Energy guides and electricity savings resources - ElectricRates.org blog
71 guides

Texas Energy

Your complete guide to the Texas deregulated electricity market. PUCT licenses 100+ REPs serving Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and TNMP territories. Texas residential rate: 14.0¢/kWh (EIA 2026). Compare rates and switch instantly on ElectricRates.org.

TDU Delivery Charge Texas: Rates by Utility (2026)
Texas Energy

TDU Delivery Charge Texas: Rates by Utility (2026)

Every Texas electricity bill includes a TDU delivery charge that no REP can waive or discount. Understanding how Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and TNMP fees differ is the first step to reading your bill accurately and shopping smarter.

Jul 108 min
Best Month to Lock an Electricity Rate in Texas
Texas Energy

Best Month to Lock an Electricity Rate in Texas

The month you sign a fixed-rate electricity plan in Texas matters more than most people realize. Wholesale power prices shift with the seasons, and REPs price their plans accordingly, so locking in during a low-demand window can mean paying less per kWh for the entire term.

Jul 98 min
Texas Summer 2026 Electricity Rate Forecast
Texas Energy

Texas Summer 2026 Electricity Rate Forecast

Texas summer 2026 electricity rates are running from roughly 7.2 cents to 16.5 cents per kWh (all-in, Oncor/Dallas at 1,000 kWh as of July 2026), with wholesale scarcity events capable of pushing month-to-month variable plans far higher during peak heat. Shoppers who understand how ERCOT price spikes flow through to retail bills, and who lock in a fixed-rate plan before demand peaks, are the ones who avoid the worst surprises.

Jul 98 min
Free Nights & Weekends Plan Math: Texas
Texas Energy

Free Nights & Weekends Plan Math: Texas

Free nights and free weekend electricity plans look like a deal, but the math only works if your household uses enough power during the free window. Here is exactly how to run the numbers before you sign.

Jul 98 min
Tiered Rate Plans: Texas Electricity Explained
Texas Energy

Tiered Rate Plans: Texas Electricity Explained

Many Texas electricity plans charge one rate for the first 500 kWh you use and a completely different rate above that threshold. Understanding how tiered pricing works, and reading the Electricity Facts Label carefully, can mean the difference between a plan that saves money and one that quietly costs more.

Jul 87 min
Minimum Usage Fee Texas Electricity: What to Know
Texas Energy

Minimum Usage Fee Texas Electricity: What to Know

Dozens of Texas electricity plans include a minimum usage fee that kicks in when your monthly consumption falls below a set threshold, often 500 or 1,000 kWh. That fee can quietly double your effective rate on low-usage months. Knowing where to look on the Electricity Facts Label before you sign is the fastest way to avoid it.

Jul 88 min
How to Read an EFL in Texas: Line by Line
Texas Energy

How to Read an EFL in Texas: Line by Line

The Electricity Facts Label is the one document that tells you what a Texas electricity plan actually costs, but most shoppers skip past the fine print. Read it line by line and you'll catch minimum usage fees, bill credits, and tiered pricing before they show up on your bill.

Jul 88 min
What Rate Actually Bills Texas Electricity
Texas Energy

What Rate Actually Bills Texas Electricity

The rate on a Texas electricity ad and the rate that shows up on your bill are often two different numbers. Understanding how kWh-tier pricing, base charges, and TDU delivery fees combine on the Electricity Facts Label is the only way to know what you will actually pay.

Jul 79 min
Austin Energy Rates 2026: What Austin Residents Pay
Texas Energy

Austin Energy Rates 2026: What Austin Residents Pay

Austin Energy operates as a municipally owned utility, meaning Austin residents cannot shop for a different electricity provider the way most Texans can. Understanding Austin Energy's tiered rate structure, summer surcharges, and how it stacks up against competitive options just outside city limits can save households real money.

Jul 79 min
Dallas Electricity Rates 2026: What to Pay Per kWh
Texas Energy

Dallas Electricity Rates 2026: What to Pay Per kWh

As of July 2026, Dallas-area shoppers on the Oncor grid can find all-in rates as low as 7.3 cents per kWh, yet the median plan sits at 16.6 cents, a gap wide enough to matter on every monthly bill. The difference usually comes down to whether you've compared plans recently, and whether you understand how Oncor's delivery charge shapes the number on your EFL.

Jul 77 min
Texas Electricity Rates July 2026
Texas Energy

Texas Electricity Rates July 2026

As of July 2026, the lowest all-in advertised Texas electricity rate sits around 7.3 cents per kWh, while the median lands near 16.6 cents, meaning shoppers who stay on an old plan could be paying more than double what the market offers. Rates vary by TDU territory and usage tier, so the number on your neighbor's bill may not match yours. Here is what is moving the market this month and how to cut through the noise.

Jul 68 min
Houston Electricity Rates 2026: What to Pay
Texas Energy

Houston Electricity Rates 2026: What to Pay

Houston shoppers face a wide spread in electricity rates in 2026, from about 7.3 cents per kWh at the low end to a median of 16.6 cents, and the CenterPoint delivery charge is baked into every plan whether you realize it or not. Knowing how that charge works, and how to read an Electricity Facts Label, is the difference between landing a genuinely good deal and paying more than your neighbor for identical power. Here is what the market looks like right now and how to cut through the noise.

Jul 68 min
Texas Electricity Choice Guide: ERCOT Deregulation Explained
Texas Energy

Texas Electricity Choice Guide: ERCOT Deregulation Explained

Texas deregulated electricity in 2002 under Senate Bill 7. Today, 140+ providers like TXU, Reliant, and Gexa compete in the ERCOT market. Compare rates on Power to Choose or ElectricRates.org to save 20-40% on your electric bill.

Dec 318 min
How to Read a Texas EFL: Complete Guide (2026)
Texas Energy

How to Read a Texas EFL: Complete Guide (2026)

The Electricity Facts Label looks like alphabet soup the first time you see it. But this one-page document holds everything you need to avoid overpaying for electricity in Texas. Here's how to read it like a pro.

Jan 2614 min
Texas Electricity: 500 vs 1000 vs 2000 kWh Rates Compared
Texas Energy

Texas Electricity: 500 vs 1000 vs 2000 kWh Rates Compared

Power to Choose shows three rates for every plan. Most Texans pick based on the 1,000 kWh rate. But if you use 600 kWh, you might pay 40% more than advertised. Here's how to find your number and stop overpaying.

Jan 2613 min
Why Is My Texas Electric Bill So High? Troubleshooting 2026
Texas Energy

Why Is My Texas Electric Bill So High? Troubleshooting 2026

Texas electric bills average $177/month but spike to $300+ in summer. The 8 most common causes: wrong rate plan, AC overuse, TDU charges (Oncor, CenterPoint), poor insulation, phantom loads, peak pricing, and billing errors. Compare rates on ElectricRates.org to fix the #1 cause.

Dec 317 min
Texas Switch Hold: How to Remove It & Get Power Connected
Texas Energy

Texas Switch Hold: How to Remove It & Get Power Connected

A switch hold blocks new Texas electric service due to unpaid bills with a previous provider. To remove it: pay the balance, get a release letter, then enroll with TXU, Reliant, or another REP. Prepaid plans from Payless Power or Griddy bypass switch holds entirely.

Dec 317 min
Cheapest Texas Electricity Rates 2026: An Honest Guide
Texas Energy

Cheapest Texas Electricity Rates 2026: An Honest Guide

The cheapest Texas electricity rates run 7.2-7.8¢/kWh for energy charges. Budget leaders like BKV Energy, Companion, and Frontier frequently top PowerToChoose. No comparison site has every provider—here's how to find your true cheapest rate.

Dec 317 min
Free Nights & Weekends Texas Plans: Are They Worth It 2026
Texas Energy

Free Nights & Weekends Texas Plans: Are They Worth It 2026

Free nights and weekends plans promise zero-cost electricity during off-peak hours, but the math often doesn't work. With 65% of usage happening during daytime, most households pay MORE on free nights plans. See real bill comparisons and find out who actually saves.

Dec 317 min
No Deposit Electricity in Texas: PUCT Rules & Options 2026
Texas Energy

No Deposit Electricity in Texas: PUCT Rules & Options 2026

Texas law (PUCT Rule 25.24) requires deposit waivers for seniors 65+, customers with good payment history, and family violence victims. Plus prepaid options for those who can't qualify. Learn the legal ways to avoid deposits.

Dec 317 min
Texas Electricity Facts Label: How to Read EFL Guide 2026
Texas Energy

Texas Electricity Facts Label: How to Read EFL Guide 2026

The Texas Electricity Facts Label (EFL) shows rates at 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh—required by PUC rules. Look for: energy charges, TDU delivery fees (Oncor, CenterPoint), usage credits, and contract terms. Plans advertising 9¢ may cost 14¢ at low usage. Always read the EFL before enrolling.

Dec 318 min
Understanding ERCOT: Texas Power Grid & Deregulation Guide
Texas Energy

Understanding ERCOT: Texas Power Grid & Deregulation Guide

ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) manages 90% of Texas power for 26 million customers on an independent grid separate from the US Eastern and Western grids. Energy mix: 52% natural gas, 30%+ wind/solar. ERCOT enables electricity choice—compare providers on ElectricRates.org.

Dec 3110 min
Smart Meter Texas: Access Your Usage Data & Save on Bills
Texas Energy

Smart Meter Texas: Access Your Usage Data & Save on Bills

SmartMeterTexas.com provides free 15-minute interval usage data from your Oncor, CenterPoint, or AEP smart meter. Register with your ESID and meter number to access 13-month history. Use this data to evaluate free nights plans and compare rates at your actual usage on ElectricRates.org.

Dec 318 min
Shop Texas Electricity by Your Actual kWh Usage: Save More
Texas Energy

Shop Texas Electricity by Your Actual kWh Usage: Save More

Get your 12-month kWh history from SmartMeterTexas.com, then compare rates at your actual usage tier (500, 1000, or 2000 kWh). Power to Choose shows rates at 1000 kWh, but your real costs depend on your usage. ElectricRates.org calculates total costs including TDU delivery charges.

Dec 318 min

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