When it comes to energy companies in Texas, you have many choices. Before you sign up for Texas electricity rates based solely on price per kilowatt hour, it’s important to find a Texas power company you can trust. Doing so takes time and research. 

Part of that research is learning about others’ experiences with specific energy companies in Texas. This includes family and friends, neighbors and online reviews.

Below are some testimonials from current or past customers of some of Texas’s trustworthy electricity providers.

Reliant Energy

Founded in 2000, Reliant Energy has been serving Texans for over two decades. In addition to residential electricity, they also power businesses. Electricity shoppers may be interested to know that Reliant Energy offers 24/7 customer support.

What people are saying about Reliant Energy

• “We love the free electricity from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. We’ve saved over 30% on our electricity using the Truly Free Nights plan.” – William B.

This type of plan, sometimes called a “Time of Use” plan, offers free or discounted rates during certain days or timeframes. If you use the bulk of your electricity during the time period offered on a Time of Use plan, this may be a good Texas power plan choice for you.

• “We’ve been customers for 11 years. When we got solar panels, you helped make it an easy transition. Your rates are low compared to others.” – Sarah S.

If your home has solar panels, or you’re considering adding them, some energy companies in Texas offer solar-specific plans worth researching.

• “I’ve had your service for over 20 years and always found you to be very reliable. No complaints.” –  Lynn C.

It speaks volumes if, when given the power to choose Texas electricity from any provider, someone sticks with the same one for two decades.

• “The Truly Free Weekends plan has saved us a lot of money. I occasionally brag about how low my energy bill is.” – Joshua N.

You don’t find many people bragging about their energy bill! But when you get organized and shop around, you can find a plan and pricing that could have you shouting its praise from the rooftops.

Green Mountain Energy

As the longest-serving retail energy provider, Green Mountain Energy offers 100% clean energy plans for homes and businesses. If you’re looking to incorporate more sustainability into your life, choosing Green Mountain Energy is an easy place to start.

What people are saying about Green Mountain Energy

• “I’ve been really happy with Green Mountain Energy so far. I’m excited to know that my energy use is coming from renewable sources!” – Ryan H.

All of Green Mountain Energy’s electricity plans are sourced from 100% renewable sources, like the wind and the sun. When it comes to promoting clean energy for a healthier planet, the company is all in.

• “The setup was seamless, the product is great, it feels good being green and I now try to be more energy-efficient, too.” – M.K.B.

In addition to renewable energy, Green Mountain Energy is one of the energy companies in Texas that emphasizes saving energy and green living. 

• “They made setup, paperless billing and AutoPay a breeze. I love the weekly usage summaries — they make budgeting a snap.” – Jet J.

This Texas electric company lets you easily manage your account and view your usage history, online or via their app.

• “I am glad that I chose Green Mountain; [the electricity] service has been outstanding, and the customer service is excellent.” – Jero C.

Shopping around can not only help you find some of the best electricity rates in Texas — it can also give you peace of mind that you made a smart choice.

Direct Energy

With more than 20 years in business, Direct Energy empowers customers to track, understand and control the electricity they use. Doing all these things can help you conserve energy and potentially lower your bill.

What people are saying about Direct Energy

• “Easy-to-use web portal with useful insights into my electricity usage! Affordable, consistent pricing.” – Megan B.

Direct Energy is a company that delivers on the important things: ease of use, helpfulness and affordability.

• “My bills are lower than with my previous energy provider! I can pay my bill over the phone with ease, and I like the email reminders.” – Gabriela O.

It’s always helpful when energy companies in Texas offer multiple ways to pay your electricity bill. When signing up for a Texas electric provider, make sure you can make a payment the way you prefer. 

• “Good service, and the price is reasonable for our family. We enjoy our free weekend time so we can do a big bulk of laundry without running the bill up.” – Brittany D.

This is a prime example of why shopping for electricity is not just about finding the cheapest price per kilowatt hour listed online. Factoring in Time of Use discounts, how your family uses energy and your average monthly usage can all play a role in helping to keep your monthly bill in check.

• “When other energy companies were raising rates during the freeze, Direct Energy stated that my bill would not be raised. I love their integrity and honesty.”

As many saw during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, customer support from energy companies in Texas can become an important factor in customer satisfaction. Choosing a proven Texas electric provider with positive reviews like this one can help ease your mind.

• “We are taking advantage of the free nights program. We have decreased daytime energy use. That saves us money and puts less strain on the grid.” – John N.

Time of Use plans can work out well for people that use a majority of their energy during the plan’s specified time periods. But if you don’t, you can always shift your usage times to maximize your savings on that type of plan. 

Cirro Energy

Cirro Energy has been serving Texas residents for years, making electricity “affordable, easy and hassle-free.” For example, bills are simplified and extremely easy to understand, with most charges combined into one simple balance.

What people are saying about Cirro Energy

• “[Cirro reassured me] that I was not exposed to crazy spikes in electric bills. Thank you for protecting your customers!” – Sue M.

Energy companies in Texas that help customers budget better, like Cirro Energy with its Average Billing option, provide a valuable benefit.

• “Wonderful customer service. Cirro has always been responsive [and] José went above and beyond to make sure the new plan was properly confirmed.” – Janice C.

Cirro Energy prioritizes making electricity easy, from enrollment to support. 

• “Dylan was very prompt and courteous during this Houston storm! Thank you so much for your fast replies and for caring!” – Ingrid M.

Getting answers or a resolution quickly when you have a pressing issue or concern is invaluable. Cirro Energy strives to make dealing with your electricity service a non-factor in your busy day.

Discount Power

For years, Discount Power has taken a no-frills, back-to-basics approach to residential electricity. While you won’t find lots of bells and whistles, you will still get excellent customer service, affordable plan options and energy-saving tips from this trustworthy Texas power company.

What people are saying about Discount Power

• “Amazing, competitive prices and customer service.” – Joe W.

Sometimes, it boils down to finding a plan that fits your budget, which Discount Power aims to deliver.

• “I’m real pleased with Discount Power. We signed up for two years and I’m glad we did. Excellent rates and good service.” – Raghu R.

Energy companies in Texas know that it takes competitive rates and excellent service to earn your business. When you find one that offers both, it can feel like a perfect match.

What energy companies in Texas should I research?

To view rates and plans from Texas electric companies you can trust, check out Everything Energy. Use the easy, free search tools to find and compare great electricity plans to fit your family, home and budget. 

Clothing washers and dryers, collectively, use about 5 percent of the electricity in the home. And a water heater consumes about 14 percent. That’s why cutting energy consumption when doing laundry can result in noticeable savings on your electricity bill. Try some (or all) of these cheap power tips for your washer and dryer to see how much you can conserve.

What are some cheap power tips for my washing machine?

Next time you throw a load of laundry in your washer, try the following:

Wash with cold water

Using cold water to wash your clothes (unless they’re terribly dirty) is one of the easiest ways to cut electricity usage when doing laundry. That’s because the hot water cycle of most washers uses considerably more energy than the cold water cycle.

Take away the need for water heating, and you’ve just made your load more energy efficient. Plus, washing in cold water has additional benefits: It can help prolong the life of your clothing and reduces wrinkles and pilling.

Wash a full load, using the correct setting

According to ENERGY STAR, clothes washers use about the same amount of energy no matter the size of the load. That means it’s more energy efficient to run a full load than two half-full loads. 

Also, choose the correct setting on your machine for optimum efficiency. For example, you don’t need to use the “Sanitize” or “Heavy Duty” settings for a regular load of clothes. And you don’t need to use the “Normal” setting when a shortened “Delicates” cycle would suffice. 

These small changes can contribute to a more affordable power bill.

Wash clothes less frequently

We’ve been conditioned to toss a worn clothing item into the laundry basket, no questions asked. Next time, before you toss, use this cheap power trick: Use your eyes and nose to determine if something really needs to be washed. Maybe an overnight airing out would be sufficient. 

If a family of four did this consistently, think of how much less laundry would need to be done over the course of a month.

What are some cheap power tips for my clothes dryer?

There are many ways to reduce the energy used for drying clothes. Here are a few:

Hang items to dry

Not using the dryer at all is the best way to conserve a dryer’s energy usage! And Texas’s warm climate makes line-drying clothes a real possibility for much of the year. 

Try hanging a clothesline or two outside and pinning up a load of wet clothes. In addition to being a cheap power tip, hanging clothes to dry outdoors reduces wear and tear in the dryer and leaves them with a fresh, clean smell.

Shake out wet clothes first

If line-drying isn’t possible (or it’s just not your thing) you can try other cheap power tricks like this one. As you remove clothes from the washer, shake them out before you put them into the dryer. This will save your dryer the time and energy needed to expand the clothes from the condensed form they arrive in after the washer’s final spin cycle.

Run loads back-to-back

Using the dryer for two or more consecutive loads can be more efficient than doing the loads at different times. This is because, after the first load is finished, the dryer is already hot. The time and energy needed to heat it up for the next load is thus eliminated.

Dry like items together

If you can, separate loads based on fabric weights. You don’t want one heavy towel extending the drying time of a load of otherwise lightweight clothes. So, dry items like towels and heavier cottons separately from lighter-weight items.

Use wool dryer balls (or tennis balls)

Instead of a fabric softener sheet, use a few dryer balls. This helps air circulate in the load, speeding up drying time. (Clean) tennis balls also do the trick. In addition to upping your cheap power game, dryer balls help fluff up items like pillows and comforters and can also reduce wrinkles and static.

Empty the lint filter after every load

Pulling out the lint trap from your dryer and cleaning it after every load can help it run more efficiently. A full lint filter makes it difficult for warm air to pass through it to the outside vent, increasing drying time. 

Clean the dryer vent

On top of cleaning the lint filter, you should also have the dryer vent cleaned once or more per year. A clogged vent can slow drying time, in addition to being a fire hazard.

You can either hire an appliance repair specialist to perform this task or do it yourself if you know how.

More tips to complement low-rate electricity at home

In addition to these cheap power tips and tricks, you can also become more energy efficient around your home. Here are a few easy tips to start optimizing other areas of your home:

• Use smart plugs to control electronics
• Minimize phantom load by unplugging unused devices
• Compare power consumption of your appliances and electronics with a watt meter

Do I need to find the cheapest electricity plan or cheapest energy company to secure affordable power?

It’s true that the cost per kilowatt hour (kwh) of your electricity impacts your monthly electricity bill. However, the solution is not necessarily to sign up with the cheapest energy company. That’s because cheap power is not always the best choice for your home, lifestyle or needs. 

Many other factors should also be considered when looking for a new plan, including:

• What benefits, perks or credits offered by the provider that may be valuable to you
• The reputation of the energy company
• How long the energy company has been in business
• Other “extras” offered, including innovative tools to help you conserve energy usage at home
• Time of use discounts (like “free nights” or “free weekends”) that may help lower your bill, depending on your usage habits
• The term length offered, and whether it works with your current situation

Where do I find an electricity plan that will help me achieve a cheap power bill?

A successful energy plan search begins and ends with Everything Energy. With innovative shopping tools that give you the power to sort, compare and enroll, you’re sure to find affordable energy companies and plans that fit your lifestyle. Visit www.everythingenergy.com to search for free.

Forget dinner-and-a-movie. This Valentine’s Day (or any day, really), try some of these date ideas that have zero energy cost — and a whole lot of heart. 

Not only will you and your date have fun mixing things up and trying something new. You’ll also enjoy a simple, affordable way to spend time together — which we think is pretty romantic.

Have a zero-energy-cost indoor picnic

Leave the oven, stove and slow cooker (and corresponding electricity cost) for another day. A simple picnic meal of sandwiches, fruit, veggies and other non-heated snacks can easily be prepared together on the fly. 

Bonus: A picnic can also end up being a healthier option than a restaurant meal made with excessive salt and oil.

Dine by candlelight and forget energy rates

There’s nothing simpler, more romantic or energy-cost-free than dining by candlelight. It’s calming, lets you focus on each other, and is a reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment. Not to mention the energy savings. Light a few candles, turn off the other lights (and screens) and let the conversation flow.

You might enjoy dinner by candlelight so much that you decide to make it a nightly habit. And that could have a positive effect on your average electric bill.

Converse by a fire, not under overhead lighting

After dining by candlelight, keep the date going in front of a warm, crackling fire. You can leave all the other lamps and lights off, which helps keep your electricity prices in check. 

Spending time near a fire actually has health benefits, too. A study by the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alabama found that sitting around a fire can lower blood pressure. And nothing says love like putting your date’s health and wellbeing first!

Snuggle up and turn the thermostat (and energy cost) down

Instead of using modern methods to keep warm, try a more primitive approach. If the mood is right, turn the thermostat down and snuggle up together under a blanket. The physical closeness may bring about natural banter. It will also help you keep your energy prices down — but your date doesn’t have to know that!

Spend screen-free, no-energy-cost time together

Can you spend an evening without phones, tablets or tv screens? We think you can. And we think you may even like it!

Finding other ways to spend time together and enjoy the moment might end up feeling more meaningful than taking selfies and binging on Netflix. 

10 screen-free date activities

1. Do a puzzle
2. Dance
3. Play cards or board games
4. Take a walk
5. Visit a museum
6. Stargaze
7. Play billiards, foosball or table tennis
8. Visit a bookstore or library
9. Paint or draw
10. Talk about anything and everything

You’ll quickly see that it’s not about the activity, but the time spent together.

Finish that honey-do list together

Shout-out to all the long-term, co-habiting couples who want to keep the night more practical. Maybe you’d prefer to use date night to knock out some of those home improvement tasks together. Hey, it’s still bonding and quality time spent. 

If you want to focus on minimizing your monthly energy cost, make energy efficiency fixes. These could include:

• Changing air filters
• Sealing air gaps around windows and doors
• Replacing burnt-out light bulbs with efficient LEDs
• Installing a smart thermostat
• Cleaning lint from the dryer vent

True, it’s not the most traditional or romantic date night. But if both parties are up for it, it makes for a lovely and productive evening.

Find a plan with an energy cost that fits your budget

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to bust out some creative, no-energy-cost date ideas. But for the other 364 days of the year, make sure your energy is working for you. Find electricity rates that help you keep your average electric bill down and your budget intact. Start your free search today. 

These are financially difficult times for many Americans. If you’re struggling with how to budget for or pay your electricity bill, you’re not alone. Turn to your power company for tools and options that will help you make your payment on time. And that’s essential for keeping the lights on and avoiding late fees.

Here are just a few ways your power company may be able to help you with your bill.

Average billing from your power company

You may have also heard this called budget billing, average monthly billing or balanced billing. In any case, average billing helps even out seasonal billing spikes you may see during summer and winter. It spreads the cost evenly across the entire year. This, in turn, makes it easier to create — and stick to — a budget.

This is one of the power solutions offered by electric companies that is very easy to use. For many, it’s as simple as logging into your online account. Then, select the option for average billing. 

Reliant Energy is one of the Texas electricity providers that offers this option.

AutoPay from electric companies

If you keep getting hit with late fees, you may need more than just a reminder. Your power company likely offers an automatic payment option. This allows your provider to charge the card or bank account on file when it’s time to pay. You don’t have to lift a finger.

Again, this is typically an easy option to enroll in. Just sign into your account online. Or you could always give your current electricity provider a call to set it up.

Some electric companies, like Green Mountain Energy, even have a mobile app where you can select this option.

Deferred payment plan from your power company

If you need some extra time to make a payment, or you’re facing a financial hardship, your power company will often have a solution. Speaking to a customer service agent directly about your situation is the best way to arrange a payment plan that fits your budget.

Cirro Energy, for example, offers a number of payment extension programs.

Energy-saving tips from your power company

Your power company wants to help you become energy efficient. It’s a win-win-win situation for them, for you and for the environment.

One way they help you use less (and possibly lower your monthly electric bill) is by offering energy-saving tips. 

Most electric companies, including Discount Power, have many efficiency tips on their websites.

Low-income assistance from electric companies

According to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Senate Bill 1976 allows electric companies to provide a benefit to their low-income customers. (Certain rules apply.) 

Customers can contact their power company directly to ask if they have any low-income benefits. For further information, you can also call 1-866-454-8387.

Where to find the power company that best fits your lifestyle

If you’re looking for home electricity, Everything Energy can help. Whether you want to renew power with your current provider, find wind or solar energy companies and plans or just want the best energy supplier for your needs, our innovative search tools can get you where you want to be. Start your search today.