SaveOnEnergy or SaveOnEnergy.com is one of many price Texas comparison websites that promises to help people switch energy suppliers. In the deregulated energy market of Texas, there are more than 140 electricity companies competing for your business, which encourages freedom of choice. The flip side is that it can be challenging to sift through what amount to thousands of products.
That’s where SaveOnEnergy — and other price comparison websites — step in. SaveOnEnergy’s website states that it has more than one million customers in the Lone Star state, making it Texas’s largest energy marketplace. The company’s website claims it will also find you the best electric rates in the state.
When looking at different energy companies, it also makes sense to compare the comparison websites. This unbiased guide will explain how the SaveOnEnergy.com website works, and how you might use it in your decision-making.
SaveOnEnergy.com — What Does It Do in Texas?
SaveOnEnergy.com is a fully-registered energy broker approved to operate in Texas by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). SaveOnEnergy’s primary function is to act as an intermediary between electric companies (the sellers) and people and businesses (the consumers). The company advertises electricity rates from different energy companies so people can sign up for them via its website.
Where Is SaveOnEnergy.com Headquartered?
SaveOnEnergy is headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina. It has been offering energy services in Texas for two decades, since 2003.
Does the SaveOnEnergy Website Only Operate in Texas?
SaveOnEnergy.com advertises energy plans in many towns, cities, and counties across Texas. These include Waco, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Plano. The company can only offer electric plans in deregulated areas, about 85% of the state. Input your ZIP code into the site’s plan search tool to see if your location qualifies.
Deregulation is the watchword for where SaveOnEnergy operates, albeit Texas is the main focus of its work. Its website states the company offers services in deregulated markets across the United States. We’ll focus on Texas because that’s our home, too.
What Types of Energy Services Does SaveOnEnergy.com Offer?
SaveOnEnergy operates in Texas and advertises electricity rates in deregulated market areas. But is that all? No, the website isn’t just an online energy marketplace. Browsers can also find:
- Price comparison search tools
- Energy-related articles from gas leak advice to information about appliances and renewable energy
- Press releases
- State-by-state electricity rate comparisons across the United States
- Highlighted electricity deals
- Energy market trends like rising energy prices
- Specific energy products for selected cities
- Energy usage calculation tool for houses
- Contact information for Texas utilities
- Information about various Texas energy firms
SaveOnEnergy.com is also a helpful place for anyone interested in solar panels. There is an online search tool to help people compare solar panel providers in their area, plus many articles about solar power. Subjects include solar panels for camper vans to how solar cells function.
Does SaveOnEnergy.com Offer Electricity Rates to Businesses?
Yes, the site asks business owners to contact a business energy expert who can provide a custom electricity package.
Is SaveOnEnergy.Com Free to Use?
Yes, the website is free to use for residential and business customers.
How Does the Website Make Money?
SaveOnEnergy.com is an energy broker. That means it doesn’t sell or generate energy directly. Instead, it is an intermediary, connecting customers with energy companies. If someone likes what they see, they can click through or ask for more information about that product.
These referrals and a few other methods help SaveOnEnergy.com earn money. The company is upfront about its income sources.
Like many websites, advertisers pay to promote their business on the SaveOnEnergy.com website. People clicking on certain links also earn the company money, along with requesting quotes, calling for information, or signing up for an electric deal.
Despite money being earned from energy companies and advertisers, SaveOnEnergy says its editorial content is independent and objective and not influenced by any of its advertisers.
What You Need to Know When Switching Energy Suppliers
“Knowledge is power when it comes to switching energy suppliers. You need an understanding of basic jargon and how the Texas energy market works.
The first thing to remember when looking for a new electricity deal is that there is no such thing as a “best deal.” Everyone’s energy needs are as unique as their lifestyles. Avoid “best deals” until you understand what products offer the “best fit” for your lifestyle, budget, energy usage, and future plans.
The second thing to remember is that while price comparison websites are useful information sources, they are not the end-all, be-all. Make sure you look at several websites to get a feel for the market and how the competition works. Take time to look at energy company websites, too.
It’s essential to remember that most price comparison websites show some energy plans, but not all of them.
How Do I Find the Best Electric Plan in Texas?
Finding the best electric plan in Texas requires some time, thought, and a little bit of homework. The energy market is an ever-changing one.
Still, we all need and use energy. While it may not be the most exciting subject to study, understanding the basics gives you the best chance of matching your energy needs with a suitable contract.
Always remember that signing a contract may keep you tied to those rates for several years, and switching suppliers may cost many hundreds of dollars. Here are the fundamentals to understand before searching for a new deal.
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Understanding Your Electric Bill in Texas
Here’s a quick list of what to understand before switching suppliers for your electric power.
Kilowatt-hours(kWh): Electric companies advertise prices in kilowatt-hours (kWh), so it’s essential to know your current (kWh) price and monthly usage. Check your recent bills or call your current supplier to make sure you have accurate information.
Fixed-rate offers: These are the most common deals, and people pay the same kWh price throughout the contract, which is perfect for controlling your energy bills. Look out for termination fees, deposits, and credit checks if you want to leave the contract early.
Variable-rate deals: The kWh rates for these contracts go up and down with market conditions; you could save money or pay more. Variable-rate deals often have no deposit, credit check, or cancelation fees and offer more flexibility.
Contract length: Most plans run from a month up to five years.
Cancelation fees: Also called early termination fees, people who end a contract early usually have to pay a cancelation fee. This may run into several hundred dollars.
Time-of-use (TOU): These deals often sound too good to be true, with free electricity on weekends or evenings. Ensure you read the conditions and fulfill them; otherwise, you risk paying more for your energy usage.
Minimum usage: Great care should be taken with these products unless you understand your electricity use. In essence, significant electricity users get lower kWh prices. The catch? You’ll pay a lot more per kWh if you don’t hit the minimum usage every month.
Answer These Questions Before Switching Energy Suppliers
Once you understand the basic jargon of electricity plans, you also need to ask yourself a few questions to know how any potential energy switch will work for you.
- When do you use electricity? Free nights may be great for those who charge an electric vehicle overnight but not so much for the stay-at-home worker addicted to daytime air conditioning.
- What’s your energy usage? Most energy plans offer kWh prices based on a monthly usage of 500, 1,000, or 2,000 kWh. Know which one best describes your use and look for those.
- What are your long-term plans? A five-year deal may not be best if you’re leaving town in a few months.
- What types of appliances do you use most? Are you getting an electric vehicle or another energy-hungry machine soon? Make sure to factor that in when considering energy plans.
- How important is renewable energy to you? Decide if you’re prepared for the possible higher prices of clean energy and if renewable energy is a priority for you.
What Energy Plans and Electricity Rates Does SaveOnEnergy.com Offer?
Congratulations on completing the homework — you’re ready to start browsing the SaveOnEnergy website with confidence and compare apples to apples.
Kickstart the process by putting your ZIP code into the site’s electric plan search tool and see if you live in a deregulated area.
Note: Local utilities appoint electric suppliers to people who live in regulated energy areas.
Successful searches will highlight three recommended products. There’s a filter on the left-hand side, so make sure you use it to adjust the following parameters:
- Energy usage
- Renewable energy plans
- Time-of-use offer inclusion
- Credit required or not
Electric providers shown
- Company customer rating
- Contract length
- Variable or fixed-rate deals
You can also shop in different ways — list the products from high to low based on their ratings, energy providers in alphabetical order, contract length, and recommended energy plans. The website also has a dedicated section on no-deposit electricity in Texas.
Does SaveOnEnergy.com Show Every Texas Electric Plan?
Texas has more than 140 retail electric providers, which makes it challenging for anyone to sort through all those offerings.
SaveOnEnergy’s site only shows some of the available deals from Texas energy companies. It highlights 12 partner companies, which it has assessed for “trustworthiness and transparency in pricing to bring you straightforward plans and the best electricity rates.”
The website also lists 70+ non-partnered electric companies. While the site shows many Texas electric plans, it doesn’t show all of them — for example, Tara Energy does not appear on the website.
What’s the Point of Price Comparison Websites?
Price comparison websites are a starting point for your search for a new energy plan, which is why we recommend using several before making a decision.
Remember to contact your current energy company for a new deal, ask friends and family for recommendations, and check different energy company websites.
We also suggest looking at the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) website, PowertoChoose.org. This independent site can help you learn the ropes of looking for energy deals without preferred partners and other biased content.
Pro tip: Our Power to Choose guide will show you how to look for energy deals across Texas.
Can I Sign Up for Energy Deals With SaveOnEnergy.com?
The SaveOnEnergy website allows you to sign up for an energy deal through its pages. You’ll need to provide personal details, dates, and if you want your information in English or Spanish. Some firms will ask for your Social Security number for a soft credit check.
Remember that you are not signing a contract with SaveOnEnergy.com — it is the portal to an energy company. SaveOnEnergy will send your information to your chosen energy company. From there, your energy needs are dealt with by that company, not SaveOnEnergy.
Do I Pay SaveOnEnergy.com for My Electricity?
No, once your electricity flows, all your dealings, like payments and bills, are direct with your energy company. You won’t ever pay SaveOnEnergy.com for your energy bill.
How Do I Contact SaveOnEnergy.Com?
SaveOnEnergy.com has customer service hours from 7am to 9pm (CST) from Monday to Friday and is also available on Saturdays from 8am to 5pm. Workers can receive calls (833-210-8636) or emails (powercustomerservice@redventures.com) to help with your inquiry. The company also has Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Do I Contact SaveOnEnergy.com During Power Outages?
Power outages can happen anytime, but SaveOnEnergy can’t restore power after a blackout.
Texas utility companies, also known as Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs), are responsible for power restoration. TDUs maintain the Texas power grid. Here are the biggest utilities in the Lone Star state:
- TNMP: Lewisville, Pilot Point, Leonard, and Glen Rose
- Oncor: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington
- AEP Texas: Abilene and Corpus Christi
- CenterPoint Energy: Houston
Who Owns SaveOnEnergy.com?
SaveOnEnergy is owned by Red Ventures, who bought the company in 2012.
Both SaveOnEnergy and Red Ventures are headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
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SaveOnEnergy: Switching Suppliers in Texas
SaveOnEnergy.com is one of many companies that can help you switch energy suppliers in Texas.
It claims to be the largest energy marketplace. Its website makes it an attractive place to start any search for a new energy supplier. SaveOnEnergy.com also offers information about energy savings, solar panels, and the energy companies whose products it advertises.
This price comparison website shows many but not all electric deals available to Texans and showcases products from partner companies. That means consumers might miss out on the package that best suits them.
If you’re thinking about switching power suppliers, we recommend using more than just one website when drawing up a list of possible new energy plans.
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