Vista Energy Marketing: A Tiny Help to Lower Gas Bills

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Al Williamson

(Be sure to read the latest regarding Ambit being cheaper than Vista)

In May 2011, I gave Vista Energy Marketing, LP (a Texas-based company) a chance to prove they could reduce my 8-unit apartment’s natural gas water heating bill.  Vista, a wholesale supply acquisition company, said that due to their low overhead, they could rent Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) distribution network and deliver natural gas cheaper than PG&E. Due to deregulation laws, PG&E has to allow competition.

Vista Energy Marketing currently does business in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Massachusetts. You can contact them at www.vistaenergymarketing.com.

The results are in, however they aren’t impressive. I only saved $5.11 over 5 months.

Let me summarize, I compared my Vista bill to PG&E’s G-CP rates and found the following:

Month 2011	PG&E Rate $/Therm	Vista Energy Rate $/Therm	Therms Used	Monthly Savings	Percent Saved
June	0.68893	0.64759	47	$1.94	6.0%
July	0.69535	0.65363	48	$2.00	6.0%
August	0.64931	0.64282	51	$0.33	1.0%
September	0.63742	0.62900	52	$0.44	1.3%
October	0.56543	0.55900	61	$0.39	1.1%

Recommendation
Some savings are better than no savings, but I don’t recommend switching to Vista. Your time may be better spent elsewhere. I will let you know if the trend changes.

You may also enjoy reading Landlord Can Save on Natural Gas Bills

About Al Williamson

Al Williamson, the author of the Building Wealth with Inner City Rentals: Success the Catalytic Landlord Way, is a civil engineer who is passionate about revitalizing inner cities by creating surprisingly beautiful affordable housing communities. For over 15 years he has remodeled small apartment buildings, led neighborhood cleanup efforts, and chased away drug dealers to improve safety and restore the equity in the neighborhood.

View all posts by Al Williamson →

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2 comments on “Vista Energy Marketing: A Tiny Help to Lower Gas Bills”

1. Pablo Han on March 21, 2012 at 11:56 am said:

   I too joined Vista, the biggest point you omitted was that there was no cost to switch TO or AWAY from Vista,…so, if they don’t save me money, I’ll leave. Seems like there is limited downside, a small savings is better than none. Also, natrual gas prices are super cheap right now, that $5 savings could go to $50 if we get back to 2009 prices, those killed me.
2. Geraldine on February 9, 2013 at 6:46 am said:

   Today I got my bill I notice my bill was 110 round it off visit energy is charging me 42.50 of there own my bill is suppose trip b 68.00 what’s going on its suppose to b lower then that I wanna b removed from this company cause without u guys im only paying 26.76 come some contact me our I’ll b hearing from me again!
   thank you