The bi-annual assessment analyzes performance and activity of competitive electric retailers operating in deregulated energy markets. Overall, Liberty was ranked the 18th largest non-residential electricity supplier.

"Given the large capital requirements for growth in non-residential power markets, we find that most of the top retailers that supply electricity to the commercial and industrial customer segments are utility affiliates or are subsidiaries of public companies," said Young Kim, associate director of DNV KEMA's Retail Energy Practice. "In our research, we find that independent retailers are more common in the mass market segment."

David Hernandez, Liberty co-founder and CEO, said the company was "truly humbled" to be named the largest independent electricity provider, and stated the company has come a long way in the last 10 years to reach its current position.

Being given such a title is increasingly important for electricity providers as competition heats up in deregulated states, such as Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio. 

The report suggests that if all customers who have already decided to receive their power from an alternative energy supplier also adopt a 20 percent green energy plan, 196 billion pounds of carbon emission could be eliminated – the same as removing 17.5 million cars from the nation's highways.

"Most people know that choosing greener energy has a positive impact on the environment, but they do not realize the significance of these decisions on a large, collective scale," said Michael Fallquist, Viridian CEO. "We could accomplish so much more as a country if more people made more environmentally responsible choices. The visual representations in our report help tell the story of consumer choice in a deregulated market."

The Connecticut-based company says it believes switching energy providers can have a substantial impact on lowering harmful emissions. In Connecticut, energy buyers can benefit by choosing a supplier from one of several retail energy providers that can potentially supply cheaper electricity than utilities. 

According to the media outlet, American Electric Power, whose service area is based in central Ohio, recently aired a television commercial taking aim at FirstEnergy, painting it as a large corporation that is out of touch with Main Street.

In response, FirstEnergy, which supplies electricity to most of Northwest Ohio through Toledo Edison, has ramped up its advertisements in television, radio, print and online mediums, suggesting AEP hopes to keep competition low.

"They've been going at it recently on the airwaves … with each saying the other is being unfair," said Matt Schilling, a spokesman for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. "The competition has really ramped up between them."

The competitive environment in Ohio developed after energy users were given the opportunity to shop around for electricity rates and choose what electricity supplier was a best fit. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has created a website that allows customers to see the advantages of various electricity suppliers in their area.

CBS News 21 reports the utility stated that higher rates are due to larger supply portfolio costs, including estimated market costs for the summer months, when demand typically spikes. The hike also marks an annual transmission rate update, as set by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The higher electricity rates will not affect customers who have chosen to use an alternative energy supplier, many of whom will see lower prices when they compare electricity rates between PPL and their supplier. Currently, more than 30 retail electricity suppliers are operating in PPL's service area, according to the news source.

"Alternative suppliers can offer options that PPL Electric Utilities does not, such as the ability to lock in a price for a longer term," said Dennis Urban, senior director of Rates and Regulatory Affairs for the utility. "We encourage all customers to look at available offers from alternative suppliers, weigh the terms and conditions, and choose what is best for them."

More than 580,200 PPL customers – or 41 percent – receive their power from alternative suppliers. 

Direct Energy was selected as a nominee for its strong support of the communities it serves. The company's Volunteer Citizen of the Year award programs honored more than a dozen volunteers and charitable organizations in 2011, and have spread to communities throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania in recent years.

"Being selected as a finalist in the 10th Annual Stevie Awards is quite an honor," said Steven Murray, president of Direct Energy Residential. "We are very proud of our Volunteer Citizen of the Year award programs and the opportunity these programs give us to honor outstanding volunteerism in the areas we serve. This type of recognition is gratifying and we are very excited for what is to come."

The program mirrors similar initiatives electricity providers have started all over the country. As more states adopt energy deregulation laws, customers are being given the option to compare electricity rates and choose what best fits them. Such programs have proven to effectively draw in new customers and retain current energy users. 

According to the media outlet, the three commissioners agree that rates will need to increase in an effort to encourage companies to build more power generation plants in the state. The officials said more generation will be needed to supply electricity as demand grows during the summer months.

"If we don't get investment in our generation market, we are in a world of hurt," Commission Chairwoman Donna Nelson said at a meeting last month.

The higher prices could lead to an anomaly in the way Texas' electricity rates are figured. Although the state is deregulated, and residents have the freedom to shop for their own electricity rates, contracts with retail energy suppliers could be broken under the current circumstances – a problem commissioners are worried about.

The Texas PUC has the authority to set the rules, and alongside the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, can control wholesale electricity prices when demand rises high and electricity supply tightens.

Despite Texas being an energy-deregulated state, customers could still face fluctuating energy prices in the coming year. 

The award marks the third consecutive year the company has been given the award, which was handed to Champion at the BBB's 2012 Awards of Excellence event on May 10. The title was given to Champion for its commitment to ethics, workplace quality and overall excellence.

"Champion Energy is honored to again accept this award," said Scott Fordham, president and chief executive officer of Champion Energy Services. "It is a direct result of the dedication of Champion Energy's employees and reflects our commitment to exemplary service that we strive to provide every single day."

Champion, which is one of the top retail electric providers to have never been affiliated with a utility, plans to continue its growth across deregulated energy markets, where it already supplies electricity to residential, governmental, commercial and industrial electricity buyers. By late 2012, the company expects to begin offering competitive electricity rates in Illinois.

Illinois first started its 10-year process to deregulate electricity in 2007, joining a number of states that have either deregulated energy completely or introduced partial-choice options. 

The company is up for the title of Company of Year for Energy, while CEO Kerry Breitbart has also been named a finalist as Executive of the Year for Energy and Utilities.

"We are thrilled to have been recognized as a finalist among such a prestigious and accomplished group of companies and executives," said North American Power co-founder and CEO Kerry Breitbart. "This honor is a testament to the power of giving consumers the choice to take advantage of affordable and sustainable energy choices."

The company, which has been growing steadily, supplies energy to customers in deregulated states including Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. With the spread of energy deregulation, the company expects to hit new markets within the year.

Customers who have switched energy providers in Connecticut consume 68 percent of all electricity in the state.

The energy retailer has been providing electricity to non-residential customers in Maryland and Connecticut since 2006 and 2007, respectively, providing alternative business electricity rates to companies. By adding theses states' residential markets to its portfolio, Liberty has increased its presence of retail electric programs to six states, which include New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas.

"We are very excited to be able to provide residents of Maryland and Connecticut with the same kind of low-cost electricity and exceptional customer service that we have been providing business owners in those same markets for more than five years," David Hernandez, co-founder and CEO, said.

The company is offering residents a fixed rate for 12- and 24-month contracts, which will come as one bill and offer the same level of service they get from their local utility.

According to the Maryland Public Service Commission, as of April 1, 2012, the state had 501,522 total customers who received their electricity from a retail provider, making up 22.3 percent of the state's energy customers. 

According to the Columbus Dispatch, by May 6, five companies were selling electricity to customers around the state.

"It’s headed in the right direction, giving consumers the opportunity to control their utility bills," said Todd Snitchler, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

The companies are aggressively targeting potential customers, hoping to spread the word that they now have the option to break free from rate-regulated energy from American Electric Power. However, while all companies promise savings, beyond that, the contracts are somewhat complex.

"I’d want to see their offer in written form so I can evaluate it later," said Greg Slone, senior energy analyst at the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. "I certainly don’t want to try to evaluate it and make a decision on the spot."

According to an earlier Dispatch article, state utility regulators are seeing dozens of new companies hoping to have a say in AEP's new electricity rates, which the utility plans to hike by about 5 percent for its central Ohio customers.