GridHacker is the fastest and easiest way to find an electricity plan in Texas that fits your home and your budget. Using your historical usage data, we can accurately match you to a plan that meets your energy needs.
We filter out plans with tricks and gimmicks, so you can be confident that you're getting a fair and transparent electricity rate. With just a few clicks, you will be matched with the plan that's right for you.
Most Texans live in a deregulated energy market. This means that you have a choice when it comes to your electricity provider. Like your insurance or internet provider, you can find a plan that works for you.
There are many providers to choose from, so you can compare rates and pick the one that works best for you.
Don’t worry if this seems a little confusing. Grid Hackers is designed to eliminate the guesswork to get powered up with the perfect plan in minutes.
This table lists the lowest-priced residential electricity plans available in the state of Texas today.
Small and medium-sized businesses can quickly find the most cost-effective plan and switch 100% online.
Texas electricity rates are impacted by many factors. Supply, demand, and other market conditions all play a part.
Most Texans are familiar with two types of electric companies. Their utility and their supplier/provider.
If you are in a deregulated area like Dallas or Houston, you may recognize names like Reliant Energy or TXU Energy. These are examples of energy providers otherwise known as suppliers.
In most cases, this is the company that you pay your electric bill to.
In the state of Texas, a Retail Electricity Provider (REP) is a company that sells electricity to consumers. REPs are licensed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and are responsible for purchasing electricity from the wholesale electricity market and selling it to customers. REPs offer a variety of electricity plans and services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Texas.
There are over 100 licensed energy providers in Texas. We won't list them all, but here are some of the largest electricity providers.
View all Texas electricity companies here.
An electric utility company in the state of Texas is a company that is responsible for generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity to customers within a specific service area.
These companies, also known as incumbent electric utilities, are regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and are required to provide reliable and affordable electricity to customers within their service territory. The PUC of Texas also oversees ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
Electric utilities in Texas include companies such as AEP Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Oncor Electric Delivery, and Texas-New Mexico Power. These companies are responsible for maintaining the electricity grid and delivering electricity to homes and businesses through a network of power lines and other electrical infrastructure.
AEP Texas serves customers in the northern and central regions of Texas. This includes Abilene, San Angelo, and Corpus Christi.
CenterPoint Energy serves customers in south and southeast Texas mostly around the Houston metro area. This includes Houston, Katy, and Tomball.
Oncor is the largest electric utility in Texas and serves various areas around the state. Their service territory includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Plano, Arlington, Waco, Midland, Odessa, Tyler, and Wichita Falls.
Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP) services North, South, and West Texas. North Texas service areas include Lewisville, Gatesville, and Glen Rose. Southern service areas include Texas City, League City, and Friendswood. Western service areas include Pecos and Fort Stockton.
In 2017 Oncor acquired the retail portion of Sharyland Utilities. Since 2018 Oncor is the acting utility provider for customers in the Sharyland service area.
This map shows the electric utility in each county.
Switching energy companies can be simple, but there are a few steps to follow.
First, check for early termination fees in your current plan, as these can sometimes amount to several hundred dollars. If your plan is expiring, make sure to align the start date of your new plan with the end date of your old one.
Next, find your energy usage, which is the most significant factor affecting your rate. Many plans advertise rates for specific, often small, amounts of energy usage, but the actual rate for the average home might be much higher. You can either enter your zip code here to find your historical usage or calculate your average monthly usage based on past kWh figures found on your monthly electricity bill.
When comparing rates and plans, be cautious of gimmicks used by suppliers, such as free nights and weekends, variable rates, or high termination fees. Some plans may seem enticing but could end up costing more if not utilized correctly.
You can find Texas electricity rates and providers by entering your zip code here. There are hundreds of energy plans in Texas so before you switch you should look at more than just the rate.
Check the electricity facts label or "EFL" for short. This document has all the details of the contract summarized in an easy-to-read format. You'll find things like early termination fees and whether the plan has a variable rate or is a fixed rate plan. We almost always recommend fixed-rate plans because they protect you from pricing changes that cause your bill to skyrocket month-to-month.
GridHacker makes it easy to pull your home's energy usage to match you with a plan. To get started enter your zip code here.
You can switch electric companies at any time, but it's usually better to do so when market rates are lower than your current contract. Review your contract for rates, terms, and penalties before switching providers. When you're ready to switch, have a recent electric bill on hand and set aside a few minutes to compare rates.
Be mindful of contract stipulations such as length of commitment, termination fees, supply price per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and auto-renewal when switching providers. Ask yourself questions about contract length, payment options, contract expiration, and penalties for breaking the contract. By taking these factors into account, you can make an informed decision when switching electric companies and potentially save money on your electricity bills.
Even if you aren't ready to invest in solar panels you can still power your home with green energy by enrolling in a renewable energy plan. There are dozens of Texas energy providers that offer renewable energy plans.
When you sign up for a renewable energy plan you are effectively powering your home with green energy. Your renewable energy electricity plan allows your energy provider to buy green energy on the wholesale market.
The more people that buy green energy plans the more cost-effective it is for Texas electric companies to generate power from renewable sources like solar and wind.
Most electricity in Texas is generated from natural gas facilities, but renewable generation is increasing. As of 2023 renewables are only second to natural gas.
Texas energy rates fluctuate daily based on market conditions. So there's not always a best time of year to sign up for a Texas energy plan. Sometimes electricity prices are cheaper in the winter than the summer, sometimes not. It is a good idea to start comparing rates several months before you need to enroll in plan so you can gauge the market.
Texas electricity rates are set by energy providers. Your energy provider buys electricity on the wholesale market and then resells it to you with a markup - that's how they make money. Their electricity prices are mostly determined by current electricity rates and what they believe electricity rates will be in the future.
If you receive an electricity bill that's significantly higher than average you should check your usage for that month. Sometimes it could be as simple as you ran your A/C more than usual. If your usage didn't change then you should check your electricity rate.
If your rate changed it may explain the increase. If your rate is the same then you should look through the add-on fees. Sometimes your utility or provider will add charges like services fees or transmission fees.
.jpg)
