Energy services, much like technology as a whole, have been changing dramatically over the past few years. I live in New York, and I remember not all that long ago when my only choice was the primary energy supplier for the area, that was it. If you wanted to get your energy from somewhere else, you were out of luck.

There are several key factors that are leading to a revamping of the energy industry. The big ones that I have been seeing playing a role are;

The desire to go green

The desire to save money

Deregulation.

Going Green

Green Energy Services are becoming more and more popular. Between wind energy, solar power, fuel cells, and who knows what else they have cooking, the options that people have are growing. Even sticking with traditional energy production, the efficiency with which the energy is transported has been improved upon by several companies. This results in less energy being wasted.

Saving Money

This is a goal that I think everyone shares when it comes to, well, anything. Your energy bill is something that, no matter how bad the economy gets, it is still going to be there. You can cut back, but it is not like you are just cancelling the cable. We need to heat and cool our homes, refrigerate our food, and power all of our other appliances. We are so dependent on energy, it is very difficult to imagine life without it. Since this bill will show up every single month, even saving a small percentage can be huge in your overall budget.

Deregulation

Many people have never heard of deregulation. Simply put, the government steps in, and in some way breaks up the power of the energy companies. This allows the consumers to have more options for their energy services. A big part of why many people have never heard of this is because it has not happen everywhere yet. Many of the states in the US have deregulated, and many others are in various stages of deregulation. I have no doubt that by 2015, the entire US will be deregulated.

Taking Advantage Of Deregulation

Utilizing this incredible opportunity can be done on 2 levels. First as a customer. In New York, Texas, Illinois, and as of Nov 1st, 2010, Maryland, you have the option to decide where your energy is coming from. This means competition among energy providers, which in turn means lower prices for the consumers. The second way to utilize deregulation is by partnering up with the energy companies as a consultant. This gives you the opportunity to make some money by helping others switch to a new service, and in the process, save them money.