Evaluate whether this renewable power supplier fits your home with our comprehensive CleanChoice Energy reviews and analysis.
Key Takeaways
- CleanChoice Energy is a retail energy supplier that purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset your household’s grid usage with green power.
- Customers should beware of variable-rate plans, as electricity prices can spike significantly after the initial introductory period ends.
- In the event of a power outage, you must contact your local utility company, as CleanChoice Energy does not maintain the physical power grid.
If you are shopping for a new electricity provider and want to reduce your carbon footprint, you have likely come across CleanChoice Energy. Promising 100% renewable energy without the hassle of installing expensive rooftop solar panels, it sounds like an ideal solution for eco-conscious renters and homeowners alike. However, before you sign a contract or respond to a mailer, it is crucial to understand how retail energy suppliers actually operate. In this guide, we break down CleanChoice Energy rates, investigate authentic customer complaints, and examine whether the environmental benefits justify the potential costs.
What Is CleanChoice Energy?
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., CleanChoice Energy is a clean energy supplier — also known as an Energy Service Company (ESCO). Unlike a traditional direct utility company that owns the power lines, poles, and infrastructure delivering electricity to your home, CleanChoice acts as a third-party retail supplier. When you sign up, they purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on your behalf. This guarantees that an amount of energy equal to your specific household usage is generated from wind and solar sources and fed back into the regional power grid.
In addition to purchasing RECs, the company develops and operates CleanChoice Energy community solar projects, allowing customers to tangibly support local clean energy generation without needing to own a home. While your local utility company still handles the physical delivery of your power and sends your monthly bill, CleanChoice handles the supply side of the equation.
CleanChoice Energy Plans and Pricing
When evaluating CleanChoice Energy pricing, it is incredibly important to understand the severe difference between their plan structures. The type of contract you choose will heavily dictate your overall monthly energy bill.
- Fixed-Rate Plans: These plans lock in a consistent electricity supply rate for a set period, typically ranging from 6 to 24 months. We highly recommend opting for a fixed rate, as it provides vital price stability and protects your budget against unpredictable market fluctuations.
- Variable-Rate Plans: With these contracts, your supply rate changes from month to month based on wholesale energy market conditions. While they offer flexibility without a long-term commitment, variable rates can spike significantly. Countless consumers report severe bill increases once an introductory promotional rate expires and automatically rolls into a variable structure.
Before enrolling in any available CleanChoice Energy plans, always read the terms of service carefully to confirm how and when your rate might change.
CleanChoice Energy Locations and Coverage Area
If you are wondering whether this provider operates in your specific area, you will be glad to know that CleanChoice Energy locations span widely across several deregulated energy markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Because they operate solely as a supplier, they partner seamlessly with established local utility companies — such as National Grid, Con Edison (ConEd), and Penelec. This ensures you maintain your highly reliable grid infrastructure while successfully supporting 100% renewable power.
| State | Partner Utilities | Major Cities Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Delmarva Power & Light | Wilmington, Dover, Newark |
| Illinois | Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) | Chicago, Aurora, Rockford |
| Maryland | Baltimore Gas & Electric, Delmarva Power & Light, Potomac Edison, SMECO, PEPCO | Baltimore, Silver Spring, Frederick |
| Massachusetts | Eversource, National Grid | Boston, Worcester, Springfield |
| New Jersey | Atlantic City Electric, Jersey Central Power & Light, PSE&G | Newark, Jersey City, Paterson |
| New York | Central Hudson, ConEd, National Grid, NYSEG, Orange & Rockland, Rochester Gas & Electric | New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Yonkers |
| Ohio | AEP Ohio, AES Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, The Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison | Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron |
| Pennsylvania | Duquesne Light, Met-Ed, PECO Energy, Penelec, Penn Power, PPL, West Penn Power | Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Scranton |
| Washington, D.C. | PEPCO | Washington, D.C. |
If you reside in any of these territories, you can easily select them as your designated energy supplier during your standard utility setup process.
Fees, Guarantees, and Ways to Save
Total transparency around costs is vital when choosing a retail energy provider. CleanChoice Energy leans heavily into its overall accessibility, offering some highly enticing policies alongside a few structural quirks you need to monitor closely.
- No Cancellation Fees: Residential customers enjoy the freedom to cancel or modify their plans at any time without facing any early termination fees. This no-penalty policy provides excellent flexibility if you decide the service is not the right fit for your home.
- Variable Rate Warnings: While they do not charge upfront deposits or cancellation penalties, users must be exceptionally careful at renewal time. If you do not actively renew a fixed-rate contract, your account will instantly default to a variable-rate plan, potentially resulting in dramatically higher supply costs based on market volatility.
- CleanChoice Rewards: Customers can actively offset some of their monthly expenses by utilizing the CleanChoice Rewards program. This dedicated portal gives active users seamless access to daily, weekly, and monthly giveaways, alongside exclusive shopping and dining discounts at various national retailers.
Sustainability and Green Energy Initiatives
CleanChoice Energy sources electricity exclusively from certified 100% renewable wind and solar farms, keeping carbon-heavy fossil fuels completely out of the equation. As a core part of their broader mission, the company has officially transitioned from merely supplying clean power to actively generating it. A prime example is the 168-acre Blairs Valley Solar Farm located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Equipped with over 30,000 bifacial solar panels and flex tracking technology designed to perfectly optimize daily sunlight capture, this 26.15-megawatt facility successfully generates enough clean energy to power approximately 4,500 local homes.
Beyond producing green energy, this project heavily emphasizes local environmental stewardship. CleanChoice partnered directly with regional seed conservationists to cultivate a robust, pollinator-friendly habitat beneath the solar panels, and they intentionally designed permeable fencing so native wildlife can safely navigate the ecosystem. Direct initiatives like this allow everyday retail customers to tangibly support utility-scale solar projects without installing a single panel on their own roofs.
CleanChoice Energy Reviews and Complaints: What Are Customers Saying?
If you search for CleanChoice Energy reviews online, you will quickly find a highly polarized landscape. Understanding both the positive and negative feedback can help you accurately determine if this specific supplier fits your budget and tolerance for risk.
On the Better Business Bureau (BBB), CleanChoice Energy proudly maintains an A+ rating by actively responding to customer disputes. However, the sheer volume of CleanChoice Energy complaints is notable. Many consumers consistently report deep frustration with aggressive direct mail marketing and instances where they felt they were switched to the service without explicit authorization. Additionally, sentiment across Reddit and localized energy forums frequently calls out the company for unexpected “rate gouging.” This typically happens when a customer’s low introductory fixed rate expires, automatically rolling them into an uncapped variable-rate tier that doubles or triples their monthly supply cost.
On the flip side, positive reviews praise the company heavily for its steadfast environmental mission and seamless user experience. Satisfied customers love how easy it is to set up an eco-conscious alternative for their apartments and appreciate the detailed Environmental Impact Reports that track their exact carbon emission offsets and equivalent trees planted. If you diligently manage your contract dates, the service largely delivers exactly what it promises.
How to Report an Outage With CleanChoice Energy
If the lights go out in your home, it is essential to know that CleanChoice Energy does not handle power outages or grid maintenance. Because they are strictly an energy supplier, they have absolutely no control over the physical power lines, utility poles, or street transformers in your neighborhood.
In the event of an emergency or blackout, you must contact your local utility company directly. To report an outage, simply check the top corner of your recent electricity bill to find your designated utility (such as ConEd, ComEd, or National Grid) and call their dedicated 24/7 emergency hotline.
Determining Who CleanChoice Energy Is Best For
Choosing an energy provider depends entirely on your household budget, environmental goals, and willingness to manage your utility accounts. Here is a quick breakdown to guide your decision:
Best For:
- Renters and apartment dwellers who want to actively support renewable energy but cannot install physical rooftop solar panels on their building.
- Eco-conscious consumers who are financially comfortable paying a slight premium for 100% certified green energy.
- Proactive managers who consistently track their utility contracts and will not forget to renew a fixed-rate plan before it expires.
Who Should Avoid It:
- Budget-conscious consumers looking for the absolute cheapest electricity supply rate currently available on the local market.
- Set-it-and-forget-it customers who do not want to actively monitor their contract renewal dates to avoid expensive variable rate traps.
Evaluating If CleanChoice Energy Fits Your Home
Yes, CleanChoice Energy is a legitimate business and a certified B-Corporation dedicated to expanding access to clean, renewable power. However, their aggressive direct mail marketing tactics and reliance on auto-renewing variable rate structures make them a somewhat controversial choice for everyday homeowners. If you are deeply passionate about the environment and decide to sign up, we strongly advise you to strictly opt for their fixed-rate plans. Keep a close eye on your mail and email to ensure you renew your contract before any promotional pricing expires, effectively shielding yourself from unexpected bill hikes.
Frequently Asked Questions About CleanChoice Energy
Is CleanChoice Energy a scam?
No, it is not a scam. CleanChoice Energy is a legitimate retail energy supplier and a certified B-Corporation. However, they frequently receive scam accusations online due to their aggressive marketing mailers and variable-rate plans that can drastically increase your supply costs once your introductory promotional period ends.
How do I cancel CleanChoice Energy?
You can cancel CleanChoice Energy at any time by calling the CleanChoice Energy customer service team directly. For residential customers, there are no early termination fees or cancellation penalties, making it incredibly easy to switch back to your default utility provider or choose a different green energy supplier.
Why did my CleanChoice Energy bill go up so much?
If your monthly bill suddenly spiked, your initial fixed-rate contract likely expired, causing your account to automatically default to a variable-rate plan. Variable rates fluctuate with the wholesale energy market and are consistently higher than promotional introductory rates. Always track your contract terms to avoid this common issue.
How does switching to CleanChoice work?
After signing up with your existing utility account number, CleanChoice handles the seamless transition on the back end. Your local utility company remains exactly the same — meaning they still handle power delivery, maintain the grid, and send your monthly bill — but CleanChoice is listed as your newly designated energy supplier.
How does CleanChoice source renewable energy?
The company sources wind and solar energy from regional farms by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to directly match your household’s grid usage. They also independently fund and operate physical solar projects, ensuring that your monthly energy usage actively supports the growth of sustainable infrastructure.
Will my bill look different?
Your local utility will still send your standard monthly statement just like they always have. The only difference is that CleanChoice Energy will now be clearly listed as your third-party supplier in the supply charge section of the document.
About the Author
LaLeesha has a Masters degree in English and enjoys writing whenever she has the chance. She is passionate about gardening, reducing her carbon footprint, and protecting the environment.