Which Houston Electricity Plans Are Cheapest?
When it comes to evaluating retail electricity plans, one number doesn’t say it all. You may find a plan with a super low advertised rate. However, that low number in a bold font may not be all it’s cracked up to be. That’s why Texas Electricity Ratings now shows you an average bill based on any usage you have. This information helps you make a better decision when you choose a Texas electricity plan.
The cheapest 12-month power plans available right now have very different average electricity rates. As you will see below, the terms of a fixed rate electricity contract can make a cheap plan seem downright expensive. It’s possible to pay a higher average rate and end up with a lower cost over the course of a year.
How Does Ter Calculate An Estimated Electric Bill?
Before we dig into the cheap estimated electric bill plans, we should explain how Texas Electricity Ratings calculates estimated electricity bills. It may be helpful to click one of the plans’ hyperlinks below and try these instructions for yourself. In the top left corner of each plan page is a box labeled “Your Average Usage.” Click a spot on the horizontal bar or type in the box below the bar the average number of kilowatt-hours you use in a month.
The figures in the box to the right adjust based on your input. You see your estimated average monthly bill, average price per kWh, and annual electricity cost. How does it do this?
First, the tool estimates each month’s usage considering seasonal usage patterns. You use more electricity in the summer and winter than in the spring and fall. Second, the tool takes into account the retail electricity plan’s contract terms. It factors in any base charges, bill credits, and other things that impact how much you pay.
For the sake of comparison, the plan information below is based on an average usage of 1,000 kWh per month.
Cheap Houston Electricity With Complicated Pricing
The Easy Bill 12 plan from Frontier Utilities has the lowest estimated electric bill at $100. The plan’s average rate is 7.9 cents per kWh. Despite the plan’s name, the pricing is not straightforward. The plan has a $79 base charge. But while customers pay nothing for usage up to 1,000 kWh, usage beyond 1,000 kWh gets unusually high.
This plan is bad for low and high usage customers but okay for moderate usage customers. Keeping your usage below 1,000 kWh is the key to making this plan work for you.
4Change Energy Reviews
With an average bill of $101, the Easy Saver 12 plan from 4Change Energy is the second cheapest plan. The plan’s average price of 8.5 cents per kWh would lead you to believe this plan is much more expensive than the cheaper plan outlined above. However, the difference is only $1 per month. The two plans have similar pricing structures, but this plan charges much less for electricity usage after 1,000 kWh. This plan is worse for low usage customers and a little better for high usage customers. Moderate usage customers hit this plan’s sweet spot.
TER users rate this retail electricity company highly for community outreach. 4Change Energy allows customers to select which charity a portion of their payment supports.
Moderate To High Usage Bill Credit Electricity Plan
The Smart Value 12 plan from Cirro Energy costs Houston electricity customers an average of $109 per month. The plan’s average rate is 8.9 cents per kWh. Pricing is a little complicated with a $7.95 base charge and $30 bill credit for usage between 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. This plan is best for moderate and high usage customers.
Flat Pricing From a Highly Rated Retail Provider
Rounding out the four cheap estimated electric bill plans is the Texas Fixed 12 plan from Pulse Power. This plan’s average bill is $111. Aside from a low $4.95 base fee, the plan’s pricing is otherwise a flat rate per kWh. This makes it a decent plan across all usage patterns. Additionally, Pulse Power maintains a 4-star rating on TER.
Sign Up For Cheap Electricity Today
These are just four of the dozens of plans available to Houston electricity customers through https://www.texaselectricityratings.com. Use the tools here to find a plan that meets your electricity needs. Then, sign up for your chosen plan to begin saving right away.