Spark Energy
Founded in 1999, Spark Energy provides low-cost energy to over 100,000 commercial and residential customers in 12 states. They offer a variety of fixed and variable rate plans, along with green energy options.
States Served
Spark Energy delivers natural gas and electricity residential service to the following states:
| Electricity | Natural Gas |
|---|---|
|
|
Commercial Customers
Spark Energy serves all of the above electricity and gas markets for businesses. It also serves commercial natural gas customers in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, and Nevada.
Available Rate Plans
Spark Energy offers variable and fixed rate options for natural gas and electricity.
| Rate Type | Details | Different Fees | Contract Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Rate |
|
|
6, 12, or 24 months |
| Variable Rate |
|
None | None |
Which Type of Rate is Better?
We generally recommend fixed rate plans with alternative suppliers like Spark Energy. This is because variable rates with alternative suppliers are usually not regulated by your local government, which means that they often skyrocket after a few months. With fixed rates, provided that you lock in a good rate and choose the right length contract, you can save over time.
Based on historical price data for natural gas and electricity, we recommend the following fixed rate contracts:
| Energy type | Recommended contract length |
|---|---|
| Electricity | 18 months or more |
| Natural gas | 12 months or less |
For more information, read our article on fixed rate energy plans.
Rates for New York Customers
Rate offers from Spark Energy depend on your city and local utility. Most plans are fixed rate, but some New York customers have access to variable rate plans as well. Some elctricity plans feauture renewable energy options.
Energy utilities served by Spark Energy in New York include:
For more information about service in New York state, including local rates and how to switch, check out our Spark Energy New York page.
Customer Reviews
Consumers are often satisfied with the quality of Spark Energy's customer service. Also, savings with fixed rate plans can be significant.
However, like many alternative energy companies, Spark Energy uses door to door sales techniques which can leave customers feeling uncomfortable or mislead.
Read more customer feedback along with our opinion on our Spark Energy reviews page.
Renewable Energy Options
Green energy plans are available in most of Spark Energy's service area for both electricity and natural gas. For green electricity plans, the energy delivered to your home is 100% renewable. For green natural gas plans, Spark Energy purchases carbon offsets worth 100% of your consumption, which support renewable energy projects in the United States. The actual natural gas you consume does not come from renewable sources, but instead you compensate for your carbon footprint.
Renewable energy plans are available with fixed rate contracts, of 12 and 24 month periods. Monthly fees start at $4.95 a month on green energy plans, and early cancellation fees range from $50-100.
Spark Energy Contact Information
You can reach Spark Energy customer service representatives at 1-877-547-7275, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday (CST). Read more complete contact information.
Spark Energy History
Spark Energy was founded in 1999, and now serves over 100,000 customers. It is based out of Houston, Texas. In 2011, it ranked 2nd among alternative energy suppliers for customer satisfaction in Texas, according to JD Power and Associates.