If you are new to Texas, the electricity market here may be puzzling. In deregulated areas of Texas, electricity customers shop for the right plan from a variety of providers in the market. This competitive market was designed to spur innovative electricity plans that help serve customers better.
For newcomers unfamiliar with shopping for electricity, choosing the right plan can be intimidating. We’ve put together this list of terms and details to help you select a plan and a provider with confidence.
How to pick the best electricity plan
Confirm your current contract
Do you already have an electricity contract? Don’t switch electricity providers before confirming your current contract period. If your current plan is not yet up for renewal, you might be subject to a cancellation fee if you switch. Most electricity providers will not charge the cancellation fee if you are moving, but if you switch to another provider before your contract is complete, there will likely be a cancellation fee on your last bill. Check your plan details on your providers website, or look at you electricity bill to see if there’s a contract binding you to your current provider.
How much electricity do you use?
Head over to your account online or check your bill to determine the amount of electricity you consume every month. While your usage will likely be higher at certain times of the year, knowing your range of usage will help you select the best plan while you are shopping. Most electricity websites in Texas show Average Price per kWh at Usage Levels of 500, 1000 and 2000. If you know where your usage sits within those levels, it will be easier to compare plans.
While you are looking at your usage, get a feel for your monthly bill and how it varies at times of the year so you can compare options to what you have now. In Texas, most of us use more electricity in summer, while we are running our air conditioning. But winter usage often depends on whether you have gas or electric heat. It’s worth saying that electricity prices rise and fall during the year due to market conditions. There’s no guarantee that rates when you are shopping will be in the same range as they were last time you signed up.
What term length do you prefer?
Texas electricity market has a huge variety of term durations that differ in price points. If you’re looking for stability in prices, long-term contracts will meet your needs. On the other hand, shorter durations don’t tie you to an extended commitment. The most common plan duration is 12 months, but those that don’t enjoy shopping for electricity often select longer plans, to lock in a price and push off having to shop again. As long as you are getting a rate you like, there’s no real downside to a longer term length. If you are renting a home, it can be handy to match the term length to your rental agreement.
Determine if you want a fixed or variable rate
Most plans in deregulated power market come at either fixed or variable rates.
Fixed rates are sometimes called Secure or Term. These provide you with a fixed price for the length of your contract. They provide price security, but they usually have a cancellation fee if you switch away before the term is up. The cancellation fee is usually not applicable if you move.
Variable rate plans are sometimes called Flex plans or Month To Month plans. In this arrangement, there is no term length and you can switch providers anytime. However, your electricity rate can change each month. These plans don’t lock you into a commitment, so they are great for consumers that are in a short-term situation.
Plans with extra
Most electricity providers have a wide range of plans. You may see plans with rewards or incentives – like cool technical gadgets or gift certificates or sports memorabilia. These plans may cost a little more, but you might find a great perk – like a signed football jersey.
Some of the perks can be altruistic. Several providers have plans that include making a charitable donation when you sign up. Reliant Energy has a
If these types of plans appeal to you, Everything Energy has filters to help you find plans with an incentive.
Compare electricity plans & providers
You can go to popular Retail Electricity Providers’ sites to shop individually. You’ll get lots of information, but it can be time consuming to shop each provider one at a time. You can also check Texas’ state-run Power to Choose website, and other relevant websites. Since you are here, check out our comparison engine. We partner with reliable, and trusted electricity providers with long histories of great customer service. Everything Energy makes it easy to shop these REPs with a wide diversity of plan selections. We’ve got helpful filters to help you narrow down your search based on plan types and term lengths, so you can see only the plans you are interested in. Finding the best electricity rate for your family has never been easier.
Where ever you choose to shop, look for these details:
Average Price per kWh: this is the all-in price you would pay at a given usage level – sites usually display 500, 1000, 2000. The price factors in the cost of the electricity, delivery charges from the utility company, and taxes and surcharges. Note that the taxes and surcharges can change over time.
Usage Level Selector: As noted above, most sites will display price at a couple usage levels – set it at the level closest to your usage to see pricing most relevant to your home.
Rate Type & Cancellation fee: Once you know which plan type you prefer, you can search and filter based on this information.
Go through the Electricity Facts Label (EFL)
EFL (similar to a Nutrition Facts Label) of each plan that your chosen provider offers allows you to ascertain your consumption’s price point. If you need help understanding a plan’s EFL, we have a guide for you.
What’s the TDSP charge?
While REPs sell you the electricity and bill you for what you use, the local utility company delivers the power over the lines and meters they maintain. The utility companies, also called Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP), own and maintain the poles, wires, and meters. They’re also responsible for reading the meters and reporting usage for each meter to the REP, who does the billing.
The charges from these utilies are passed on to the consumer via their electricity bill, and are known as the TDSP charge. In Texas, the TDSPs have to get permission from the PUC to raise their rates. This does happen occasionally, and when it does, even customers on a contract will see a higher average price on their bill once the new TDSP charge is factored in. The TDSP charge is calculated into the Average Price per kWh.
These TDSP charges apply to all electricity customers in the ulitity area, regardless of which REP the customer is with. So you can’t get out of this fee by changing REPs. The TDSP will usually bill this charge to your REP, who will, in turn, indicate it on your bill without any markup. To view TDSP charges from Texas Utility Providers in deregulated areas, click here to see a great resource from Cirro Energy.
What if I Change my Mind after Signing Up?
You can ask your power provider to cancel your enrollment within three business days from when they delivered the Terms of Service agreement to you, whether you got the deal in the mail or signed it online. You’ll then receive a confirmation to cancel your plan (alongside the information on how to cancel) through the mail.
According to the state directives, your retail electricity provider should allow you between 3 to 14 days to cancel the plan without charging you any penalty. If you do so after this period has elapsed, you may pay the cancellation fee.
Wrapping Up
You now have an idea on how to shop around for the best electricity plan. If you are ready to shop, it’s as easy as entering your zip code to see the best electricity plans in your area.