12,500 Southwest Rapid Rewards for switching energy providers

I got two emails the other day offering bonus miles for changing your energy provider to NRG.  There is one deal for

We’ve had some similar offers previously –

• 12,500 American AAdvantage miles
• 10,000 American AAdvantage miles
• 10,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points to switch energy provider
• 12,500 Southwest or 15,000 Amtrak points for switching energy providers

NRG is apparently only active in the following states: Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania

Southwest NRG Offer details

You can sign up online or if you call in (1-855-500-8703), the offer code is UAL-7443-047.  You get 10,000 points for signing up, and 2,500 additional points if you’re a Southwest credit card holder

Southwest NRG fine print

• Earn 10,000 Rapid Rewards points as a bonus after your second month as an NRG Home customer. As a special offer, Rapid Rewards credit cardmembers automatically earn an additional 2,500 Rapid Rewards points for a total of 12,500 rewards points.*
• Earn 2 Rapid Rewards points for every $1 you spend on the supply portion of your monthly electric bill, or 3 reward points for every $1 if you are a Rapid Rewards credit cardmember.*
• Seamless switching with no interruption in your service

Of course… there is a catch

I have switched my electric and gas providers around every couple of months for a couple of years now, and I definitely think that it is not for the faint of heart.  You REALLY need to be on top of things.  Note in the “features” above the part where it talks about the “flexible month-to-month plan”.  This is code for “the time where NRG screws you over”.  When “your ongoing electric supply price will be variable and can change each month“, that is not a good thing for you.

I usually sign up for 3-6 month fixed rates, taking whichever company offers the lowest price and/or best promotion.  Then I set myself a reminder to make sure and update my account when the time frame is up.  A month or two on the “variable” plan will quickly eat up any savings you have.

I am currently not eligible because I am ALREADY an NRG customer (having swapped to get the AAdvantage miles a few months ago), but plan to swap off of it once my promotional rate has expired

What about you?  Have you ever swapped your gas or electric providers for a promotion?  What was your experience like?  Is this an intriguing offer?  Let us know in the comments.