One Big Switch – an aggregator that claims to be “the world’s largest discount energy club, with over 800,000 members” – has entered the U.S. market in Dallas and is seeking licenses to do business in other states.
Founded in 2011 in Australia, the company expanded to Scotland and then other parts of the United Kingdom before landing in the States this fall – where, it said, it already has attracted 45,000 members in the Dallas metro area to date.
Like other aggregators, One Big Switch uses the strength of large numbers of utility customers to negotiate exclusive, low rates. “Ten or 20 people can’t unlock a group discounted energy offer; they simply do not have enough buying power,” the company explains.
“But the buying power of tens of thousands of consumers can do just that. With the weight of our members behind us, we can convince energy companies to cut their rates. It’s an ambitious goal, but with enough members, it can be done.”
The company promises that, with the power of its members behind it, it is able to "provide exclusive group price creation, not price comparison [as is the case with many other energy sites]."
Joining One Big Switch is obligation and cost free, according to the company. After signing on, “You just decide if any offer is right for you. One Big Switch members are free to use our offers as leverage to shop around, or to see if they can get a better deal from the same provider.”
How does the company make money? “We make money when you save money,” One Big Switch explains on its website. “One Big Switch is a for-profit-with-purpose enterprise that earns a fee from the businesses that earn customers through our club. Those commissions help to fund our future campaigns. Providers pay these fees; not our members.”
Interested ratepayers may not have to wait long to learn more. The company also has applied for licenses in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
