No matter where you live, you need to know your options for energy suppliers, but in Texas — where everything’s bigger — your options for Texas energy suppliers are greater than most other states.
We’ll explain why there are so many Texas energy providers, what the differences between these electric companies are, and everything you need to know to make an informed choice about how you get your Texas electricity.
Why Are There So Many Texas Energy Providers?
Texas is one of a number of states with a deregulated energy market, which means that customers have choices for where they get their electricity.
In most markets in most states, customers have only one option for their energy: their local utility. However, in the Lone Star State’s deregulated energy market, most Texas residents have many different electricity providers competing for their business.
This is a fundamentally different approach to supplying electricity, and it means that there are many more Texas energy providers than you’d find in other states.
How Many Energy Providers Are There in Texas?
So how many Texas energy suppliers are there, really? According to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), there are nearly 140 Retail Electricity Providers (often abbreviated as REPs) serving customers in the Lone Star State.
That exact number can fluctuate over time, but the bottom line is that Texas customers have dozens upon dozens of Texas energy suppliers operating in their state.
It’s important to note that these different REPs all have different service areas within the Lone Star state. Homes or businesses in the state of Texas can only choose from retail electricity providers that operate in their area. So while customers won’t have 100 options for their power, most Texans will have many REPs to choose from.
What Are the Different Energy Providers in Texas?
There are too many Texas electric companies to name them all, but we can go through 20 of the names you‘re likely to see as you look around for energy companies.
In no particular order, here are 17 Texas energy providers: TXU Energy, Gexa Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Oncor, Reliant Energy, Trieagle Energy, Direct Energy, Discount Power, Express Energy, First Choice Power, Frontier Utilities, Just Energy, Lone Star Energy, NRG, Pulse Power, Cirro Energy, and Payless Power.
It‘s worth mentioning three more energy companies separately from the larger group above, because these three stand out for their energy plans, competitive energy rates, and top-shelf electricity service:
Tara Energy, Just Energy, and Amigo Energy are all highly respected, reliable, and well-reviewed Texas electricity providers. If you’re a Texas resident and you’re out there shopping for electricity, keep an eye out for Tara Energy, Just Energy, and Amigo Energy. If you happen to live in one of their service areas then, well, you’re in luck.
Your Power, Connected Fast
Call before 12pm CST on move-in day and your power will be flowing same-day.
What Are the Differences Between Texas Energy Providers?
source
Now that we know why there are many Texas energy suppliers, it’s important to understand how to choose between these different electric companies. Let’s do a Texas energy comparison by breaking differences down into three areas:
Electricity Plans
Thanks to deregulation, these different Texas energy suppliers have to compete with one another for customers’ business. Energy plans are one of the most visible ways Texas energy providers can stand out from one another, and there are a lot of interesting and innovative electricity plans out there.
Let’s briefly run through some of the different electricity plans you’re likely to come across:
Variable Rate Plans
Variable rate plans tie the price you pay per kilowatt-hour of energy you use to market conditions. During times of high demand or low supply, your electricity rate will be higher. Conversely, at times of low demand or high supply, that electricity rate can come at quite the discount.
This means that, during the course of your contract, your monthly electric bill will fluctuate up and down. There’s some risk inherent to these kinds of plans, which is important to keep in mind if you select a variable rate plan.
Fixed Rate Plans
If you’re more risk averse, then fixed rate plans will be a better choice for your Texas electricity. Fixed rate plans offer a single rate per kilowatt-hour for the duration of your contract, regardless of market conditions.
Under fixed rate plans, monthly electric bills are easier to forecast, as they depend solely on the energy usage of your home or business.
Indexed Rate Plans
Indexed rate plans tie the rate you pay per kilowatt-hour to a market index of a specific commodity, like natural gas.
Indexed rate plans require the most amount of research on the part of the customer, and as with variable rate plans, indexed rate plans are also subject to market fluctuations. This means that your monthly electric bill is also capable of rising or falling.
Free Nights and/or Free Weekends
Some Texas energy suppliers provide plans that won’t charge you for energy consumed at specific times. Free nights plans won’t charge you for energy services after a certain time of day, and free weekends plans will exempt you from electricity charges over the weekend.
Renewable Energy Plans
Certain Texas energy providers offer customers the ability to pay a surcharge on their monthly electric bills to receive green or renewable energy. If renewable energy is important to you, look for Texas service providers that offer green plans. Tara Energy and Just Energy both offer renewable energy plans.
Electricity Rates
The differences between Texas energy providers is easier to see when it comes to electricity rates. Depending on both the Texas energy supplier and the service area (whether you live in Houston, Austin, Dallas, etc.), you’ll likely be able to choose between different energy rates.
Electricity Provider Reputation
The final thing that separates Texas energy providers from one another is their reputation. This is earned through years of reliable electricity service, competitive energy rates, minimal outages, and excellent customer service.
There are a number of ways to gauge the reputation of the Texas energy suppliers in your service area. You can read online reviews, or talk to friends or neighbors, or pay attention to local news sources.
We’ve already talked about three Texas energy suppliers that stand out from the pack: Tara Energy, Just Energy, and Amigo Energy all have years of experience as top-notch Texas service providers.
How Do I Choose an Energy Provider in Texas?
source
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to learn the mechanics of how you’ll actually be able to perform a Texas energy comparison.
Thankfully, this process is simple: all you need to do is navigate to the website PowertoChoose.org and enter in your zip code. This website is run by the PUTC, and it gives an unbiased comparison of energy providers in your service area.
After you enter your zip code into the website, you’ll be provided with a list of the different energy plans, energy rates, and energy companies available to your home or business. From here, you’ll be able to make an informed choice on your next Texas energy supplier.
If you’d like to learn more about how to get the most out of the PowertoChoose.org website, check out our comprehensive guide here.
How Do I Know Which Texas Energy Provider Supplies My Electricity?
If you’re unsure which Texas energy supplier is providing your home or business with electricity, then you’ll need to check your monthly electric bill. This electric bill will have the name of your Texas energy provider, and will also provide you with contact information, should you have further questions for your electricity company.
Tara Moves With You
Moving? Take your Tara Energy services with you at no additional cost.
Who Is the Best Energy Provider in Texas?
There are many Texas energy providers, so it’s difficult to say definitively which Texas energy company is the best. Because each has a different service area, the best energy provider available will differ among Texans.
That said, Tara Energy has more than two decades of experience providing its customers with reliable and high-quality electricity service, in addition to diligent and responsive customer service. If you’re in a Tara Energy service area, try talking to a nearby friend or neighbor to see how they’re enjoying Tara Energy as a Texas energy provider.
Make Your Texas Energy Comparison
We’ve walked through all of the answers to the top questions people have about Texas energy suppliers. With those answers at hand, you’re ready to make your own Texas energy comparison, and choose the provider that’s the perfect fit for your home or business.
You know how to compare different electricity plans, from fixed rate to variable rate and from free nights to free weekends. You also know how to compare electricity rates, and how to research the reputation of the Texas energy suppliers in your service area.
You know the names of many of the different Texas energy providers, and you’ve heard what sets some of these companies — like Tara Energy, for example — apart from the rest of the pack.
Finally, you know how to use the website PowertoChoose.org in order to conduct a Texas energy comparison. And that may be the biggest benefit of deregulation in the Lone Star state: You get to make that choice for yourself.
Tara Energy offers a variety of convenient electricity plans and competitive energy rates, including flexible contracts. Tara Energy also partners with nonprofits across the state of Texas to support communities. Learn more about how you can take control of your electricity bills with Tara Energy.
Brought to you by taranergy.com
All images licensed from Adobe Stock.
Featured image
