Are you new to Texas, your residence or paying your energy bill? If so, you may wonder, “Who is my electricity provider?” And thanks to Texas’s unique energy market, there could be many answers to this question.
Read on to find out how to answer the question, “Who is my electricity provider?” once and for all.
Who can supply my home with electricity?
Unlike many areas of the country, most of Texas’s energy market is deregulated. That means the answer to the question “Who supplies electricity to my address?” is any retail electricity provider (REP) in your area that you want!
Texas residents have the power to choose any of the REPs in their area. Check the website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). The PUCT regulates Texas telecommunications and utilities, including electricity. You will see hundreds of active REPs!
Not all REPs operate in all areas. But you can be sure that no matter your address, you’ll have several electricity providers to choose from.
Who is my electricity supplier currently?
Have you moved to a residence that already has power? Or are you new to paying the electricity bill at your current home? In these cases, you might also be yourself asking, “Who is my electricity provider?”
To find out who your current power company is, you have a few options.
The easiest answer to this question is to find last month’s energy bill. Your bill should show your retail electricity provider and your utility company. But don’t confuse your utility with your REP! Unlike REPs, your utility company IS assigned to you based on your location. The five utility companies in Texas are CenterPoint Energy, Oncor Electric Delivery, AEP North, AEP Central and Texas-New Mexico Power.
If you don’t have this document, you can also ask the person previously responsible for paying your home’s electricity bill.
What if you rent and don’t know who your power supplier is? Simply ask your landlord, “Who is my electricity provider?”
And if those options don’t work? Double check your mail. There may be a current electricity bill waiting to be paid.
What electricity company should I use?
Once you answer the question, “Who is my electricity provider?” you can decide whether or not you want to stick with that REP or switch to a new provider. To make that decision, you should assess a few things:
- The current contract expiration date (This is important to know so you don’t cancel too early and get charged a fee)
- The current cost per kilowatt hour, plus any additional charges
- Your average monthly energy usage and average monthly electricity costs
- The other options available to you
The easiest way to find other electricity plans available in your area is to shop with an energy broker. An energy broker, like Everything Energy, can show you many plans from trusted power providers in your area. Then, you can quickly make apples-to-apples comparisons of these plans, without having to go to research each provider’s website.
To find the right electricity company for your needs and lifestyle, simply enter your ZIP code to start shopping.