If you’ve just moved, or need to switch electricity providers, you may be wondering “How do I find my electricity provider?” As it turns out, it’s quite easy. You simply search for electric providers by ZIP code, and pick the one that’s right for you.
But before you do that, keep reading for more information that will help make your search successful.
Why do I need to search by my ZIP code to find an electricity provider?
Most of Texas has a deregulated electricity market. If you live in a deregulated area, you have the power to choose electricity from any of the providers serving your area.
However, finding an electric company by ZIP code applies only to one part of the equation in getting electricity to your home: retail electricity providers (REP). REPs buy and sell energy to customers throughout the state. They compete for your business and offer you pricing in cents-per-kilowatt-hour.
The other part of the equation are Transmission and Distribution Service Providers (TDSPs), which is the utility company. These utilities are responsible for maintaining the poles and wires. They are the ones that deliver electricity to homes and businesses. You can’t choose your TDSP; it’s assigned to you based on where you live. In Texas, there are five TDSPs: Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, Texas-New Mexico Power Company, AEP Texas Central and AEP Texas North.
So, your five-digit ZIP code will actually help you identify two separate entities: your REP and your TDSP. That’s why, with more than 2,000 ZIP codes in Texas alone, it’s essential to be sure of your address before you start looking for electric providers by ZIP code.
Can I also find and compare electric rates by ZIP code?
Yes! You can search for electricity plans and electric rates by ZIP code in the same way you might shop for shoes or books online. As with those items, there are many electricity plans to choose from. However, you can find the best one for your home, family and lifestyle once you know what to look for in an energy plan.
And just like you might go shoe or book shopping at Zappos.com or Barnes & Noble, respectively, due to their many options, there are websites that let you shop for electricity plans from a number of REPs. An online energy broker — like Everything Energy — can show you plan options and pricing.
Because choosing a provider is a big decision, Everything Energy only presents you with plans from electricity providers in Texas you can trust. Also, the Everything Energy search tools let you sort and filter plan options by usage history, term length, plan perks and more. Plus, you can see monthly bill estimates and make apples-to-apples comparisons before you enroll. Once you find a plan, you can enroll directly without any hassle.
To get started searching for electric rates by ZIP code, click here.