Which retail electricity providers offer the best price?
Price is a big consideration for Texans switching retail electricity providers. A company’s reputation for reliability and customer service are important as well; however, price often trumps all other factors.
Now is an excellent time to shop for electricity. The summer surge in retail electricity prices is tailing off as cooler temperatures signal football, hayrides, and pumpkin spice everything. Demand for electricity declines after the summer, and so do prices. But demand can also tick up a bit in the winter, so locking in a 12-month rate now can save you a good chunk of change each month.
Not only are prices low right now, they’re also very competitive among companies. Several Houston electricity plans offer average rates below 10 cents per kWh for homes that use 1,000 kWh per month:
Retail Electricity Provider | Electricity Plan | Average Price Per kWh at 1,000 kWh Usage |
Gexa Energy | Gexa Saver 12 | 8.9¢ |
Spark Energy | Sure Saver 12 | 9.1¢ |
Cirro Energy | Smart Value 12 Online | 9.6¢ |
American Light & Power | Smart Power 12 | 9.9¢ |
Now, let’s look at some of the key differences among these plans.
Bill credits influence the average electricity price
A key distinction among these plans is bill credits. All of them except American Light & Power have a bill credit that kicks in at 1,000 kWh of usage in a billing cycle. These bill credits are big benefits for moderate and high usage customers. If you don’t use at least that much electricity, you don’t get the bill credit. So for the Gexa, Spark, and Cirro plans, make sure your home uses at least 1,000 kWh per month.
The lack of a bill credit doesn’t mean you should shy away from the Smart Power 12 plan. Rather, the absence of a bill credit means this plan’s average price per kWh is remarkably stable over a wide range of usages. If your usage fluctuates widely over the course of a year, this plan could be the right one for you.
Customer satisfaction may influence your power choice
Looking at Houston’s electricity market, it is easy to assume all retail electricity providers are the same. After all, they all use the same power lines. So what’s the difference?
According to actual customers who have rated retail electricity providers on Texas Electricity Ratings, the differences among providers can be stark. The posted customer satisfaction ratings rise and fall over time as more customers share their opinions; however, right now Gexa Energy leads this pack of providers with a 4.9 out of 5 rating. Spark, Cirro, and American Light & Power are rated 4.0, 3.8, and 2.0, respectively.
Choose your electricity plan
If you’re ready to lock in your new low price now, you can shop Texas Electricity Ratings and begin saving money right away. At Texas Electricity Ratings, choosing your Texas electricity plan couldn’t be easier. Pick from one of these four plans or from the dozens more available to Houston electricity customers.