Comments on: TDSP Pole and Wires Charges, Have You Been Scammed?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:22:12 +0000

Hi Kenneth. You say you were using StarTex before. Did you pay attention to those “fees” on your statement every month? How much did they run you, about? Did they go up and down or stay the same? I was thinking of changing to StarTex after my current contract with Champion expires. Reason being also, is that with Champion I would be locked into another 12 mos. and by the time it renews next year at this same time, of course, I could “look forward” (yea right..WRONG!) to once again, some higher “summer” rates. I was going to change to go with a 9 mo. StarTex contract so that if I don’t like them by the end of the year or early next year, I could start back with Champion, and getting in at the right time of the year, my rates would be lower (hoping). Right now, Champion is getting too high, it appears. But they are being audited and having to “go back” and re-bill folks for TDSP fees they missed. I got it on my current bill and there was a posting for $3.60, .01cents, .07cents, and another .07cents. They are too general on the bill calling it “Debit on 03/21/11 Adj for Unbilled TDU Surcharges from Oct 2010 – Feb 2011″. They use this description on every singe entry charge I just mentioned. So the total amount comes to $3.75. Anyway, I think we as consumers should ban together and start complaining to someone in Washington or Austin about this! It’s outrageous that the Pimps (Oncor, Centerpoint) have the Whores (Champion, Reliant, TXU, ) all in line where they want them. And we, my dear are the “Johns” (customers) and thye have us by the you-know-what(s). It’s a friggin’ shame!! Sorry for my analogy folks, but it is what it is!!

By: kenneth

kenneth — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:52:23 +0000

I just got my first bill from Mega Energy to and have this issue. Yes they offer to switch you to a bundled plan that is more expensive that Reliant. The Residential Reliant plan includes all the pass through charges, correct?

I was on StarTex Power before and never had this issue.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:29:07 +0000

Don’t know about the others, but with MegaEnergy you can change your plan to a bundled plan (instead of energy only plan) that will include the TDSP charges and come out lower per kWh. Can’t get out of the contract but can at least save some money until it expires. Also, be sure to file a complaint with the PUC about their practices.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:06:15 +0000

I just started with Mega Energy, and I have the same issues as described above. They promised me .085 kWh fixed rate for 2 years. The first bill came 2 weeks late in the mail, so they hit me with a late fee which they still haven’t taken off my bill, and the pass through rate made my .085 turn into a .148.

How can I get out of my contract?

By: rachel

rachel — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:13:41 +0000

Beware of POTENTIA Energy . I could not believe how much the TDSP charge is !!!!this month has been the lowest and is $93.00 .They never told me about these fees I’m new to houston TX and many things are very different here from other states. They quoted me way below market average and I thought I was getting a great deal, but here i’m stuck in this contract for a year and paying a lot of money.

By: catie

catie — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:45:03 +0000

can anyone tell me of an electric company where this WONT happen to me??? is there any GOOD electric companys out there???

By: Rod

Rod — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:31:16 +0000

I wish Republicans in power would do something. I had power turned on in a house while I painted and remodeled to fix it up. My electric usage from MX Energy for one day – January 6 to January 7th was fifteen cents. My Pass through charges were $54.00 The next month I used a little over five dollars in electricity and got hit with a pass through charge of $57.00. Deregulation has done nothing for consumers. The electric lobby really bought a good deal for themselves as allowing the electric provider network to rape consumers worse than any credit card company ever thought of doing.

By: almost scammed

almost scammed — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:29:01 +0000

Dynowatt is doing the same thing. They were advertising a much lower rate. I went into a live chat to ask a rep why that was, and asked if there were other fees that would be on the bill. They said your usage*rate, taxes, and transmission and distribution charges. I said what are transmission and distribution charges? They said, those are made by the utility company. Hehe, nice try. I’m glad I avoided Dynowatt, and a potentially large bill with hidden fees.

By: Kambiz

Kambiz — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:02:29 +0000

I recently renewed with Reliant energy business service. I was quoted 7.4cents per kwH and pass thorugh for TDSP. My previous plan had a TSDP charge of about 13 dollars /month.My expiring 2 year contract had a 13 cent rate with 10/month fee and TDSP charges of about 13/month. I specifically went line item through my incoice with the sales rep and asked them if TDSP charges would remin about the same.He said they would. Low and behold the charge increased from 13 to $122 dollars.Roughly sme kwh use between the 2 months. The average price comming in at 23.8 cents/kwh. Much higher than the 12.6 cents on the enrgy fact label and 10X higher than the previous tensmission charges. Furthermore they say that Oncor energy has not changed rates since 10/2009. Explain then why my TDSP charge went up. What crooks

By: cam

cam — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:16:57 +0000

This is EXCATLY what happend to me. I chose YEP ( Youe Energy Provider) energy on a variable plan for about 7.25 cents per kWh. Then when i got my first bill there were huge (about 30% of total bill) charges for “Total Deliver Charges”. When I called, the rep said “that isn;t our fee, it’s ONCOR”. YEP is baout the 5th electric compnay I have used and the ONLY one that did not quote me a bundled number. They are VERY deceiving. DO not use YEP.