Is Arbor Legit? How Arbor Works, How We Keep You Safe, and What People Are Saying

The Short Answer

Yes, Arbor is legit. Arbor is a consumer service that helps households in deregulated markets secure a lower electricity supply rate while you keep paying your same utility provider. The company holds state-issued broker licenses in Texas (BR230078), Illinois (23-0681), Pennsylvania (A-2023-3043382), Massachusetts (EB-571), Ohio (23-125153E), and additional markets. Households all across the Northeast and Midwest have saved $7.5 million in documented savings. Customer reviews reflect this track record: Arbor maintains an "Excellent" rating on Trustpilot and a 5-star rating on the Apple App Store.

Quick Facts About Arbor

• State-Licensed Broker: Registered with utility commissions in 13 states (examples: TX BR230078, MA EB-571, PA A-2023-3043382)
• 13 Deregulated States Served: Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Delaware, and Washington D.C.
• Zero Customer Fees: Arbor is free to use; the company earns revenue through referral commissions paid by electricity suppliers
• Proven Savings: $7.5M+ total user savings documented
• Same Utility Provider: Your utility company continues delivering your electricity; only the supply rate changes

How Arbor Works Behind the Scenes

Arbor operates in deregulated markets, where your utility provider (the company that delivers power through the grid) is separate from your retail energy provider (the company that supplies the electricity itself). This structure means you can choose among competing suppliers for the supply portion of your bill, though many households stay on their utility's default rate without realizing lower-priced alternatives exist. As a licensed energy broker, Arbor navigates these options for you through a straightforward process.

Step 1: You check your eligibility and connect your utility account, provide your account number, or upload a bill.

Step 2: Arbor analyzes your current supply rate and all-in cost to establish a baseline.

Step 3: Arbor compares your rate against alternatives and identifies lower fixed-rate plans from vetted retail energy providers.

Step 4: If a better rate exists, Arbor submits the switch request on your behalf with no service interruption.

Step 5: Autopilot monitors your contract and market conditions, and automatically switches you to a better plan before rates spike.

Throughout the process, your utility provider still delivers power to your home. Arbor only manages the supply portion, using a savings methodology that compares your current rate against available alternatives based on your actual usage.

Is Arbor Safe to Use?

Yes. Arbor uses industry-standard security protocols to protect your information. Account linking is optional; you can provide your account number or upload a bill instead.

Data Security Measures:

• Bank-level encryption (256-bit SSL) protects all data transmissions
• Arbor collects only the information necessary to compare rates and process switches
• No Social Security numbers or credit card information required
• Arbor does not sell customer data to third parties

Account Control:

• Disconnect your utility account from Arbor at any time
• Cancel Arbor service with no fees or penalties
• Switch back to your utility's default rate or choose a different supplier independently

Arbor accesses your usage history and billing information to enable accurate rate comparisons while minimizing exposure of sensitive personal details. Read the full details in our Arbor Legitimacy & Safety FAQ.

Is Arbor Trustworthy?

Yes. Arbor operates as a venture-backed business with verifiable credentials, transparent leadership, and regulatory oversight across every market it serves.

Licensing and Registration:

Arbor maintains active broker or agent licenses issued by state utility commissions. These registrations require compliance with consumer protection regulations and subject the company to regulatory oversight.

• Texas: BR230078
• Massachusetts: EB-571
• Pennsylvania: A-2023-3043382
• Illinois: 23-0681
• Ohio: 23-125153E
• Maryland: IR-6483
• New Jersey: EA-0727 (Energy Agent), PA-0287 (Private Aggregator)
• Maine: 2023-00252
• New Hampshire: 2023-082

Business Verification:

Arbor is a BBB-accredited business headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company raised venture capital from reputable firms including First Round Capital, Obvious Ventures and Blisce. Their other early investments include Uber, Airbnb, Spotify and more.

Leadership Transparency:

Andrew Meyer founded Arbor in 2022. He previously co-founded home battery company Swell Energy and led strategy at renewable energy retailer Inspire. The leadership team includes Chief Marketing Officer Cliff Bernstein (former Head of Marketing at Arcadia) and Chief Commercial Officer Zac Lowder (former executive at Inspire and Base Power).

Independent Coverage:

Arbor has received coverage from Axios and The Cool Down, providing third-party validation of its business model and consumer value proposition.

Does Arbor Really Save You Money?

Yes. Arbor has documented over $7.5 million in cumulative electricity savings across its customer base, though individual results vary based on location, usage patterns, and current rate.

How Arbor Calculates Savings:

Arbor compares what you are paying today compared to the utility default rate and rates that are available from Arbor's supplier network. Arbor only switches you if projected annual savings clear a meaningful threshold, ensuring the change produces real financial benefit.

Real Customer Results:

• Ohio household: Switched from the utility default rate to a Constellation plan at $0.0629/kWh, saving an estimated $362 per year.
• Pennsylvania household: Switched from utility default to a competitive supplier, cutting their electricity rate in half and reducing their monthly bill by approximately 50%.

What Are People Saying About Arbor?

Customer feedback across independent platforms highlights three consistent themes: convenience, real savings, and responsive support.

Trustpilot Reviews:

Arbor maintains an "Excellent" rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on hundreds of customer reviews. Users describe the service as "extremely user-friendly" and note that Arbor handles the work for them. Reviewers report seeing lower rates on their electricity bills after signing up.

Quick Answers: Arbor Legitimacy & Safety FAQ

Is Arbor legit? Yes. Arbor is a licensed energy broker registered with utility commissions across 13 states. The company has helped over thousands of households save on electricity costs and maintains strong ratings on independent review platforms.

Is it safe to link my utility account to Arbor? Yes. Account linking uses bank-level encryption, and Arbor collects only the data necessary for rate comparisons. No SSN or credit card required. You can disconnect your account at any time.

Does Arbor really save you money? Yes. Users have saved over $7.5 million. Arbor only switches you if a better plan than your current is able to be secured on your behalf.

What are people saying about Arbor? Customers praise the convenience, savings, and responsive support. Arbor holds a 4.6/5 rating on Trustpilot and 5/5 on the Apple App Store.

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