Frequently Asked Questions
General | Texas | New York | Oregon | Advanced Metering
How do you calculate the air pollution that customers prevent?
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Even though a lot of the calculations you might read are based on the "typical" or "average" customer in a state, it is pretty simple to calculate for yourself. To calculate the CO2 emissions you avoid, we simply multiply your monthly electric usage (in kWh) times the percentage of new renewable generation in your product, times the CO2 emission rate of typical system power in your area. We can then figure the big picture from the number of customers we have in each service area.
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Thank You for Your Purchase
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Thank You for Your Purchase!
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Have new renewable energy generation facilities been developed as result of purchases by Green Mountain Energy electricity customers?
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Our customers have helped create demand for the construction of over 40 wind and solar facilities across the nation representing over 180,000 KW of new renewable energy. Since the first facility came online in 1999, these facilities are responsible for avoiding over 679,879 metric tons of CO2, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
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Green Mountain® Home – Large Home
Green Mountain® Home – Large Home
Purchases enough renewable energy to offset the annual electricity usage of a large home (over 2,000 square feet in size) or two average sized homes.
Offsets:
an estimated 15 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Covers:
2,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or 24,000 kWh per year of electricity usage.
Cost $288.00
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Does Green Mountain Energy Company own and operate any wind farms or other renewable generation facilities?
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No, Green Mountain is not an owner or operator of renewable generation facilities. Green Mountain Energy wind and solar facilities are owned and operated by various third parties and may be branded Green Mountain facilities through licensing agreements because the demand from our customers played a significant role in getting these projects built. Since the first facility came online in 1999, these facilities have been responsible for avoiding over 679,879 metric tons of CO2, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
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Green Mountain® Home – Medium-Sized Home
Green Mountain® Home – Medium-Sized Home
Purchases enough renewable energy to offset the annual electricity usage of an average home (approximately 2,000 square feet in size).
Offsets:
an estimated 8 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Covers:
1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month or 12,000 kWh per year of electricity usage.
Cost $144.00
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Does buying Green Mountain Energy electricity make a difference to the environment?
Yes! We can look at this in a few ways. First, we can measure our progress one customer at a time. When a household selects Green Mountain Energy electricity, it is reducing the amount of pollution that the household would otherwise emit.
Second, when customers choose Green Mountain Energy Company, they are supporting the development of new wind and solar facilities. In fact, the demand from Green Mountain customers has been responsible for the development of over 40 new renewable facilities across the U.S. Making electricity causes billions of tons of CO2 to be released every year. In 2008, we estimate these clean energy facilities prevented the emission of 679,879 tons of CO2.
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Green Mountain® Home – Small Home or Apartment
Green Mountain® Home – Small Home or Apartment
Purchases enough renewable energy to offset the annual electricity usage of an average small home or apartment (less than 1,000 square feet in size).
Offsets:
an estimated 4 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Covers:
500 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month or 6,000 kWh per year of electricity usage.
Cost $72.00
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What is renewable energy?
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Energy sources that are either inexhaustible (solar, wind) or replenished over a short period of time (hydro, biomass, geothermal) are considered renewable. Most renewable energy ultimately comes from the sun - indirectly in the case of wind, water, and biomass; directly in the case of solar (PV) generation. Natural gas and coal, for example, are not renewable because their use consumes gas and coal reserves at a much quicker rate than they can be replenished.
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Green Mountain® Home
Green Mountain® Home
Did you know that the traditional production of electricity is the largest source of industrial air pollution in the U.S.? That means that the electricity you use at home is a daily contributor to your carbon footprint. The good news is that you can reduce your carbon emissions by supporting cleaner energy sources like wind, solar and biomass through the purchase of renewable energy certificates with the Green Mountain® Home. Start neutralizing your annual electricity usage today by selecting the size of your home.
How Does It Work?
With the Green Mountain ® Home, your purchase is used to offset your home's electricity-related carbon dioxide emissions through the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) from solar, wind and biomass facilities around the country
To Continue:
Select Which Size Home Do You Have?
  
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Will I need to rewire my home?
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Buying Green Mountain Energy electricity requires NO rewiring or special equipment. You will still be connected to the same regional power grid that provides your power now.
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Green Mountain Global Traveler – Ten Trips
Green Mountain Global Traveler – Ten Trips
Neutralize 10 trips.
Offsets:
9 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers approximately 50,000 miles, or the equivalent of nearly ten roundtrip flights between Los Angeles and New York!
Cost $126.00
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What is cleaner electricity?
Most people aren’t aware that the traditional generation of electricity is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the U. S.
“Cleaner electricity” is from generation sources that produce little to no air pollution (carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) and/or radioactive waste, especially when compared to traditional sources of electric generation (i.e., coal and nuclear). Sources of cleaner electricity include wind, solar power, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal and hydropower.
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Green Mountain Traveler – Three Trips
Green Mountain Traveler – Three Trips
Neutralize three trips.
Offsets:
3 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers approximately 15,000 miles, or the equivalent of nearly three roundtrip flights between New York and Los Angeles.
Cost $42.00
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What do you mean 'clean' electricity?
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The leading cause of industrial air pollution in the country is the production of electricity. While the majority of electricity generated in the U.S. is made by burning pollution-causing fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, our Pollution Free℠ electricity products for Texas residential customers are produced using 100% clean, renewable energy
By choosing Pollution Free electricity over typical system power, a Texas household with average monthly usage of 1,000 kWh can prevent more than 16,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution a year. That's a significant reduction in the average American household's share of CO2 emissions!
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Green Mountain Traveler – One Trip
Green Mountain Traveler – One Trip
Neutralize a single trip
Purchase the one trip traveler for each passenger or each flight.
Offsets:
1 metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers 3,500 miles of flying--like flying roundtrip from Chicago to Seattle.
Cost $14.00
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Where is Green Mountain based?
Our headquarters are in Austin, Texas and we have offices in Dallas, Houston and McAllen, Texas, the New York City area and Portland, Oregon. Click here to contact us.
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Green Mountain Traveler
Green Mountain Traveler
Whether for business or pleasure, most of us find ourselves traveling on airplanes sometimes. But emissions from air travel are a significant contributor to global climate change. By purchasing the Green Mountain Traveler, you can neutralize the CO2 emissions associated with your air travel and significantly reduce your impact on the environment. Whether you prefer to offset one flight at a time or are a world traveler who wants an upgrade to "green" status, we've got the right option for you.
How Does It Work?
With the Green Mountain Traveler, your purchase is used to offset your trip's emissions by supporting carbon offset technologies, such as projects to capture methane gas from wastewater treatment facilities and landfills or to avoid deforestation.
To Continue:
Select how many flights you would like to offset
  
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Is clean electricity the same thing as 'green power'?
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Yes. The clean electricity you buy when you sign up for one of Green Mountain's pollution-free electricity products is a type of green power. For more information about green power from the EPA, click here.
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Green Mountain Driver for Large SUVs and Trucks
Green Mountain Driver for Large SUVs and Trucks
Average Fuel Economy:
11 to 14 miles per gallon.
Offsets:
9 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers 1 year of vehicle emissions based on average fuel economy and driving 12,500 miles per year.
Cost $126.00
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Does buying clean electricity really make a difference?
Yes! We can look at this in a few ways. First, we can measure our progress one customer at a time. When a household selects Green Mountain Energy electricity, it is reducing the amount of pollution that would otherwise have been emitted by the household’s traditional electricity sources.
Second, when customers choose Green Mountain Energy Company, they are supporting the development of new wind and solar facilities. In fact, the demand from Green Mountain customers has been responsible for the development of over 40 new renewable facilities across the U.S. Making electricity causes billions of tons of CO2 to be released every year. In 2008, we estimate these clean energy facilities prevented the emission of 679,879 tons of CO2.
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Green Mountain Driver for Small SUVs and Trucks
Green Mountain Driver for Small SUVs and Trucks
Average Fuel Economy:
15 to 19 miles per gallon.
Offsets:
7 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers 1 year of vehicle emissions based on average fuel economy and driving 12,500 miles per year.
Cost $98.00
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What states does Green Mountain Energy Company serve?
We currently provide clean energy products to residential customers under the Green Mountain Energy Company brand in New Jersey, New York and Texas. We also offer cleaner energy products to commercial customers in Texas and New York and market clean energy products through a local utility in Oregon.
In addition to cleaner electricity products, Green Mountain also offers carbon offset products to both residential and commercial customers in any state.
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Green Mountain Driver for Medium Cars
Green Mountain Driver for Medium Cars
Average Fuel Economy:
20 to 25 miles per gallon.
Offsets:
5 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers 1 year of vehicle emissions based on average fuel economy and driving 12,500 miles per year.
Cost $70.00
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How does clean electricity work?
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Visit "How Clean Energy Works" to learn more about clean electricity and how the electricity grid works.
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Green Mountain Driver for Small Cars
Green Mountain Driver for Small Cars
Average Fuel Economy:
26 to 37 miles per gallon.
Offsets:
4 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers 1 year of vehicle emissions based on average fuel economy and driving 12,500 miles per year.
Cost $56.00
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What are my payment method options?
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Green Mountain offers many convenient methods for paying your Texas residential electric bill. Click here to view your options.
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Green Mountain Driver for Fuel Efficient Cars and Hybrids
Green Mountain Driver for Fuel Efficient Cars and Hybrids
Average Fuel Economy:
38 to 60 miles per gallon.
Offsets:
3 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Covers 1 year of vehicle emissions based on average fuel economy and driving 12,500 miles per year.
Cost $42.00
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Why have I not received my first bill?
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You should receive your first bill within 45 days. If this time frame has passed please call us at 1-866-785-4668. Our Energy Account Specialists are available to help Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST
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Green Mountain Driver
Green Mountain Driver
The driving you do every day may not be pollution-free. In fact, transportation is the second largest cause of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the U.S., and likely a large contributor to your carbon footprint. By becoming a Green Mountain Driver, you can help offset your vehicle's CO2 emissions for a whole year and reduce your impact on the environment!
Select the Green Mountain Driver option that fits the average fuel economy of your vehicle.
How Does It Work?
With the Green Mountain Driver, your purchase is used to offset your vehicle's emissions by supporting carbon offset technologies, such as projects to capture methane gas from wastewater treatment facilities and landfills, or avoid deforestation,
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I have a Commercial account, what number do I call?
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Our Commercial Customer Care number is toll free 1-866-767-5817.
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Carbon Offsets and REC Product Offerings
Carbon Offsets and REC Product Offerings
Day-to-day activities like driving, flying and consuming energy have an impact on the environment and contribute to everyone's individual carbon footprint (link to CF in glossary). In fact, the average American emits approximately 50,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year!
With Green Mountain Driver, Traveler, and Home products, you have the opportunity to help offset your environmental impact by supporting projects that reduce or avoid carbon emissions.
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Store Home
The zip code you entered is not in a competitive electricity market served by Green Mountain Energy Company.
However, you can still support renewable energy for your home by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from Green Mountain.
Carbon Offsets & RECs
Green Mountain Energy Company offers carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) to individuals, businesses and other organizations that are looking for an easy and reliable way to estimate and reduce their impact on the environment.
Join us and start reducing your impact on the environment today!
INDIVIDUAL
Choose Individual to offset day-to-day activities like driving, flying and using energy at home.
BUSINESS
Choose Business to accurately calculate and reduce your business’s impact on the environment.
Why Green Mountain?
Our high quality, rigorously certified products, combined with over a decade of experience in cleaner energy, mean that you can be confident in reducing your environmental impact with Green Mountain.
Since our inception, Green Mountain customers have helped avoid more than 11.3 billions pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. That’s as much as:
- Over 478 million trees would absorb in one year
- Taking over 52 million cars off the road for a week
- Over 473 million households turning off their lights for a week
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