By Jesse Berst

·         Because most customers have smart meters, the comparisons can be based on real-life data. Customers can see which offer is best for their particular consumption patterns.

·         Even though Houston (and the rest of Texas) has had retail competition for 10 years, 40% of Houstonians still don't take advantage.

·         Although the release talks mostly about price comparison, we hear anecdotally that a competitive price is just the "table stakes." The clincher is often something else bundled together with electricity. Some providers promise green energy, others offer a variety of incentives. Power retailers are making a mistake, in our opinion, if they think they can win just by being cheap.

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Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry's oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services.