CUB Gas Market Monitor
An Analysis of MX Energy's Offers
MX Energy is an unregulated gas supplier that markets or has marketed plans in at least one of the service territories of the regulated utilities in northern Illinois: Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, or North Shore Gas. Some unregulated companies operate in all three. This is a summary of MX Energy's performance, followed by a breakdown of its plans in each utility service territory where the plans are offered.


Plans offered in NICOR territory
Average
Savings|(Loss)
Number
of plans
Percent
Plans that saved
$197.58
6
2%
Plans that lost
($761.74)
236
98%

Active plans = 56  Expired plans = 186


MX Energy
Offer date
Plan typeTermUsage rateMonthly feeSavings
(Loss)
10/07/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($17.76)
09/02/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($17.76)
08/05/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($21.83)
07/01/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($24.52)
06/03/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($37.48)
05/06/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($29.15)
04/01/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($54.90)
03/04/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($110.13)
02/04/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($167.26)
01/07/09Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($247.01)
12/31/08Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$2.49($369.31)
12/10/08Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$2.49($345.66)
12/03/08Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($318.27)
11/05/08Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($345.71)
10/08/08Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($347.95)
09/03/08Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($354.23)
08/13/08Variable1 YearChanges Monthly$0.00($358.47)
08/02/07VariableJuly-2008Changes Monthly$0.00($220.39)
Ongoing...
09/07/06VariableMarch-2007Changes Monthly$0.00($279.37)
Rate is .02 below Nicor through Oct. 2006. From Nov. 2006 through March 2007, fixed price of .949 per therm.
02/04/09Fixed1 Year$0.870$2.49($296.87)
02/04/09Fixed1 Year$0.780$2.49($243.75)
01/23/09Fixed1 Year$0.870$0.00($351.58)
12/24/08Fixed1 Year$0.960$2.49($537.48)
12/10/08Fixed1 Year$1.040$2.49($627.47)
11/05/08Fixed1 Year$1.100$2.49($788.73)
08/06/08Fixed3 Years$1.400$2.49($1363.15)
07/23/08Fixed3 Years$1.399$2.49($1373.80)
07/16/08Fixed3 Years$1.417$2.49($1403.05)
07/02/08Fixed3 Years$1.437$2.49($1435.55)
06/18/08Fixed3 Years$1.437$2.49($1437.90)
06/04/08Fixed3 Years$1.353$2.49($1304.25)
05/21/08Fixed3 Years$1.350$2.49($1305.06)
05/07/08Fixed3 Years$1.220$2.49($1087.31)
04/23/08Fixed3 Years$1.220$2.49($1089.57)
04/16/08Fixed3 Years$1.220$2.49($1089.57)
04/04/08Fixed3 Years$1.210$2.49($1067.47)
03/20/08Fixed2 Years$1.120$2.95($939.94)
03/06/08Fixed3 Years$1.120$2.49($930.74)
02/22/08Fixed3 Years$1.120$2.49($956.94)
02/01/08Fixed3 Years$1.080$2.49($878.94)
01/03/08Fixed2 Years$1.040$2.49($850.51)
12/14/07Fixed3 Years$1.041$2.49($923.10)
11/02/07Fixed3 Years$1.020$2.49($949.66)
10/04/07Fixed3 Years$1.020$2.49($1001.27)
09/04/07Fixed3 Years$1.024$2.49($1050.06)
08/28/07Fixed3 Years$1.024$2.49($1062.34)
08/02/07Fixed3 Years$1.000$2.49($992.14)
06/04/07Fixed3 Years$1.050$2.49($1159.23)
05/01/07Fixed3 Years$1.050$2.49($1168.14)
04/20/07Fixed3 Years$1.050$2.49($1175.54)
04/06/07Fixed3 Years$0.990$2.49($994.04)
03/12/07Fixed3 Years$0.990$2.49($1011.19)
03/02/07Fixed3 Years$0.990$0.00($931.52)
02/02/07Fixed3 Years$0.990$2.49($1038.63)
12/18/06Fixed3 Years$0.990$2.49($1194.71)
12/04/06Fixed3 Years$0.990$2.49($1194.71)
11/02/06Fixed3 Years$0.990$2.49($1262.62)
10/20/06Fixed3 Years$0.990$2.49($1332.50)
10/06/06Fixed3 Years$1.080$2.49($1703.75)
05/03/06Fixed3 Years$1.190$2.49($2209.36)
04/04/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($3094.14)
03/06/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($3168.21)
10/15/08Fixed1 Year$1.100$2.49($784.15)
10/01/08Fixed1 Year$1.150$2.49($850.40)
09/17/08Fixed1 Year$1.150$2.49($887.74)
09/10/08Fixed1 Year$1.200$2.49($964.69)
09/03/08Fixed1 Year$1.200$2.49($964.69)
08/13/08Fixed1 Year$1.200$2.49($853.79)
08/06/08Fixed1 Year$1.480$2.49($1229.09)
07/30/08Fixed1 Year$1.399$2.49($1112.41)
07/23/08Fixed1 Year$1.481$2.49($1223.10)
07/16/08Fixed1 Year$1.481$2.49($1223.10)
07/02/08Fixed1 Year$1.515$2.49($1269.00)
06/18/08Fixed1 Year$1.515$2.49($1242.46)
06/04/08FixedDec. 2008$1.444$2.49($569.84)
06/04/08Fixed1 Year$1.435$2.49($1134.46)
05/21/08Fixed6 months$1.440$2.49($374.39)
05/21/08Fixed1 Year$1.440$2.49($1105.51)
05/07/08Fixed1 Year$1.300$2.49($919.21)
05/07/08Fixed6 months$1.260$2.49($274.83)
04/23/08FixedOct. 2008$1.260$2.49($151.55)
04/23/08Fixed1 Year$1.300$2.49($899.17)
04/16/08Fixed1 Year$1.300$2.49($899.17)
04/16/08FixedOct. 2008$1.260$2.49($151.55)
04/04/08Fixed1 Year$1.290$2.49($888.37)
04/04/08FixedOct. 2008$1.260$2.49($149.67)
03/20/08Fixed1 Year$1.140$2.95($691.25)
03/20/08Fixed6 months$1.180$2.95($84.57)
03/06/08Fixed1 Year$1.140$2.49($679.56)
03/06/08FixedSept-2008$1.070$2.49($46.57)
02/22/08FixedAug-2008$1.070$2.49($57.57)
02/22/08Fixed1 Year$1.140$2.49($634.17)
02/01/08Fixed1 Year$1.070$2.49($533.87)
02/01/08FixedAug-2008$1.010$2.49($32.82)
01/03/08Fixed1 Year$1.040$2.49($441.42)
01/03/08Fixed6 months$0.980$2.49($32.06)
12/14/07Fixed1 Year$1.038$2.49($391.39)
12/14/07Fixed6 months$0.983$2.49($93.17)
12/07/07Fixed1 Year$1.068$2.49($438.64)
12/07/07Fixed6 months$1.077$2.49($170.72)
11/15/07Fixed6 months$1.077$2.49($269.19)
11/15/07Fixed1 Year$1.068$2.49($526.25)
11/02/07Fixed6 months$0.979$2.49($171.19)
11/02/07Fixed1 Year$0.963$2.49($256.63)
10/04/07Fixed6 months$0.979$2.49($225.53)
10/04/07Fixed1 Year$0.963$2.49($233.15)
09/04/07Fixed1 Year$0.989$2.49($35.45)
09/04/07FixedMarch-2008$1.010$2.49($297.18)
08/28/07Fixed1 Year$0.989$2.49($297.04)
08/28/07FixedFeb-2008$1.010$2.49($302.97)
08/22/07FixedFeb-2008$0.949$2.49($234.34)
08/22/07Fixed1 Year$0.949$2.49($243.04)
08/13/07FixedFeb-2008$0.949$2.49($234.34)
08/13/07Fixed1 Year$0.949$2.49($243.04)
08/02/07Fixed1 Year$1.060$2.49($392.90)
08/02/07FixedFeb-2008$1.060$2.49($359.22)
07/03/07Fixed1 Year$1.000$0.00($262.76)
07/03/07Fixed6 months$0.990$0.00($271.31)
06/04/07Fixed1 Year$0.990$2.49($289.38)
06/04/07Fixed6 months$0.990$2.49($252.57)
06/04/07Fixed1 Year$1.000$2.49($303.13)
05/01/07Fixed1 Year$0.990$2.49($296.40)
05/01/07Fixed6 months$0.990$2.49($260.32)
04/25/07Fixed6 months$0.990$2.49($147.81)
04/20/07Fixed6 months$0.990$2.49($147.81)
04/09/07Fixed6 months$0.910$2.49($129.81)
04/06/07Fixed6 months$0.910$2.49($129.81)
03/29/07Fixed6 months$0.910$2.49($60.26)
03/20/07Fixed6 months$0.910$2.49($60.26)
03/12/07Fixed6 months$0.910$2.49($60.26)
03/08/07Fixed6 months$0.910$0.00($45.32)
03/02/07Fixed6 months$0.910$0.00($45.32)
02/16/07Fixed1 Year$0.910$2.49($242.94)
02/09/07Fixed6 months$0.910$2.49($77.73)
02/02/07Fixed1 Year$0.940$2.49($287.19)
02/02/07Fixed6 months$0.910$2.49($77.73)
12/04/06Fixed1 Year$0.940$2.49($424.05)
11/10/06Fixed1 Year$0.940$2.49($459.65)
11/02/06Fixed1 Year$1.190$2.49($903.40)
10/20/06Fixed1 Year$0.940$2.49($549.48)
10/06/06Fixed1 Year$0.999$2.49($677.81)
09/12/06Fixed1 Year$0.999$2.49($574.30)
09/07/06Fixed1 Year$0.999$2.49($738.59)
09/07/06Fixed3 Years$1.080$2.49($1771.33)
08/09/06Fixed3 Years$1.080$2.49($1731.69)
08/09/06Fixed1 Year$0.999$2.49($498.66)
07/20/06Fixed3 Years$1.080$2.49($1638.62)
07/14/06Fixed3 Years$1.070$2.49($1598.37)
07/14/06Fixed1 Year$0.999$2.49($486.24)
07/07/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($2886.37)
07/07/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($802.09)
06/28/06Fixed1 Year$1.000$2.49($492.66)
06/15/06Fixed1 Year$1.200$2.49($762.66)
06/06/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($2894.99)
06/06/06Fixed1 Year$1.200$2.49($782.66)
05/31/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($797.25)
05/22/06Fixed1 Year$1.400$2.49($1060.25)
05/22/06Fixed3 Years$1.220$2.49($2208.05)
05/17/06Fixed1 Year$1.200$2.49($377.50)
05/17/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($2892.30)
05/11/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($817.25)
05/03/06FixedJul-07$1.190$2.49($1199.91)
04/26/06Fixed1 Year$1.210$2.49($1317.77)
04/26/06FixedJul-07$1.200$2.49($775.07)
04/26/06FixedJun-07$1.380$2.49($683.91)
04/19/06Fixed3 Years$1.380$2.49($498.82)
04/19/06FixedJul-07$1.200$2.49($796.57)
04/19/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($1341.77)
04/11/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($504.57)
04/11/06FixedJul-07$1.200$2.49($763.58)
04/04/06FixedJul-07$1.200$2.49($1238.99)
04/04/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($1287.00)
03/21/06Fixed3 Years$1.380$2.49($2888.02)
03/21/06FixedJun-07$1.200$2.49($341.01)
03/15/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($1345.28)
03/15/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($1093.11)
03/15/06FixedJun-07$1.200$2.49($852.55)
02/21/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($897.72)
02/06/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($3057.76)
02/06/06Fixed1 Year$1.220$2.49($1022.22)
01/23/06Fixed1 Year$1.210$2.49($896.11)
01/23/06Fixed3 Years$1.390$2.49($3077.48)
01/17/06Fixed3 Years$1.480$2.49($3471.23)
01/05/06Fixed3 Years$1.490$2.49($3514.98)
12/12/05Fixed3 Years$1.490$2.49($3220.56)
12/06/05Fixed3 Years$1.310$2.49($2460.06)
11/02/05Fixed3 Years$1.310$2.49($2502.53)
10/24/05Fixed3 Years$1.310$2.49($2356.46)
10/03/05Fixed3 Years$1.300$2.49($2313.21)
09/02/05Fixed3 Years$1.310$2.49($2107.37)
08/15/05Fixed3 Years$1.090$2.49($1258.96)
07/11/05FixedJune 2007$0.950$2.49($190.18)
06/07/05FixedJune 2007$0.950$2.49($481.06)
04/11/05FixedJune 2007$0.950$2.49($215.06)
04/05/05FixedJune 2007$0.915$2.49($155.56)
03/08/05Fixed3 Years$0.915$2.49($604.50)
02/07/05Fixed3 Years$0.915$2.49($654.54)
01/03/05Fixed3 Years$0.915$2.49($726.41)
12/06/04Fixed3 Years$0.915$2.49($783.05)
11/15/04Fixed3 Years$0.846$2.49($508.50)
11/08/04Fixed3 Years$0.846$2.49($1189.95)
11/01/04Fixed3 Years$0.846$1.98($1170.57)
10/12/04Fixed3 Years$0.846$1.98($1254.71)
09/30/04Fixed3 Years$0.799$1.98($318.70)
09/07/04Fixed3 Years$0.846$1.98($510.23)
08/16/04Fixed3 Years$0.846$1.98($429.76)
08/02/04Fixed3 Years$0.859$1.98($497.26)
07/06/04Fixed3 Years$0.859$1.98($498.45)
06/01/04Fixed3 Years$0.859$1.98($500.48)
05/03/04Fixed3 Years$0.799$1.98($262.50)
04/05/04Fixed3 Years$0.799$1.98($246.82)
03/02/04Fixed3 Years$0.769$1.98($149.57)
02/02/04Fixed3 Years$0.769$1.98($316.13)
12/01/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($141.37)
11/24/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($180.31)
11/04/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($157.93)
10/10/03Fixed3 Years$0.799$1.98($393.86)
09/08/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($175.78)
09/04/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($175.78)
08/19/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($147.11)
08/05/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($147.11)
07/14/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($146.41)
07/07/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($146.41)
07/02/03Fixed2 Years$0.733$1.98($327.83)
07/02/03Fixed2 Years$0.712$1.98($271.66)
with an increase of up to 4 cents per therm every January
06/23/03Fixed3 Years$0.749$1.98($141.95)
06/16/03Fixed3 Years$0.725$1.98($45.95)
06/13/03Fixed1 Year$0.749$1.98($244.20)
06/09/03Fixed3 Years$0.725$1.98($45.95)
06/05/03Fixed3 Years$0.725$1.98($45.95)
06/05/03Fixed2 Years$0.745$1.98($361.76)
06/05/03Fixed3 Years$0.736$1.98($89.95)
06/05/03Fixed1 Year$0.790$1.98($298.46)
04/16/03Fixed1 Year$0.749$1.98($246.34)
03/10/03Fixed1 Year$0.749$1.98($251.66)
03/03/03Fixed1 Year$0.677$1.98($149.06)
02/25/03Fixed2 Years$0.609$1.98$16.51
02/25/03Fixed3 Years$0.609$1.98$457.96
02/03/03Fixed3 Years$0.585$1.98$556.96
02/03/03Fixed2 Years$0.585$1.98$83.71
01/02/03Fixed1 Year$0.585$1.98$11.90
12/02/02Fixed1 Year$0.546$1.98$58.40
Past savings are no guarantee

Past savings obtained by these plans are no guarantee of future savings. It’s a roll of the dice, much like the stock market, except you are betting on the movement of natural gas prices. Industry and consumer experts can analyze past trends, but no one knows what the price of gas will be next week, let alone next year or five years from now.

Beware of misleading marketing

Don’t trust anyone who promises savings on your gas bill because they would need a crystal ball to do it.

Also, beware of door-to-door salespeople claiming to be from the gas company and never give out your account number to them. Always ask to see any offer in writing and take at least 24 hours to review and research it.

Read the fine print

Watch for hidden fees that boost the advertised per-therm rate, and early-termination charges that could penalize you by hundreds of dollars if you drop out of the offer before the contract is up.

Remember, a fixed rate is not always fixed. Some contract loopholes allow companies to cancel the agreement if prices rise and the terms no longer benefit them. You are signing a legal contract, so read it carefully.

You don’t have to switch

If you’re concerned about rising natural gas prices, your regulated utility’s “budget-billing plan” may be your best bet. Only switch gas suppliers if you fully understand all the terms and potential risks.

Many people switch suppliers thinking it’s a way to save money and that’s not always the case.

If it sounds too good to be true…

  …it probably is!

Santanna Energy Services has defaulted on its contracts twice because consumers were saving too much money. The company unilaterally ended the contracts and put consumers on a higher market rate.

A class action lawsuit against Santanna is pending.

CUB endorses no company

The Gas Market Monitor is for informational purposes only.

CUB does not endorse any particular plan or provider.

Confused? Call CUB

CUB can help you weigh all the pros and cons of switching to a new supplier. First check out our publications on the two gas choice programs: Customer Select (for Nicor customers) and Choices for You (for Peoples customers). If you still have questions, please call CUB’s Consumer Hotline,
at 1-800-669-5556.