Archive for Houston Texas
Houston Electricity Rates Prices and Plans – September 2009
Posted by: | CommentsWe have compiled a list of some of the cheaper electricity rates, prices and plans from some reputable electricity companies in the Houston area. The electricity companies in the list below have a track record of offering electricity service in the Houston area for a few years now and with the new PUCT rules in place the bundled electricity rates shown in the chart include all fees and charges including TDSP related charges, advanced meter fees, etc. We have listed monthly base charges to the right of each rate so you can see which electric company charges a base charge and which ones do not. Many times the cheaper electric rate with a base charge will save you more money than going with a higher electricity rate with no monthly base charge.
The confusing issue some electricity service customers still face is with a variable electricity rate. You can be quoted an initial rate in the advertisement when choosing a variable rate but some providers can change that electricity price even before receiving your first months electric bill. To our knowledge none of the Houston electricity companies in the chart below adjust their initial quoted variable rate until after you have been with them for atleast a month. If you choose a fixed Houston electricity rate the rate will not change the entire term of the fixed electricity agreement. We strongly recommend choosing a fixed electricity rate in the Houston Texas area to avoid any surprises.
Most electricity companies in Houston will also notify you before your fixed electricity agreement is up so you can renew before being put on a variable electricity rate. By having advanced notification that your electricity contract is about to expire you can have assurance that you will never have to deal with a fluctuating variable electricity price. Most Houston home owners and renters choose a fixed electricity rate because they have knowledge of exactly what the rate will be. By simply multiplying the rate times the kWh usage used during the month you can confirm you are being charged correctly.
Right now a 1 year fixed Houston residential electricity rate for September 2009 is the most popular fixed electricity rate agreement. We believe that a 3 year fixed rate actually makes sense right now considering Houston electric prices are close to all time lows. We think some electricity service customers in Houston could even consider signing up for something even longer term like the Just Energy 5 year residential electricity agreement. Most people are uncomfortable committing to an electricity price for that long but because electricity rates are this low right now it really isn’t that bad of a choice.
If you are like me 2 or 3 years is about the max amount of time you will want to commit to for a fixed Houston electricity rate. If you pick a longer term rate with a Houston electricity company you are basically buying insurance betting that electricity prices will be going up in the next few years. This keeps you in a low electricity price for several years while prices will likely head back up considering they are near as close to zero as they will probably go. If you choose a 1 month fixed electricity rate you have price insurance only for the first month of the rate, after that the rate can change with fuel prices. If you choose a variable rate plan with no initial 1 month term the rate could do just about anything. Even if you see an electricity price in a quoted advertisement the rate can legally adjust even before your first months electricity usage.
We recommend if you are considering a variable electricity rate in Houston that you atleast choose a 1 to 3 month fixed rate. After the initial term the rate follows a fuel commodity or index price along with the market. There are several choices when picking a fixed Houston electric rate and right now you can pick from 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2, and 3 year terms. Occasionally there will be other alternative fixed terms like a 9, 15, or 18 month fixed electricity rate. You can compare electricity rates for September 2009 using the historical snapshot below. These rates are for historical reference for the month of September 2009 so you can track what electricity companies in Houston were charging during this time. TXU Energy and Reliant Energy in Houston are both falling behind on price when compared with some of the cheapest electric companies in Houston. Although TXU and Reliant remain the two biggest Houston electricity providers they still do not offer low prices compared to some of the other Houston electric providers.
September 2009 Houston Texas Electricity Rates
August 2009 Houston Electricity Rates and Plans – Compared
Posted by: | CommentsPicking The Right Houston Electricity Company, Rate and Plan
What to Know Before Signing up With Just Anyone
We have compiled a list of some of the more popular residential Texas electricity companies and rate plans. If there is a known issue with one of the residential electricity companies we list that concern next to the provider. There are some providers that have blatantly obvious tricks we know of that shows one rate on their website but when receiving your first electricity bill the rate is much higher due to the TDSP charges not being clearly apparent. A note should be made that these Texas electricity providers are usually involved in leaving off the TDSP charge on their advertised rate. We are not sure exactly how many energy companies participate in this practice as well as they change their practices depending on how much heat they are receiving from PUCT complaints. You can read Consumer Energy complaints from some of these providers customers who can explain what exactly can occur when switching to a gimmicky energy company better than we can.
August 7 2009 Residential Houston Electricity Company Comparison, Cheapest to Most Expensive
Understanding Your Houston Residential Electricity Rate
Most electric providers in Texas will bundle the TDSP charges into the energy only rate giving you an all-in rate that can be compared against other Texas electricity companies like TXU Energy and Reliant Energy. We have listed both TXU and Reliant in our comparison chart in order to compare their electricity prices with other Texas electric providers. You will notice that the two largest energy providers in Texas have much higher electricity prices than some of the smaller but good electric companies. Right now Champion Energy and Startex Power are two reputable electricity providers in Texas offering very cheap fixed electricity rate offers. All fees and charges are disclosed with these two companies. With Startex if a customer uses less then 500 kWh hours a month there will be a $4.95 monthly service fee although most Texas electricity consumers use more then this so it shouldn’t be an issue for most customers. A monthly service fee is simply an additional charge many electricity providers have in addition to their electricity price. It is important that a provider disclose this fee upfront rather than hide it in the contract details. We have made these fees obvious in our rate chart so you can make a clear apples to apples comparison of electricity prices in Texas.
Historical Houston Electricity Rate Snapshot for August 7 2009
Since this Houston electricity comparison chart is an update for August 7 2009 it only represents a historical snapshot of what Texas electricity providers were charging on this date. An updated and daily refreshed electricity rate chart is also provided below with some of the cheapest Houston electricity companies. We hope this historical list of Houston energy providers in prices above will keep you informed of how prices move over the course of several months. If you have any questions or comments about one of these Houston electricity companies please feel free to leave a comment below. If you are interested in a no deposit Houston electricity choice please visit our no deposit electricity page.
Current Houston Electricity Rates, Companies, and Plans
January 2009 Houston Residential Electric Rate Comparison
Posted by: | CommentsClick Here and Compare January 2008 Houston Residential Rates
Houston residential electric rates have steadily come down this month and when comparing to the summer of 2008 they are several cents cheaper. This last summer we had one of the worst electricity rate spikes in the history of Texas. Because residential electricity rates in Texas have come down so much since this summer we recommend signing up for atleast 1 year. A 1 year fixed electric rate insures that your Houston electricity rate is locked in for the duration of the term.
Houston Electric Service More Expensive then Dallas Rates
In Houston rates are a little higher then they are in the Dallas Texas area and other deregulated electric service cities in the state. Houston’s congestion and line loss issues on their poles and wires contributes to a higher electric rate in comparison to other cities regardless of the electric provider in Houston you go with.
TDSP, Pole and Wires Charges, and Comparing Electricity Rates
When comparing residential electricity rates in Houston do not be confused when looking at commercial energy prices. Commercial energy prices usually just show the “energy only” portion of the rate. When you look at a rate comparison chart showing several commercial energy providers the rates will look much better then they do when looking through residential electric service rates. The reason for the difference in price is that the Texas residential electric rate is an all in rate that includes the pole and wires charges and the “energy only” charges. The commercial rate isn’t any cheaper it just doesn’t have the pole charges included.
Are Commercial Electric Rates Intentionally Deceptive?
Commercial energy providers in Houston are not trying to be deceptive when the rate that is quoted does not have the pole and wires charges included in the energy rate. The reason for this difference is because the electricity provider does not know what the pole and wires charges will be immediately for a Texas business. A Texas chemical plant may pay a penny on top of the “energy rate” while a Curves fitness studio may pay 9 cents kWh for their pole charges. The pole charges are not known until an accurate estimate is completed based on several specs of the facility or the historical electricity usage is pulled from the electric utility in Houston.
All-In Energy Prices
The below Houston residential electric prices include the pole charges and energy only charges. These electric rates are all in rates that include all charges. You may browse through and pick the company, term and electric rate that meets your specific residential electric service needs.
Compare Houston Residential Electric Rates Below
January 2008 Update
October 2008 Houston Residential Electric Rates
Posted by: | CommentsHurricane Ike, Electric Comparison, and Relief from Summer Rates
Houston had a major issue with hurricane Ike this last month and surprisingly it had little effect on electric rates. A lot of oil and gas infrastructure was shut down but nothing was destroyed. This still usually has a negative impact on the price of electricity but because oil and natural gas is being swayed by several other factors in the trading commodities market the electric rates did not spike up.
Electric rates in Houston have come down way below their highs this summer when rates were at historical all time highs. That price spike in the summer was related to natural gas prices rising in the commodities sector beyond any level they have seen before. This had about a 90% correlation with the price of electricity. To complicate matters Houston residential electric rates were higher then usualy because several providers had bought electricity on the MCPE ERCOT market and could not meet their financial responsibilities. These electric companies also had no hedging in place so if an electric customer in Houston was on a variable electric rate they may have seen their rate tripple during this time.
Electric Rates Look Much Better From Summer Prices
Take a look at our Houston Texas electric rate comparison. We have rates listed from cheapest to most expensive. Most rates are fixed and there is a designation in the chart to differentiate between a fixed rate or a variable rate. I do not recommend signing a variable Houston electric rate contract as it is subject to change without notice. You may click on the links in the chart below and sign up online at these discounted online electric rate prices.
Houston Residential Electric Rate Comparison Chart
August 2008 Houston Residential Electric Rates
Posted by: | CommentsList of Providers from Cheapest to Most Expensive in Houston
We have put together a list of the electric providers in Texas from cheapest to most expensive. The top 3 Texas electric providers in the list all happen to be a little cheaper then what those companies normally advertise. We worked out discount electric rates with these providers and Startex (the cheapest right now) has a high rating from the public utility commission of Texas in regards to customer satisfaction. Because these companies have the cheapest rates and have a high reputability factor we are listing them for our readers to sign up with. You will receive their discount rates provided you sign up online using the links in the list below. These rates were updated on August 20th so between now and September rates could go up or down with the market so these rates may be a little higher or lower as the month proceeds.
Congestion Problems in Houston Texas
If you are in or around Houston Texas you will notice that your city has higher rates then the rates in Dallas Texas. The Houston area has some of the highest electric rates in Texas across the board. The reason electric rates are higher in Houston has to do with congestion and line loss issues. The state of Texas is working on resolving the congestion and line loss issues in Houston Texas. Until the givernment comes up with a good plan for this you will continue to pay a little higher for your electricity then the rest of the state.
List of Electric Companies in Houston
 The city of Houston has some of the highest electric rates in the state due to line losses and congestion issues. This issue effects your electric rate regardless of the electric provider you choose. These issues are included in the non-negotiable TDSP charges also known as pass through charges that are fixed by the PUCT and bundled into the residential electric rate. The nodal system the PUCT and ERCOT are working to implement in the state of Texas and Houston will help to alleviate this issue.
The only other place in Texas with higher electric rates then Houston is Brownsville Texas and surrounding AEP service area. Brownsville Texas is faced with the same issues that effect Houston and cause electric rates to be higher then they are in cities like Dallas or Laredo Texas.
July 2008 Houston Residential Electric Rates
Posted by: | CommentsHeads up on What is Going on in the Market This Month
Right now the market is still close to a 3 year high. We saw electric rates in Texas go up the entire month of June and now in July we still see energy prices rising higher. Most people have noticed in the news of how oil has reached $148 setting an all time historical record. The energy sector is up across the board and Houston electric rates are the highest in the state of Texas. Houston must pipe in their energy from far off causing line losses. The power consumption and demand of Houstonians causes congestion and they just don’t turn on enough power plants in your town to meet peak demand periods. Because of these issues you pay ridiculously high prices. Last year rates were around 10 – 11 cents kWh. If you are now trying to renew an energy contract or lock in again you will be surprised to see Houston electricity rates about 5 – 10 cents higher then last year.
July 2008 Electric Rate Chart
We have Houston, Harris County, Brazoria County, and surrounding Centerpoint Energy utility areas electric rates listed here from best to worst. A 12 month fixed Houston electric rate is recommended as rates are expected to travel back down. Long term contracts are cheaper, however you would be locking in at the top of the market when the expectation is that electric rates will be coming back down before 24 and 36 months. Many of the electric rates in the chart below are discount 12 month fixed electric rates. By clicking on the links below and signing up online you will achieve a slightly better rate then what that company normally advertises.
May 2008 Houston Residential Electric Rate Comparison
Posted by: | CommentsWhat is Electricity Doing Right Now?
As of May 2008 Electric rates are currently close to a 3 year high and because of this Texas residential electric rates do not look so good right now. Many people would like to wait and renew when rates drop down but there is just no way to know when this will happen. Electric rates could hover at historical highs for several months before they drop back down to prices many people are comfortable paying.
Who We Recommend
We recommend signing a 12 month energy agreement and then trying again next year. Notice: Riverway Power recently cancelled their residential electric customers agreements in mid April according to several people who called in and left comments regarding them so we do not recommend using them as their fixed electric rate is subject to change. Our preferred electric providers at this time are Affordable Energy, Startex Energy and Bounce Energy Guaranteed No Deposit. All of these Texas electric companies have accurate billing, good customer service and low rates.
We are now approaching the end of the month of June and since writing this article rates have continued up along with a barrel of oil and natural gas. Oil and natural gas are trading at all time historical highs and the analysis shows that traders are hedging against a falling dollar by buying energy. The rise in prices can best be attributed to investors and traders trading up the price. This price spike will most likely be a bubble we will see fall but we have no idea when that will be. If you are buying Houston electricity you are exeriencing the worst of it. Houston electric rates are higher then they have ever been right now and higher then the rest of the state.
Nassau Bay Texas
Posted by: | CommentsCommercial Energy Rates and Aggregations
Nassau Bay is in an area of Texas near Houston that is deregulated. What this means to a commercial business is the ability to choose a competitive electric rate from several electric providers. What Electricity Bid works to do for Texas businesses is to work the electric rate down among the most competitive electric providers in order to provide a truly discounted electric rate then you would be able to achieve on your own. We do this several ways. One way we are able to accomplish this is through our aggregation service. We combine multiple companies into a large aggregate and take this usage out to the providers to compete and bid on. Commercial businesses in the aggregation are grouped based on how they use their energy. For instance, they would be grouped by high medium or low load profile. This allows for the most competitive pricing without any business riding the coat tails of another on order to help them save. This keeps the process safe and discounted for everyone allowing for a win win situation for all businesses in the aggregation.
Using A Reverse Auction To Drive Down Prices
We can also work the rate down outside of an aggregation structure by having the providers enter into a reverse auction where we work the energy price down to as low as we can get it. Electricity Bid then drafts a detailed proposal and analysis showing what the energy rate is made up of and how much the savings comes out to in an apples to apples comparison over your current Retail Electric Provider. If this sounds like something your company would be interested please give us a call at the link below.
Building Permits
If you are constructing a new facility you will first want to get the needed building permits so that temporary power can be turned on to begin construction. You may go to Nassau Bay’s City website to fill out the building permit form.
Residential Electricity
If you need a low cost residential electricity provider in Nassau Bay Texas you can go to the front of the site and look under the section called “Residential”. We update the site with the most competitive electric providers on a monthly basis. You should be able to find what you need there. These companies have many terms to choose from and two of them do not charge any type of monthly customer service charge which can often times offset what looks like a cheap electric rate.
Electricity Bid – Residential Electric Rate Comparison
Morgans Point Texas
Posted by: | Comments
Morgan’s Point Texas is a small city in Harris County with a population of about 350 people. This city is currently in a deregulated area in Texas which means your company or residence has the ability to choose among over 40 different Retail Electric Providers in Texas. Some of these energy suppliers are TXU, Reliant, Green Mountain Energy, Cirro Energy, Spark Energy, Startex Power, Amigo Energy, Suez, Constellation NewEnergy, Champion Energy and many others. If you are needing a competitive residential electric provider the best thing you can do is check out the front page of our site where we update it with the winning energy company on a monthly basis. There you will find links that have promotional codes built into the links so you are guaranteed to get the lowest energy rates that particular company offers. By working out price agreements with the lowest cost providers in Texas we are able to offer our customers not only an analysis giving you the cheapest energy companies to choose from but also special rates with these companies.
Commercial Electric Companies
If you are a commercial business in Morgan’s Point Texas then we can assist your company in obtaining the cheapest electric rate possible by putting a companies energy usage through a reverse bid process. This bid process allows us to work down the electric rate to its lowest point. After squeezing as much of the retail margin out of the rates as possible we put together a detailed proposal showing which company and product will allow for the most savings. Several winning providers are listed in the proposal so you can see the price difference and how we worked down the rate. These providers have the potential to receive more business from us many times over provided they bid the lowest so we use this leverage to make sure we get our customers the best possible rate with no additional hidden fees.
If you have questions about commercial electric rates in Morgan’s Point then please give us a call. You may call us for free at the number below.
If you have any questions about electricity rates and companies in Texas please call one of our energy consultants at 1-800-971-4020
Houston Electricity Rates
Posted by: | CommentsHigh Electric Rates In Houston
Houston has some of the highest electric rates in the state of Texas. The reason for the higher energy rates has to do with the bottleneck and congestion in this metropolitan area. The city just requires a whole lot of energy to keep the place running. The problem is that outlying cities that don’t use as much electricity have been paying for this congestion that Houston is the culprit of.
How To Solve The Energy Congestion In Houston
The Houston congestion problem affecting other surrounding cities is likely going to be a thing of the past when the Texas nodal system comes into affect. The nodal system will allow Texas cities that surround the city of Houston to pay for their own bottleneck problems which will likely be much less congested then the city of Houston. This will allow the cities in Harris County to pay less then the city of Houston for their electricity rate. Very simply, Houston will pay a higher rate for being more congested and other cities in Harris County will no longer be penalized for something that is Houston’s problem.
Need To Find Houston Electric Rates To Compare?
If you happened upon this page looking for what the going Houston Electric rate is at then we have provided both a commercial electric rate comparison chart below as well as some low cost residential providers in the Houston area. You can bookmark this page as we keep the rates updated on a monthly basis and come back to see what rates have done on the next month.
You may call and speak to one of our energy consultants to learn more about available electricity choices in Houston by calling 1-800-971-4020
You may email us with your business or residential information by clicking on this link to go to our contact page. The chart to the right is our commercial electricity rate chart. To compare residential electric rates in Houston please click here.
For a low cost residential electric provider I would go with Spark Energy for now. They have a low cost electric rate with no monthly customer service charge. As of October 17 2007 their rate is 11 cents kWh for 12 months with NO monthly customer service charge.
Spark Energy - The Spark energy promo code is now expired.
If you do not want to be locked into a contract then you might want to check out Startex Power. They have a really good variable rate that follows the commodities market. The rate is low the first month and then follows natural gas there after. You can manage the rate by watching what it will be each month on a page Startex has setup so you are never suprised as to what the rate will be the following month.
Startex Power – Sign up Online
Manage Variable Rate