How to Read Your Electricity Bill

How To Start and Stop Texas Electricity Service

Starting and Stopping Service:

Texas has regulated and deregulated areas. If you live in a deregulated area, you have the power to choose your electricity provider. Electricity retailers handle Starts (move-ins), Stops (move-outs) and transfers of service. In regulated areas - San Antonio and Austin - you contact your local utility company, ire.. Austin Energy or CPS (in San Antonio)

How To Transfer Electricity Service?

If you have established service and are moving within a city or within the deregulated area of Texas, (example: Dallas to Houston) our existing retail provider can handle your transfer.

Contracts:

If you are in the middle of a contract, and you are moving within the deregulated footprint in Texas, your retailer will transfer your contract to your new address.

If you are moving out of a retail service area, (Example: Houston to Austin) you may need to pay an early termination fee (ETF). ETFs are spelled out in your Electricity Facts Label (EFL)

How To Switch Electricity Service?

Switching Service in Texas is easy

  1. Understand your usage: Before you start shopping, it's essential to know how much electricity you use. You can find this information on your previous electricity bill. Knowing your usage will help you compare plans and find the best rate for your needs. Here are some rules of thumb for estimating your usage:
      1. Small house or apartment 500-1000 sq ft = 500 kWh /month
      2. Medium home 1000-3000 sq ft = 1500 kWh / month
      3. Large home - 3000 Sq Ft or Larger = 2000 kWh/ month
  2. Know your credit score and some rules of thumb for deposits.
  3. Compare electricity plans and sign up: We've made it easy and recommend th best plans, providers and rates.

By following these tips, you can find the best electricity plan for your needs and budget.

 

Texas Electricity Deposits

Credit Scores and Estimated Deposits

Texas electricity companies adjust their credit requirements based on multiple factors. A credit score with one of the major credit score companies (Experian, Equifax or Transunion) is required. If you have no score, i.e. student, recent immigrant, etc. You will have to pay the maximum despot amount. The following are estimates:

  1. 650-850 Credit score = No Deposit
  2. 550-650: = $100-200 Despot
  3. 350-550: = $200+ Despot

Your electricity provider will run a soft credit check and will require your Social Security Number. This is all sent via SSL encryption to the provider. The provider will respond with an accepted order or will decline your request. The state of Texas PUC provides rules on the maximum deposits allowed and requires that deposits are paid back to customers with interest.

Top responses for rejected requests:

  1. Customer's credit is locked
  2. Existing customer

Texas Electricity Companies must waive your deposit if you meet one of these four criteria.

  1. Meet minimum credit threshold when they run a credit check.
  2. Can provide a letter of credit from your current electricity company showing not more than 1 late payment in the prior 12 months.
  3. Are over 65 and can provide a copy of your ID and your most recent electricity bill with no past due balance.
  4. Are a victim of family violence and can provide a certified letter for victim of family violence.

 

No Deposit Electricity Plans

If you don’t pass a credit check, can’t pay a deposit and don’t qualify for a deposit waiver, check out prepaid electricity:

With prepaid electricity, there are no deposits or credit checks. You make an upfront payment as low as $75. You’ll receive text alerts on your daily account balance, and can add money as needed when your balance gets low.

What is a Switch Hold?

A "Switch Hold" prevents a customer from avoiding bill payments, by switching service providers, until the customer's obligation has been met. A retailer will request that the local utility company place a "Switch Hold" on the account. In other words, the account cannot be switched to another customer until the previous bill is paid or payment terms are worked out. (Learn more here)

How To Renew a Contract

If you are happy with the service and your current rate - the best thing to do is renew with your current provider. They will send you emails 45 days prior to your contract end with renewal offers. If the offer is good or better than what you can find We recommend that you renew it with them.

We'll shop the market an alert you if we find a better deal. That's our job.

How To Cancel Service

If you need to cancel service. Examples include: moving, combining households, up sizing, downsizing, life events etc. The thing to be aware of is your contract terms as spelled out in your EFL (Electricity Fates Label). Cancellation fees vary from flat amounts like $150. to per-month fees of (example) $20 per remaining month of the term

How To Reconnect Service after Non-payment

Everyone gets their power turned off for non-payment. It's inevitable. We forget to update payments, credit cards expire, emails go into spam. We get busy. If your power has been disconnected for non-payment. It's best to call your retailer and pay your bill. Everything in the Texas market runs in 15 minutes to 1 hour increments, so your power can be back on in an hour at the least or 4 hours at the max. There will be a reconnection fee.

How to Report an Outage

If your power has gone out due to a storm, accident or other reason you should contact your local utility company (the "Poles and Wires" guys) here are your resources:

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