Most commercial energy contracts auto-renew at unfavorable holdover or month-to-month rates if you don't act 60–90 days before expiration. Here's the full playbook — and a deadline calculator to make sure you're not caught off guard.
Contact PDR. We submit your account to the full supplier market, request competitive bids, and pull current forward curve data to advise on timing and term length.
Bids arrive. PDR presents a comparison of all offers — rate structure, term, ETF terms, and all-in price. You evaluate with time to negotiate or request re-bids if market conditions warrant.
Confirm your selection. PDR manages enrollment paperwork, utility notification, and supplier onboarding. Most markets require 30–45 days to process a supplier switch.
Verify the switch is confirmed with the utility and new supplier. Identify your new billing format and expected first bill under the new contract.
Service continues uninterrupted at your new rate. If you missed the window, you may enter holdover at a penalty rate. PDR will work to exit this as quickly as possible.
Enter your contract end date to see your action deadlines.
Most supply contracts include an auto-renewal clause that rolls you into a month-to-month or "holdover" rate if you don't provide written notice within a specified window. Holdover rates are often 20–40% above market and expose you to month-to-month volatility. This is the single most expensive renewal mistake.
Signing a multi-year fixed contract when forward prices are at a seasonal or structural high locks in above-market costs for the entire term. PDR monitors market conditions and advises on timing — sometimes a short-term bridge contract while you wait for the market to correct is the right call.
A 36-month fixed contract in a falling-rate environment commits you to above-market pricing as the market drops. A 12-month contract in a rising-rate environment leaves you re-bidding into a more expensive market every year. Match term to market outlook, not just budget preference.
Incumbent suppliers know you're already enrolled and often submit renewal offers with higher margins, betting that inertia keeps you from shopping the market. Even if you ultimately renew with the same supplier, the process of getting competitive bids typically results in a lower incumbent offer.
Some contracts include a narrow "election window" during which the customer can elect to extend, modify, or exit — typically 30–60 days before a price-reset or term-end date. Missing this window may restrict your options or trigger automatic renewal provisions.
| Term | When it makes sense |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Forward prices are elevated. You want to re-bid when the market corrects. Maximum flexibility for operations in transition. |
| 24–36 months | Market prices are at or below historical averages. Budget certainty is a priority. Most common structure for mid-market commercial accounts. |
| 48–60 months | Forward curve is significantly below long-run average. Buyer has high risk aversion and multi-year budget commitments (e.g., manufacturing cost structures, long-term leases). |
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