Internet Choice in Deregulated Energy States: The Complete 2026 Bundling Guide

Ohio deregulated electricity market – shop and compare suppliers

Your internet choice in deregulated energy states matters more than you think — here is how to shop smarter and bundle both utilities.

Internet Choice in Deregulated Energy States: How to Bundle & Save

If you live in a deregulated energy state, you already have the ability to shop for the cheapest electricity supplier in your area. But here’s what most people don’t realize: you can also independently shop your internet provider, your home security service, and your home warranty — all in the same marketplace. In 2026, savvy households in deregulated states are treating their utility stack the same way they treat their financial portfolio: actively managed, periodically reviewed, and optimized for maximum value.

This guide maps out which internet providers are competing in the major deregulated energy states, how to bundle wisely, and which combinations deliver the most value for different household types.

The 15 Deregulated Energy States — And Their Internet Markets

The following states have retail electricity deregulation — meaning residents can choose their electricity supplier. Each also has a distinct internet market with varying levels of competition:

Texas

Energy deregulation: Full (ERCOT grid) — most competitive market in the US with 100+ REPs.
Top internet providers: AT&T Fiber (expanding), Xfinity, Frontier Fiber, T-Mobile Home Internet, Starlink (rural).
Best for bundling: Both energy and internet are highly competitive in Houston, DFW, and Austin suburbs. Excellent bundling opportunity.

Ohio

Energy deregulation: Full — both electric and natural gas.
Top internet providers: Xfinity (dominant), AT&T Fiber (growing), Spectrum, Metronet (expanding regional fiber), T-Mobile Home Internet.
Best for bundling: Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati all have strong multi-provider internet markets. AEP Ohio and FirstEnergy customers have solid CRES supplier options.

Pennsylvania

Energy deregulation: Full — electric and natural gas via PA PUC.
Top internet providers: Xfinity (statewide cable), Verizon Fios (Philadelphia suburbs and eastern PA), Frontier Fiber (western PA), T-Mobile Home Internet.
Best for bundling: Philly suburbs (Verizon Fios + PECO supplier shopping) and Pittsburgh area (Frontier + West Penn Power suppliers) are excellent dual-shopping markets.

Illinois

Energy deregulation: Full — ComEd (north) and Ameren (central/south).
Top internet providers: Xfinity (dominant in Chicago metro), AT&T Fiber (expanding in Chicago), Astound/RCN (select Chicago neighborhoods), T-Mobile Home Internet.
Best for bundling: Chicago is one of the best cities in the Midwest for bundling — strong ARES competition overlaps with strong ISP competition.

New York

Energy deregulation: Full — electric and gas through multiple utilities.
Top internet providers: Verizon Fios (NYC and Long Island), Optimum/Altice (NYC metro, Long Island, Westchester), Spectrum (statewide), T-Mobile Home Internet.
Best for bundling: NYC and suburbs have both high energy costs (making ESCO shopping high-value) and some of the best ISP competition in the country.

New Jersey

Energy deregulation: Full — electric and gas through PSE&G, JCP&L, ACE, Rockland.
Top internet providers: Verizon Fios (extensive NJ coverage), Xfinity (statewide cable), Optimum (northern NJ).
Best for bundling: NJ has the highest electricity costs in the continental US paired with excellent Verizon Fios coverage — making it one of the top states for total household utility optimization.

Connecticut

Energy deregulation: Full — electric (Eversource and United Illuminating) and gas.
Top internet providers: Xfinity (dominant), Frontier Fiber (expanding), Optimum (western CT).
Best for bundling: Small state but very high electricity rates — energy supplier shopping has strong ROI. Frontier Fiber is expanding aggressively in CT.

Maryland

Energy deregulation: Full — BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, and Potomac Edison territories.
Top internet providers: Xfinity (dominant in Baltimore and DC suburbs), Verizon Fios (Pepco territory), T-Mobile Home Internet.
Best for bundling: DC suburbs (Montgomery, Prince George’s Counties) have excellent ISP competition alongside Pepco and BGE supplier shopping.

Massachusetts

Energy deregulation: Full — Eversource and National Grid territories.
Top internet providers: Xfinity (dominant statewide), Verizon Fios (Boston metro and eastern MA), Starlink and fixed wireless (western/rural MA).
Best for bundling: Boston metro is an excellent dual-shopping market with high energy costs and strong ISP competition.

Michigan

Energy deregulation: Partial — limited electricity deregulation (cap on retail access customers). Gas is more widely deregulated under SEMCO and Consumers Energy.
Top internet providers: Xfinity (Detroit metro), AT&T Fiber (growing in southeast MI), Spectrum (western/central MI), T-Mobile Home Internet.
Best for bundling: Natural gas shopping is the stronger energy opportunity in Michigan. Pair with ISP comparison in Detroit and Grand Rapids metro areas.

Georgia

Energy deregulation: Natural gas only (Atlanta Gas Light territory) — electricity is not deregulated in Georgia.
Top internet providers: Xfinity, AT&T Fiber (strong in Atlanta), Starlink (rural GA).
Best for bundling: Atlanta gas deregulation + AT&T Fiber availability makes the Atlanta metro a solid dual-shopping market for gas and internet.

The Bundling Math: How Much Can You Save?

To understand the full opportunity, consider a typical household in a well-deregulated state like Ohio or Pennsylvania:

• Electricity: Switching from utility default to competitive CRES supplier — potential savings of $15–$30/month ($180–$360/year)
• Natural gas (where applicable): Switching to competitive gas supplier — potential savings of $10–$20/month in heating season ($120–$240/year)
• Internet: Switching from Xfinity post-promo rate to a new promotional plan or a competing provider — potential savings of $20–$40/month ($240–$480/year)
• Home security: Comparing Vivint vs. ADT vs. DIY options — potential savings of $10–$30/month versus legacy monitoring contracts

Total potential annual savings: $540–$1,080+ by actively managing just these four services. The households that treat utility shopping as a regular annual activity — rather than a one-time event — compound these savings year after year.

Smart Bundling Tips for Deregulated State Residents

1. Don’t bundle electricity with internet just because a provider offers both — The best electricity rate and the best internet rate rarely come from the same company. Shop each independently for maximum savings.
2. Align contract end dates — Try to have your energy and internet contracts expire in the same window so you can re-shop both simultaneously once a year (ideally in spring for lowest rates).
3. Use smart home tech as a savings multiplier — A Vivint smart thermostat paired with a competitive electricity plan can reduce consumption AND reduce per-unit cost simultaneously. This is one of the highest-leverage combinations available.
4. Set a calendar reminder — Most energy and internet contracts are 12 months. Set a reminder 60 days before expiration to shop before auto-renewal kicks in at higher rates.
5. Check both electric and gas — In states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, both are shoppable. Missing the gas side leaves half the savings on the table.

Which States Have the Best Total Bundle Opportunity?

Ranking purely by the combination of energy market competition and internet market competition:

1. Texas — Strongest energy competition in the country + competitive internet in major metros
2. New Jersey — Highest energy costs + excellent Verizon Fios coverage = largest dollar savings
3. New York — Very high energy costs + best ISP markets (especially NYC) = major savings potential
4. Pennsylvania — Full deregulation (electric + gas) + Verizon Fios/Xfinity/Frontier competition
5. Ohio — Full deregulation + growing fiber competition in Columbus/Cleveland/Cincinnati
6. Illinois — Full deregulation + Chicago internet competition (Xfinity, AT&T, RCN)
7. Connecticut — High energy costs + expanding Frontier Fiber = strong ROI despite small market

Bottom Line

The deregulated energy states offer a unique household financial opportunity that most residents are underusing. When you combine energy supplier shopping with active internet comparison and smart home security integration, you’re not just saving money on one bill — you’re creating a systematically lower cost of household operations that compounds year over year.

For information on retail electricity markets and deregulation, visit the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Start comparing all your household utilities in one place at Utility Search Marketplace — energy, internet, home security, and more, all in the deregulated markets where your choice actually matters.