I recently signed up for the United MileagePlus Explorer card for the signup bonus. As member, I can use a local alternative energy supplier, NRG Home and use their United Miles plan:
3 month intro offer: 7.3c/KWh fixed (ComED is about that but will jump to 7.9c/KWh in October
After 2 months I will get 12,500 United Miles bonus deposited to my account
3 miles per dollar spent
After 3 months: Price is "Variable"
No termination fee, can cancel whenever
My takeaway:
Use the 3 months then switch back. I'm curious and want to go the 4th month and see what the "variable" rate is. I don't know what the approximate value for a United Mile is, but there would be price point where getting miles is worth paying a little more than main utility. I need to know what a 'mile' is worth somehow.
We travel 5-9x/year and this will not ever change for the forseeable future. If I avg about $60/mo that would be about 2160 miles per year without that bonus (60x3x12).
Is there anything else I should be aware of or consider? I know in geneal, alternate supplier for gas/electricity is a bad idea and the main utility is almost always better but besides getting that bonus, it still might be worth it for me.
