Switching electricity providers – utility switch fee?

Forgive my ignorance but I've never lived in the same place for more than a year so I've always switched electric (bill) providers. I typically call my current provider and cancel on date X, call the new one and give them the connection date. No issues or additional charges (at least none that I've ever noticed)

I'm not moving this year and plan to switch providers at my current address. The new provider charges a "premium" utility switch fee of up to $35 to specify a date of switch. If I opt to not specify a date, the "standard" switch is free but takes 3-7 days to start service. I'm not able to select the "standard" switch and tell them to start the process 7 days before my current contract expires.

They say this is a normal switch charge from the utility. I just think it's kind of stupid that I have to pay to specify a date when it's free to do 3-7 days, but I'm not allowed to schedule a start date for that 3-7 day window. Is that normal? Thanks.