Texas Lite-Up Low Income Electric Rate Discount Program
ByDo You Need Electricity with No Deposit?
We are currently recommending Bounce Energy for those needing a reputable electric service provider with no or low deposit requirements. The bill you get from Bounce is traditional billing and is not a prepaid or pay as you go Texas electric company. Compared to a prepaid electricity company Bounce offers very cheap rates along with a low or no deposit choice. There really is no comparison between Bounce and a pay as you go service. Believe me, the first month on a pay as you go electricity service and you will be begging to switch to Bounce’s low deposit low rate plan. You may ask about “The No and Low Deposit Plans“ by calling Bounce at this number: 1-866-945-8937
You can also check other Texas electricity companies using the zip code compare box below that work with the department of health and human services as well as the PUCT in offering you government subsidized cheaper electric rates.
The Texas Public Utility Commission has a new discount electric rate program available that has been reinitiated starting in January 2008 that allows Texas residential electric customers to receive a 12% discount on their current electric rate. The program is only available to those who qualify and certain criteria must be followed to make sure the initial qualification goes through succesfully so that you get the anticipated discount. For instance, if you have signed up with a Texas electric provider using a different name, phone number, social security number, mailing address, or electric service address that differs with what you have given the Department of Health and Human Services then you will likely be rejected because of your information not matching what the government has on file for you. In order to make sure the Texas LITE-UP program goes through on the first try you may want to get a copy of your application on file with the HHSC and fill out the LITE-UP application using that same information.
How do I apply for the Texas LITE-UP electric rate discount program?
You must first sign up with a low cost electric provider like Startex Power or if you have bad credit I would try Bounce Energy. Once you have started service with these Texas electric companies you can begin the process of signing up with LITE-UP. They will require that you provide a current electric bill and two months of proof showing what your income is. To obtain the LITE-UP application you must call them at 1-866-454-8387.
What Type Of Discounts Can I Expect?
You will be discounted during certain historically high energy consumption months. The months that the electric rate discounts will apply will be for May, June, July, August, and September of 2008 and 2009. The discounts will not start until you have been approved and your status has been received by the Texas electric provider.
Who Can Apply For Lite-Up Texas?
You can either show proof that your income is 125% of the federal poverty guideline by submitting your last 2 months of income history to Lite-Up or if you are receiving Medicaid and or food stamps you will automatically qualify.
28 Comments
February 24th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
What if yo’ure stuck with GARLAND ELEC who wont let you switch and refuses to give the reduced rate. My friend is constantly having her power shut off because in her tiny house her bill is $500 a month which is about her entire monthly income, single mom w/ 2 kids.
UNFAIR & she can’t afford to move because they continue to hold her hostage.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
When you are dealing with Garland Electric you are actually dealing with the city government who is responsible for maintaining the price of electricity in the area. Many city municipalities actually have cheaper electric rates then in the deregulated areas because the city makes up for it through higher property taxes. In Garland they may be having some trouble as natural gas has risen to a 2 year historical high recently and this has caused electric rates to rise to their historical highs as well. If they have not hedged their energy properly then they may be passing on that issue to the City of Garland in higher electric rates.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 am
I got a letter in the mail stating that because some one in my house hold receives (foodstamps and /or medicaid we may be eligible for a discount. The only catch is the bill has the be in the person’s name that is receiving the medicaid. Well I think it is ridiculous to have this stipulation. We are raising my husbands 15 yr old sister, money coming out of our pocket with no financial assistance and you don’t want to give me a discount because the bill CAN NOT BE IN HER NAME. She is a minor. this is very unfair.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I was wondering if this goes for a Farmers Electric bill also? I am on SSI and Food Stamps. Could you please let me know? Thank You Linda Pluta
May 7th, 2008 at 10:40 am
If you are on food stamps you automatically qualify. You can either fill out the form on the Lite Up website or wait for them to send you a letter in the mail. Either way the process will take about the same amount of time.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I applied for this program under my husband and myself but my electric company is under my name. Will this effect anything? Also, we do not take food stamps but do have the right income level but my electric company says that they my name has not been flagged to receive benefits for me
thank you
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
This Program is such a scamer because I applied and for this whole month of june they didnt even give me the discount just because my electric company had a different home phone number and lite up had another one but everything else was the same my name my husbands, my address our socials and I even turned in all the proof of check stubs and they told me they didnt help me because we had our cell phone for our electric company and lite up had our home phone and since the phone numbers didnt match just because of that! how retarted is that right!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 11:01 am
I have been on the program every year for 3 yrs with no problem but since moving to the DFW area it appears its mass confusion. As though the elec co and lite up can’t work together to make the program productive. I’m not recieving the elec discount when I qualify. I called 2 mo now with them saying they don’t understand why I’m not recieving the discount. If you feel the hassle is worth the 40-50 dollar discount then go for it!
August 6th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Just wanted to say that I too had some trouble because phone numbers didnt match etc I did get the numbers updated so that lite up texas and my provider matched then I repplied – man was it worth it! $75.00 discount the first month! That sure helped tons! THANKS!
December 28th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
i just recieved a bill at 490.00. i just lost a job and was recently on the discounted program i am trying to see whom i can go to that can help me pay this outstanding bill. i donot understand what this is and i am with direct energy please help bill is due on jan 8
thank you
January 13th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I am seeking the name of the Administrator for
the Texas Lite Up Program. I have written to
the Texas Attorney General’s office seeking the
serive agent’s address of record on which a summons can be served.
My daughter Ulear K. Minor is totally blind,
severely brain damaged, and mentally impaired
cannot sign a form and was denied on this basis
although she previously received the discount for 16 months. I applied for her telephone discount only since on MQMB. Now I want to know who is legally responsible for improper
action by this agency and illegal discrimination against the mentally and physically handicapped in this program.
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I was just told by a customer service rep that if you had electricy with another provider to change it would take about 1 to 2 billing cycles.If you had a out standing bill with a company but you light was off you will have to pay the out standing balance befor you could have service reconnected with a different provider…..Please tell me that this is not so…..I am about to dispute a bill how can I be held responsible for a amount that I did not generate.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Looks like many of you are not keeping your information up to date! I just heard of this program yesterday. after calling about 10 different numbers, I finally found out that I was enrolled and I did not have to do anything at all. I looked on my phone and energy bills and saw the credits listed. I would have known sooner, but I pay my bills online and usually do not even open the snail mail bills. As for you people that live in garland, you are getting a better deal all around so be happy.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
PUCT stacking rules require a minimum of 20 calander days between the date of the submission of your switch request to the market (i.e. by paying your deposit requirement) and the date of your actual switch to the new REP from your current REP. The switch will typically occur on your next scheduled meter read AFTER THE 20 CALANDER DAY PROTECTION PERIOD. This means that if your order is sent out on 6/1 & your next meter read is on 6/15, then you’ll have to wait to be switched on the next read of 7/15 because that is the next read following the 20 day period. Hence, one to two billing cycles to complete the switch. If your read date was 6/21, then you’d be switched that day instead.
August 19th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I have food stamps and i qualify for this program but What if my electric bill is under my 16 year old sons name?
August 19th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Unfortunately to qualify you would have to have the name changed with your electricity provider to be under your name instead of your sons in order for lite up Texas ( the department of health and human services) to cooperate in reimbursing your chosen electricity company in Texas. It is also important that all information you gave your electric provider match what the DHHS Texas has on file for you or your electricity provider will not be able to enroll you in the program succesfully.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
[...] If you qualify for an electric rate discount from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Texas Lite Up program then the prepaid electric provider must assist with working with these agencies. The pay as you go electric company must assist with provisioning energy assistance that comes from DHHS or Texas Lite Up. [...]
March 19th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
[...] plans designed to help low-income and credit-challenged consumers with their energy bills, eg, the LITE-UP Texas program, helps those who quality reduce their electric bills by giving discounts in certain [...]
March 22nd, 2010 at 3:09 pm
[...] LITE-UP Texas programs helps low-income customers lower their energy bills, especially during the summer months. [...]
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:39 am
[...] that prepaid electric service plans are the only option available to them. For example, the LITE-UP Texas program. It gives discounts to low-income customers from May through September on their electric [...]
March 24th, 2010 at 10:47 am
[...] Electric Plan: The LITE-UP Texas program (Low-Income Electric Discount Program) gives low-income consumers a discount on electric [...]
March 24th, 2010 at 11:23 am
[...] Assistance Program: If your income is below a certain level, the LITE-UP Texas program can help. It gives discounts to customers in certain months on their electric bill. And if [...]
March 30th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
[...] can help customers with credit and/or income problems with their electric bill. For example, the LITE-UP Texas [...]
March 30th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
[...] you fit one of these categories, ask your electricity company about the LITE-UP Texas program. It helps to defray the cost of electricity by giving discounts to consumers on their bills five [...]
April 1st, 2010 at 3:00 pm
[...] [...]
April 5th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
[...] LITE-UP Texas Program: Did you know that savings are passed along to consumers five months out of the year with [...]
April 12th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
[...] traditional Texas electric companies offer a multitude of ways to save, eg, the Texas LITE-UP program. It’s a no-deposit electricity plan that gives consumers a discount in five of the most [...]
April 28th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
[...] about no-deposit electricity plans like the Texas LITE-UP program. It gives customers a discount on their electric bill five months out of the [...]