Around the country, many states are in various stages of deregulation. This means that the government is stepping in and breaking up the energy monopolies, giving the consumer a chance that they have never had before. If you are in NY, you have the right to choose your New York energy company. Chances are that if you are in New York, your current energy provider is either National Grid or Con Ed. They have probably been your energy provider for as long as you can remember. They have created the energy, delivered it to your home, handled the billing, and taken care of your customer service. When you take advantage of deregulation in New York, only one of those things changes. The energy that your home uses will come from a different place. That is it. Your current provider will still send your bill every month, deliver the energy to your home, handle customer service, damaged lines, everything that they do now, minus the actual creating of the energy.

When it comes to selecting a New York energy company, you have some options. The companies that you are choosing from are known as energy service companies, or ESCOs. Each company has it’s own pricing, terms and conditions, options to select from. Some require contracts, while a select few do not. For the most part, your savings are going to be determined by which New York energy company you select. The only constant is that no matter which one you switch to, you will save 7% for your first 2 months. This is part of the deregulation. That 7% savings is actually covered by your current provider as an incentive to get you to switch. They are offering you an incentive to switch from their company. That is the beauty of deregulation. Don’t feel too bad for them, they are still delivering the energy to your house, so they are still making their share. The government wants to give consumers choices, not bankrupt the larger companies.

A great way to build your business is through networking. Every city has organized networking events to bring business people together. Associations, clubs and membership organizations all hold regular get-togethers which are great opportunities to meet others who can help you achieve your business goals. The opportunities exist to meet other people, create alliances and partnerships and to spread the word about your business. However, like most things in life, you need to be prepared to make the most of the opportunities.

Networking is a great way to build your business, but it does require more skill than just showing up and hoping for the best. If you are new to networking, this tip is a great way to get started. If you are already using networking, it should help you to be a more skilled networking professional. Do you love networking or is it something you force yourself to do because you know you must to build your business? When you go to a networking event, how much time do you spend speaking with people you know vs. meeting new people? Are you hoping new, potential clients will walk up to you and initiate a conversation? Think about how difficult it is for you to introduce yourself to a stranger.

Effective networking involves listening, not telling. So, ask people about their business instead of telling them about yours. The most effective networkers hold conversations with the people they meet. They don’t try to sell their product or promote their business in these meetings. It is important to keep in mind that a conversation is a two way street. Don’t be the person doing all the talking. Engaging someone is an effective way to learn about them and identify potential ways you can do business together. You need to take a genuine interest in what they have to say. Preparing some conversation starters in advance is a great way to be sure you are well prepared to begin the conversation.