Malls and shopping centers are some of the most profitable commercial buildings in the United States today. According to statistics, there are approximately 109,500 shopping centers throughout the United States, ranging in size and offerings, and the number of malls is only growing and fueling an industry that does more than $2.26 trillion in sales every year.

These shopping-centers employ more than 12 million people from around the country, making up nearly 10% of the nation?s workforce. Of the available gross leasable areas in the United States, shopping malls account for approximately 18%, making them a huge component of the commercial building industry in the United States today.

For the individuals responsible for managing this commercial space, there are a number of considerations to take into account when it comes to managing one of these buildings. One of the biggest considerations of course is the cost. In addition to paying for the leased space, maintenance, water and amenities, these shopping centers also need to be able to cover the cost of electricity.

For some shopping centers and strip malls in the United States, there is no negotiating the cost of electricity. These commercial buildings pay exactly what their state-appointed energy utility charges for their monthly electrical costs.

However, for those that live in states such as Texas, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the dozens of other states that operate in a deregulated electricity market, there are ways to lower the cost of monthly electricity.

Since these states are entirely deregulated, they allow customers to shop around for the best possible monthly electricity rate from available suppliers. Commercial customers, as well as retail customers can actually choose a plan from one of the local, independent suppliers in their area and make choices about the type of electricity they receive and the rates they pay.

Most companies allow commercial clients to choose between options like fixed or variable rate plans, or to simply shop around for the plan that has the lowest kWh. Those who are interested in being more eco-friendly can also browse available plans that offer energy from renewable resources, if they prefer.

For many shopping mall developers and strip mall managers, the shopping process centers around choosing the right plan, as opposed to shopping exclusively through a certain company. Fortunately, for these individuals there are online platforms available designed to help consumers shop for the available plans from all of their local, qualifying retail suppliers.

Ultimately, this power to choose and these available options have made it slightly more complicated for shopping mall developers to manage the utilities for their buildings. However, it has also opened the doors of opportunity for many of these individuals, allowing them to dramatically cut the costs on their monthly electricity bills.

The commercial electricity market in these deregulated states is booming with dozens of retail energy providers, who offer commercial customers with the opportunity to save on their monthly bill. While not all states have laws that allow for deregulation, commercial property owners in those that do have a unique opportunity to significantly lower their overhead.