terms, our variable-rate option is a flexible plan that rises and falls with the wholesale energy markets. You will get maximum flexibility and transparency, a competitive price point and convenient plan conversion to switch to a fixed rate at any time.

Future savings depend on the direction of commodity prices, which can be very volatile. For instance, natural gas prices dropped in summer 2009 to a historic 7-year low. But you are not guaranteed savings.

Historically, our rates have been very competitive. Our fixed-rate product offers stability and protection from the possibility of rising energy costs. You receive highly competitive pricing, plus the ability to budget your energy costs because your fixed rate is locked in for the term of your contract. The market may rise and fall, but your fixed rate will be secure.

Switching is simple. There will be no service interruptions, no hassles. In most areas, you’ll receive the same monthly bill as always. The only change will be that you will see Gateway listed as your supplier. In Texas, you’ll receive a bill directly from us.

You can sign up online here or via phone at (800) 313-8333.

There are no switching fees to choose us as your energy supplier. We don’t charge a monthly fee in most states, but in Texas, residential and small-commercial customers are charged a monthly fee of $4.95 and large-commercial customers are charged $9.95. For more information, see Terms of Service. Residential/Small Commercial Terms of Service | Large Commercial Fixed Terms of Service | Large Commercial Variable Terms of Service

Have you sent the necessary paperwork? As part of the requirements to receive your Visa® card, you must also include with your request form a copy of your bill showing Gateway as your supply company. If you have sent all necessary paperwork, it can take 6-8 weeks from the date of receipt of your request form to receive your Visa® Prepaid Card.

It can take 30 – 60 days, or 1 – 2 billing cycles, for your service to begin with Gateway Energy. This date is determined by your local utility company and is based upon your scheduled meter reading dates.

There is a processing and delivery period of 6 – 8 weeks from the date of receipt of your Visa® Request Form. This includes time for your form to be processed, the payment to be received and for your card to be printed and mailed to you.

If your account is in arrears, the promotional card will not be sent to you. To verify the status of your account and to check your balance, please call Gateway Energy’s Customer Care Department at (800) 805-8586 and a representative will assist you.

Gateway Energy does not print and mail the cards directly. We contract a company, Extra Measures, to handle these aspects of the program for us. The 6 – 8 weeks includes Extra Measures’ processing and delivery period.

Your balance can be obtained by visiting Extra Measures’ website at www.888extramoney.com or by calling Extra Measures’ Customer Service Center at (888) 890-0307.

A transaction history can be obtained by visiting Extra Measures’ website at www.888extramoney.com.

Your card will expire 120 days after the printing and mailing date. The expiration date is printed on the front of the card.

Please report a lost or stolen card immediately to Extra Measures by calling the Customer Service Center at (888) 890-0307. Extra Measures will research the usage history and may choose to cancel the card. It is up to Extra Measures to decide whether a replacement card will be sent for the remaining balance.

Gateway Energy preloads the funds onto your Visa® card upon initial printing. If the funds on the card have not been used by the expiration date, which is printed on the card’s face, a replacement card cannot be sent because the funds have already been issued. Your funds will be forfeited upon expiration of the card.