Picking 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

When Energy Markets Come Down Near Historical Lows

Today the energy markets came down again following a down day on Thursday and Friday. Commercial Texas electricity prices are at a good price range for those who have been holding out for just the right time to lock in their electric rates. By locking into an electricity price you are doing what many consider to be the safe way to procure energy. Texas electricity companies will buy natural gas futures in order to keep the electricity they sell you locked in at a specified price for 1, 2, or 3 years. So if you signed up at 1 year you will pay the same electricity price for that entire year. The other popular option would be to sign up on a MCPE electricity price. MCPE is a variable price that is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. The price changes every 15 minutes, 96 intervals a day and is not for the risk averse. For most Texas businesses looking to procure their electricity we recommend locking in on a fixed electricity rate. If electric rates were higher we might recommend doing a 50/50 blend where you have half on a fixed rate and half on MCPE. With some of the cheapest commercial electricity rates we have seen in a long time you might as well lock in rather then get on a variable electricity price.

Our Proposal Gives You a Clear Snapshot of What Electricity Prices and Terms are Available

We have a commercial electric price chart we update every so often that shows a snapshot of what electricity rates have been doing. You can click on the link above to see the chart to give you a ballpark on what you can expect when locking into a fixed Texas electricity rate. You can achieve a much cheaper electric rate than the daily rates seen on our chart. Daily electricity prices are generic prices with a larger retail margin built in because the exact usage and demand is not known for the commercial business. Our company can procure a cheaper electricity price for your Texas business by putting your historical or estimated electricity usage through a reverse auction. By letting the energy consultant have your exact usage and giving them a couple days to make a tailor made electric rate and proposal for your business you can knock off a half a penny to a penny off of your per kWh rate. The usage goes through a reverse auction process where up to 15 different electricity companies bid on your account. Not all providers bid on small usage just as not all providers bid on large electricity usage. Depending on the size and type of your Texas business will determine how many providers choose to bid on your account. We promise that we can achieve a cheaper Texas electricity price for your commercial business by putting your electricity usage through a reverse auction. If you were to go to the same provider to attempt to achieve the price we achieve for you it will not be as cheap of a rate.

Not a Shell Company for a Provider But a Full Service Energy Consulting Company

When using Electricity Bid to procure your electricity price you will be using a company that acts as an energy consultant on your companies behalf. We do not represent a particular electric company and our fee is paid by the provider and is the same regardless of the provider that wins the bid. There are some energy Texas consulting companies/brokers out there that represent one or two companies. These electricity consultants are nothing more than a shell company for a provider. These so called brokers are not representing your companies interest but are trying to make the one brand they sell sound as good as possible even though there may be several other electricity companies out there with cheaper electricity rates.

Bid Down Your Electricity Price and Save on Energy

We have helped hundreds of Texas businesses bid down their electricity price among the Texas energy providers by our reverse auction process. We have helped businesses that use tens of millions of kilowatt hours a year to those only using 30,000 kWh a year. No matter the size of your Texas business we can consult you on your current electricity provider, show you an apples to apples comparison of what you are paying now to what you could be paying and help educate you on the entire reverse auction process. Our strategy is to be as open, transparent, and educational as possible so you know exactly what you are choosing and why. If you were confused about your electricity bill and what sales people at some of the energy companies were telling you before you will have a complete understanding of what to know going forward after speaking to our energy consultant.

Begin Your No Obligation Electricity Bid Reverse Auction

If you would like to begin the no obligation reverse auction process for your Texas commercial energy than please give us a call. We can be reached at 1-800-971-4020

Some of the Texas Cities We Serve

We serve all the deregulated cities of Texas including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Alpine, Laredo, Austin, Round Rock, Killeen, Tyler, Plano, and many others.

Compare Houston Electricity Providers

It isn’t always enough to compare all Houston electricity providers to find the cheapest electricity price. Some of Houston’s energy providers actually have additional hidden fees and charges that are not made known to the energy consumer in the initial advertisement. We have even tested out some of these Houston electricity rates and providers by calling the number on their ad and asking about the Houston electricity rate they have displayed on a Google ad, billboard, or newspaper ad. The chart below includes all fees and charges with the cheapest Houston electricity rates and offers. Just pick the plan you want > Click “Get Rates” > Then click “Continue” with the provider you want to sign up with.

Why Don’t Some Electric Companies Disclose TDSP Charges

About 9 out of 10 times we found that the Houston energy provider in question would not disclose the additional charges when speaking with them on the phone. Only after getting to the end of the sales pitch and asking specifically what additional charges will I have to pay were we sometimes told that there would be an additional 4 cents per kWh added onto the electric rate due to TDSP pass through charges. The provider would go on to say that these are not their charges and they are only passing them through from the pole and wires company but this doesn’t answer the problem.

Bundled Charges Shows Total Electric Rate

Most Houston residential electric providers bundle these TDSP charges into their advertised rate. The customer knows exactly what their total electric rate looks like. If that isn’t enough most electricity providers will also disclose exactly what their monthly service fee is as well (if they have one).

A Good Comparison Chart Will Show You What You Need to Know

So picking the very cheapest will usually put you in a too good to be true electric service rate because there is probably a reason they are several cents cheaper than all the other providers. Picking a Houston electricity company that is cheap and lays out the different charges next to other energy companies gives you an apples to apples comparison. A Houston electricity rate comparison lets you sign up with the Houston electric company with some confidence. Knowing that you are with a quality energy service company that also offers a cheap electric rate is the way to go. We have provided a comparison chart above that lists all fees and charges. We have outlined these different companies and their fees next to each other so that you can choose an electric rate with confidence.

Reliant Energy Electric Rates Just Don’t Compare With Cheaper Providers

If you compare these electricity rates with what Reliant Energy is offering you will find that Reliant Energy Rates are a few cents higher than the cheapest electric company in our comparison. Reliant Energy Houston is a good company but they are no where near the cheapest energy provider in Houston. We encourage you to pick an electricity company in the chart above that is more in line with where market energy prices are instead of going with a brand name that charges you a little extra because you recognize the name.

We have gone back to check Dallas Texas electricity rates for the month of April 2009 to see where the electric providers fall in line on their prices. Some Dallas energy providers have prices that are several cents cheaper then some of the larger electric companies like TXU and Reliant. One of the reasons we put this list together is so that Dallas energy consumers can see that there are much better offers available for Dallas electricity service then what TXU Energy has to offer. For instance, checking the rates TXU Energy is offering as of today, April 17 2009, we see that they have a 1 year fixed rate listed at 13.8 cents a kWh. The cheapest available 12 month offer in the chart is for 9.4 cents per kWh with Champion Energy.

Dallas electric rates have come down quite a bit from where they were at just a few months ago. We are looking at fresh lows that we haven’t seen but a couple times before since Texas deregulated. If you are trying to time the market as to when to lock in electricity rates for your home or apartment in Dallas Texas then now is a very good time to do it. The 1 year fixed electric rate is currently the most popular term. The 24 month and 36 month fixed electricity rate terms are more expensive but they act as insurance in case rates come way up during that time. Most Dallas residence still decide on the 1 year electric rate term as the 24 month and 36 month fixed rate terms are a few cents higher and for most people the higher price doesn’t justify locking in for that long. You can compare the cheapest to most expensive electricity prices in Dallas below. You will notice TXU and Reliant Energy are currently a couple of the highest priced electric companies.

Snapshot of Historical Dallas Residential Electric Rates for March 2009

We try and keep a history of what Houston residential electric rates have done over several months to give residential energy consumers an idea of what the Texas electric companies are up to when advertising their rates over the year. Some electric companies in Houston Texas have become more competitive and some have become much less competitive as the year progressed. Some of the larger Texas electric providers continue to offer electric rates that are a few cents higher per kWh then a few other reputable electric companies. TXU and Reliant right now are definitely not trying to win customers by being the price leader. You can compare multiple electric rates and electric companies below. Once you have found the company you would like to go with just click on their name and you can sign up online with that Texas electricity provider. The rates are listed from cheapest to most expensive. TXU and Reliant have some of the most expensive electricity rates in the list. This is a snapshot of electric rates as of March 2 2009. These rates may change as the month progresses.

How to Compare Rock Wall Residential Electricity Rates

You can easily compare residential electric rate plans in Rock Wall Texas by taking into consideration a few different things. Some of the electricity providers in Rock Wall will only quote a rate that includes the “energy only” charges. The TDSP charges won’t be included so the energy price looks better then the rest of the companies quoting you. This is a very deceptive way of quoting a rate but we have seen it from about 5 different electric companies currently advertising electricity prices in Texas. There are a few different tactics on what Rock Wall Texas residential electric companies will use to make their electricity prices look better.

Are the Residential Electric Rates Listed on Electricity Bid Trustworthy?

Electricity Bid only advertises electric rates and electric providers that deal honestly and ethically with their customers. The energy prices on this site disclose all charges and fees up front so you know exactly what you are being charged for. After signing up on a discount Rock Wall Texas residential electric rate on Texas Electricity Bid you will not be surprised later on with additional fees and charges crammed onto the electric bill.

What Residential Electric Rate Does Texas Electric Bid Recommend?

If you are a Texas home dweller or are residing in an apartment in Rock Wall Texas you have many choices as far as the company and electric rate you choose. Not all fixed rate terms are for everyone. Based on your situation you may want to pick a shorter term fixed rate or possibly a longer term. If you will only be at your place for a few months you may want to get a 1 month fixed rate so you are not locked into a term commitment. If you are risk averse and will not be moving anytime soon then a longer term will lock in the Rockwall Texas electric rate for the entire term you choose. By locking in the electricity price you will not have to worry about your rate going up on you until your contract expires. There are several different electric rate terms anywhere from 1 month to 3 years. We have provided a comparison list of Rockwall Texas electric companies to compare and pick the cheapest electric company. You will just need to click on the sign up link when you have found the rate that suits your situation. These electric prices are updated daily and are current. If you have a question about a company, rate or plan you can feel free to call a Texas Electric Bid energy consultant who would be glad to answer your questions. We have provided a residential electric rate comparison chart below if you would like to see a detailed apples to apples rate comparison with all fees and charges disclosed. These electric rates apply for most areas in Rock Wall Texas. Click on the continue button to confirm rate.

Click Here to compare Rock Wall Residential electric rates

Commercial Electric Rates in Rock Wall Texas

When comparing residential electric rates in Rock Wall you may have seen commercial electricity prices as well that looked much cheaper then a residential electric rate you were quoted. In contrast to a residential energy price a commercial rate will only show the “energy only” charge at first when being quoted by an energy consultant or electric provider. The reason is that commercial electric prices do not already have the TDSP charges fixed across the board for everyone as do residential rates. The government has stipulated what the TDSP charges are for residences and everyone pays the same. For commercial businesses it is based on their historical electric usage to estimate what the TDSP charges will be. Because the TDSP charges are not readily known for a Rock Wall commercial business they can only be quoted the “energy only” charge in the initial quotation. This is very common practice among all electric providers and energy consulting practices. Once the historical electric usage is obtained from the utility (Oncor Electric Delivery in Rock Wall) the TDSP charges can be accurately quoted in the rate proposal. If you would like to speak to an energy consultant about your commercial energy rate in Rock Wall you may call Texas Electricity Bid at 1-800-971-4020.

Compare Electric Rates Below

The last few months energy has come down quite a bit a long with the stock market, the economy, and consumer confidence. Even our dollar isn’t doing so good but it has started a climb up. Residential electric rates in Dallas have come down some but not as much as some were anticipating. The problem is when fuel prices drop quickly it doesn’t necessrily have the same effect on the conversion over to electricity. There is a cost associated with converting natural gas and coal to electric power. This cost is called a heat factor cost. When natural gas comes down quickly you will usually see the heat factor go up. This makes it a little difficult to anticipate exactly what electric rates will do when fuel and energy comes down. Below is a comparison list of some of the cheapest electric companies in Dallas Texas.

These rates are subject to change as the month progresses but are accurate as of the date this article was written. To see an updated comparison list go to : Dallas Electric Rate Comparison

Dec 2008 Dallas Electric Rate Chart

What to do When Locking in Dallas Residential Electric Rates for November 2008?

The energy markets have been steadily declining and have started to hit some historical short term lows. If this trend continues we could see some very good residential electric rates but trying to pick the bottom of a trend is an impossible task. If you are waiting to do something I would recommend making your hunch and going ahead and signing up on a term even if just for a few months. The reason you should lock into something is due to the high price of a month to month rate. Residential electric providers in Dallas will generally offer a low first month rate on a month to month type of electric service plan but will then raise the rate dramatically after that first month. To avoid a high rate hike you should lock into some type of monthly term. If you are risk averse I would go with atleast a 1 year plan and if you are willing to roll the dice and try again in 3 months I would go with a shorter term like a 3 month or 6 month fixed rate.

November 2008 Residential Electric Rates Comparison Chart

The residential Dallas electric rates below serve as a historical marker of where rates have come as of November 2 2008. These rates will most likely change as the month progresses but you will find indicative prices as of Nov 2 2008 to help you in your shopping and comparing process. If you wish to see current Dallas electric rates we recommend checking this page out: Dallas residential electric rates

Dallas Residential Electric Rate Chart

If you are looking for a comparison of Dallas commercial electric service you can find it here: Dallas Commercial Electric Service

If you were looking for Residential Houston Electric Service you will find it on this page: Houston Residential Electricity Comparison
 

Hurricane 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