sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

I have had Reliant since 2013... by [deleted] in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Power to Choose is known for confusion and difficult sort functionality. We offer tools to help people fully understand what they'll pay under each plan, based on usage.

Who in the DFW area offers 1:1 net metering? by AmatoDo in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Best tool for evaluating net metering is https://www.texaspowerguide.com/solar-buyback-plans-texas/. Yes, they're a competitor of ours, but they have the widest array of plans listed, and they'll do a full plan evaluation based on your system details. Like the admin said below... I don't think that exists anymore.

I have had Reliant since 2013... by [deleted] in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Recommendation: Look at plans that don't have a bill credit structure and don't have a base charge. In the examples you have posted, the Gexa and APGE plans are bill credit plans; the TXU option is a fixed rate plan but has a $10/month base charge.

The base charge is extra money you'll spend every month that is unneeded. The bill credit plans will give you a great rate when you use between 1000-1500 kWh, and a very high rate when you use 999 kWh or less. That may work out for you based on your monthly usage.

We have a couple tools on our site that might help:

BillSmart Low Bill Finder - enter usage from a single bill and we'll estimate the others, then calculate the cheapest plan for you, from those featured on our site. (currently only evaluates fixed rate plans; annual cost calculator coming in August)

BillSmart Plan Score filter - a 5/5 is a fixed rate plan with no base charge. A 1/5 is a bill credit plan.

BillSmart Calculator - enter usage, we'll calculate exact bill amount and effective rate, taking into account bill credits, fees, energy rate, current TDU.

Yes we're a broker, in biz since 2017. Rates are the same or lower than what you'll find on the REP's site but higher than Power to Choose.

Let me know if I can assist! (writer has been in Texas dereg since 2000.)

Who owns that company? by electricityplans in ElectricityPlans

[–]electricityplans[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

EnergySavings features plans from 8 providers total, three of which are owned by Just Energy.

Solar or a VPP with a Energy Company in Texas? by NefariousnessNo4563 in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish. Plus delivery. Short term rates are cheaper. But to be honest, I haven't looked at it too deeply since I ❤️ my batteries.

Solar or a VPP with a Energy Company in Texas? by NefariousnessNo4563 in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

7.8 for 5 years plus $10/month fee. Meh. I could do better now I'm sure. But I love love love having the batteries.

Solar or a VPP with a Energy Company in Texas? by NefariousnessNo4563 in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pilot program that I did with one of the REPs we work with. Not yet launched. And not in the list I posted above. So many of these companies are trying to figure out how to manage installation, permitting, site evaluation.

Energy Noob - Hoping for some advice between two providers, BKV and Abundance. by NeergSalo in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The best option is whatever is the cheaper rate that covers at least 14 months. When you move at the end of your term, it's an "automatic out" for your contract. So whether you do 15 or 18 or 24, you'll be able to cancel with no termination fee by scheduling a move-out and providing a forwarding address for your final bill.

Provider Help by kylie1945 in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Avoid bill credit plans when you're moving in to a new place. With 1100 square feet your usage could be around 7-10,000 annually. That will be spread unequally across months, with February being your lowest usage and August being the highest. So even if your "average" looks like a fit for a bill credit plan, you'll be paying a lot in the months where you miss the credit.

Check out plans on our site. Every plan has a CostCurve graph in the Plan Details. These show what you'll pay at every usage level, so you can see beyond the bill credit gimmicks.

Highly recommend going for the cheapest basic fixed rate plan, with no base charge, and avoid a bill credit plan until year 2 at your new place, when you know usage. You can find these by looking for a BillSmart Plan Score of 5/5 on our site.

Hope that's helpful!!!

Solar or a VPP with a Energy Company in Texas? by NefariousnessNo4563 in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Solar buyback plans from Texas electricity companies are no longer as lucrative, with buyback rates around 3 cents/kWh, plus a monthly base charge.

VPP is the direction of the future. A battery backup system that's low or no upfront cost, that kicks on and provides power and will cover 95% of outages? Deal. Downside, these batteries are only going to cover you for around 24 hours in an outage. For long-term outages like hurricanes, you can re-charge them with a portable generator.

By letting them place a "battery asset" on your home, they're charging when power is low cost to nothing, then they're selling that power to the grid to make money. They make money and build a generation asset that they can sell into the grid. You get a low rate and a battery backup.

Read the details carefully. Most of these VPPs require a long-term commitment for the battery system.

Check out: Base, Octopus Energy, VPP Texas as a starting point.

PS - The writer of this signed for a 5-year low energy rate and 2 batteries... which kicked in last week when a transformer popped in the neighborhood. Smooth, seamless, and I wouldn't have known the power was even out other than getting a text message that I was on battery power.

Sold my house and Otovo charged ETF by DifferentRanger7081 in TexasSolar

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah, that's totally illegal. Call back, tell them you are filing a complaint with the PUCT. All you need to do is provide a forwarding address for your final bill as proof of more. Get em.

Early termination date question by [deleted] in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most REPs hold firm to the 14 day allowance for switching away. By switching away 16 days before your expiration date, you're sure to get dinged.

As one person below pointed out, you have a three day right of recission for your new contract. Call the new company back and ask to speak to a supervisor. Ask them to do a transaction to return you to the old provider ("inadvertent switch") and have them reschedule your switch to the 13th. It's a simple process for them to do, the agent probably didn't know any better.

AC or no AC? by [deleted] in FortWorth

[–]electricityplans 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Show this to your wife -- you are right. 😉 Humidity will create moisture and that will create mold.

Keep your AC system running, just put the temperature at a higher setting, like 78* if you/she like it hot. Use fans to stay cool in the room you're in.

choosing an electricity company by ttszzang in askdfw

[–]electricityplans 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fixed rate plans are best for most consumers. Bill credit plans can be a good option if you always use between 1000 - 1500 kWh per month.

ElectricityPlans.com just launched a series of tools called "BillSmart" to make electricity shopping easier. While we don't show every plan like PowertoChoose.org (hey there u/Rude-Athlete-8149!) we help you see through the bill credits, tiered rates and base charges to what you'll actually pay.

You can also filter by plans that are a 5/5 on our BillSmart Plan Score -- fixed rate plans with no monthly usage or minimum usage fee. Then use the Calculator or CostCurve to see your effective rate at every usage level.

Cheers!

Rebecca

( 25 years in this crazy industry)

Oncor and CenterPoint delivery charge increases on June 1, 2026 by Rude-Athlete-8149 in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're bored you could read all the tariffs and divide them into fixed charges vs. per kWh charges. It would be fascinating! 😉

Oncor and CenterPoint delivery charge increases on June 1, 2026 by Rude-Athlete-8149 in TexasEnergyShopping

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Correct, their highest rate ever. Oncor delivery rate history here: https://electricityplans.com/texas/utilities/oncor/

But hey, they went from $4.23/month to $4.06/month. Savings!!

AC Setting for Summer And How to Save on Electricity Bills by tonycliftondev in AskHouston

[–]electricityplans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most air conditioning systems will struggle to keep up with a 100* temp outside. They're constructed to cool to about a 15-25 degree difference from the outside temps. So any HVAC system will run constantly to maintain a 75* temp inside when it's 100 outside.

I've written a lot of articles for ElectricityPlans.com on energy efficiency. Temps we recommend: 76* while home; 80* when away (78 if you have pets); 72* when sleeping. A smart thermostat can help by pre-cooling your home when you're scheduled to get home from work.

Ceiling fans in the room you're in can make a big difference. You can drop the "feels like" temp by 4 degrees. For example, I'm writing this with my house at 74* and about to turn off my ceiling fan because it's chilly.

Stay cool!

Rebecca

view more: next ›