Viridian Energy Reviews
Viridian Energy is an alternative natural gas and electricity supplier serving green energy options.
Our Opinion
Fixed rate plans can be a good deal with Viridian Energy. Variable rate plans are less stable, and we do not recommend variable rates for this reason.
Customer service has gotten good reviews from Better Business Bureau. Additionally, the company responded well to a government lawsuit by adapting its sales tactics and structure. Compare reviews with other suppliers.
Plans Available & Our Recommendations
Plan Type | Percent Green Energy | Contract Length & Cancellation Fee | Details | Our Thoughts |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fixed Rate
|
|
12 months - 3 years, $50 early cancellation fee |
|
Recommended for electricity |
Mixed Rates
|
|
3 years, $50 early cancellation fee |
|
May be a good deal for electricity |
Variable Rates
|
|
None - Contract automatically renews each month |
|
Not recommended |
Great Deals on Fixed Rate Plans
Customers report being able to save large amounts on fixed rate plans with Viridian Energy. Fixed rate plans for natural gas and electricity lock in one rate for the entire length of your contract. If you are able to lock in a good rate for the right amount of time, these plans can really be a smart choice. We recommend the following contract lengths:
- Electricity: 18 months or more
- Natural Gas: 12 months or less
Environmentally Friendly Energy
Viridian Energy delivers electricity and natural gas from green and carbon offset sources, which customers find refreshing.
Sources of green energy, like wind power, have virtually no negative impact on the environment during the generation of electricity. For natural gas, carbon offsets fund renewable energy projects and generation, based on up to 100% of your consumption. This counters the environmental impact of your natural gas consumption.
Viridian also partners with SolarCity to install home solar panels, another form of green electricity generation.
Good Customer Service
It has a B rating from the Better Business Bureau. It was well-ranked for responding appropriately to customer complaints, but government action against Viridian brought the score down.
Government Measures Against the Company
The Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) served a lawsuit against Viridian Energy based on false advertising about savings on variable rate plans, and claims that customers could cancel service any time. Additionally representatives allegedly misled customers that contracts would not need to be signed when in fact it was a requirement. In 2012 Viridian paid a penalty as ordered by the MPSC and ended its door to door sales campaign.
Good Response to Government Action
In addition to changing its company policies after the Maryland state action, Viridian Energy also responded well to requests from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). According to BBB, there was a pattern of complaints about variable rates doubling or tripling, long customer service wait times, and slow response to service requests. The company made steps to address the problems underlying these complaints as of July 2014, and the BBB deemend these changes as sufficient.
Company Information
Viridian Energy is based in Stamford, Connecticut. It servces natural gas and electricity customers in 10 US states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 2009, it is a subsidiary of Crius Energy, along with its sister company Public Power.