Energy and communications online marketplace Essential.com said it is expanding its
Massachusetts service to cover 47 of the contiguous states in the U.S.
Essential.com provides one-stop shopping for all “essential services” such as
energy, Internet access and telecommunications services from brand name
providers.
Since its launch in June of 1999, Essential.com has served only customers in
the state of Massachusetts. The company said it now has more than 20,000
active customers, fueling its nationwide expansion.
The company is also expanding its energy offerings in key markets, including
electricity service in the states of New York, California, Pennsylvania,
Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Arizona, Connecticut and
New Hampshire, pending Public
Utility Commission licensing.
“Small businesses and consumers in Massachusetts have flocked to
Essential.com to take advantage of the convenience and savings that we have
offered on Essential Services,” Akhil Garland, Essential.com’s founder and
chief executive officer. “Now that we have proven our
business model, the company is now ready to expand into new areas. When you
combine the power of the Internet with the breakup of these large monopolies
our timing couldn’t be more perfect!”
Essential.com’s business model uses the Internet to aggregate customers and
negotiate better rates on their behalf. Customers can compare providers,
services, and pricing plans.
A single consolidated bill, which can be
reviewed and paid on-line, offers usage analysis in a variety of formats. The
company has raised over $20 million in venture financing to develop its
business.
Essential.com premiered in Massachusetts, providing a 10 percent discount off
“standard offer” rates from the state’s long-standing electricity monopolies.