We combine our user submitted reviews along with other reviews from Google, Facebook, Yelp, and the Public Utility Commission to grade providers.
Reliant Energy, a prominent electricity provider in Texas, is widely recognized but often not the most cost-effective choice. While Reliant has a strong brand presence, it's essential to consider that electricity is a commodity, and the quality of service remains consistent across providers, whether you opt for a well-known brand like Reliant or a smaller, lesser-known company with more competitive rates. Power outages are managed by your utility company, giving you no control over that aspect.
Many people are drawn to Reliant Energy due to its extensive marketing efforts, including substantial investments in TV commercials, pro-sports sponsorships, radio ads, and various promotional activities. They often tout enticing perks like "free nights and weekends" and sign-up bonuses. However, it's crucial to evaluate whether these perks offset the higher cost of electricity per kWh, as they might not necessarily result in overall savings.
Reliant Energy offers a stable and reputable electricity service, ensuring reliability for your home or business needs. Before committing to Reliant, it's a good idea to explore and compare rates from other providers and plans available in your area to make an informed decision that aligns with your budget and preferences.
Excellent and informative customer service!
Great company will really recommend it
This company had great plans, but not now.
I've had reliant for years and have never had a problem.
Reliant Energy is a retail electricity provider that serves residential and business customers in Texas. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas and is a subsidiary of NRG Energy, a leading integrated power company in the United States.
Reliant Energy has a long history in Texas, dating back to the early 20th century when it was known as Houston Lighting and Power Company. Over the years, the company has grown and evolved, changing its name to Reliant Energy in 2000 and becoming one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Today, Reliant Energy provides electricity to over 1.5 million customers in Texas, and offers a variety of plans to meet their energy needs. The company is committed to providing reliable and affordable electricity to its customers, while also promoting energy efficiency and sustainability.
Reliant Energy offers a range of products and services to help customers reduce their energy consumption and lower their bills, including smart thermostats, energy-efficient appliances, and renewable energy options. The company is also actively involved in promoting renewable energy, with a focus on wind and solar power.
In addition to providing electricity to its customers, Reliant Energy is dedicated to giving back to the communities it serves. The company's charitable giving focuses on education, environment, and community outreach, and it has contributed millions of dollars to these causes over the years.
Overall, Reliant Energy is a leading retail electricity provider in Texas, committed to providing reliable and affordable energy to its customers, while also promoting energy efficiency and sustainability.
Our mission is to provide accurate and helpful data and content to help you make an informed decision when comparing energy providers.
Plans and Rates:
We review all available plans from every licensed energy provider. Then we rank the lowest available rate from each provider. Providers then receive a rating based on what percentile their lowest plan ranks.
For example, Provider A has the 3rd lowest-priced plan, while Provider B has the 45th lowest-priced plan out of 46 providers who submitted plans to PUC. Provider A will have a rating of 5, while Provider B will have a rating of 1.
Customer Service:
We scrape online reviews from Google, Yelp, BBB, and Trust Pilot to determine what customers are saying about the provider. The rating reflects the aggregate of all online reviews.
Renewable Options:
The rating system is based on the availability of renewable energy options. A 5-star rating is awarded to entities that offer a fully renewable option, signifying 100% renewable energy usage. A 4-star rating is given to those that provide a mix of energy sources, with more than 50% coming from renewable sources. Entities with renewable energy options exceeding the state average of 31.1% receive a 3-star rating, while those offering less than 31.1% renewable options are rated with 2 stars. Lastly, a 1-star rating is assigned to those with no renewable energy options, indicating a lack of commitment to sustainable energy practices.
PUC Rating:
The Public Utility Commission publishes a rating for each provider based on the number of formal complaints filed against the provider in comparison to how many customers they have.
For example, a provider with 10 formal complaints out of 10,000 customers would have a 1-star rating whereas a provider with 10 complaints and 1,000,000 customers would have a 5-star rating.
The GridHacker rating uses a weighted average that prioritizes rates and customer service over renewable options and PUC rating. We do this because we feel that for most customers price and service are the two most important factors when they are shopping for an electricity plan.
