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

Free nights and weekends plans give you zero-cost electricity during specified hours—usually evenings, overnight, and weekends. The catch? Higher rates during peak hours.

Plan structures:

The "free" electricity isn't technically free. Providers build the cost into your peak-hour rate:
- Use 20¢/kWh power all day → you're overpaying
- Shift 50%+ of usage to free hours → you come out ahead

The arbitrage: Can you use more power when it's free than when it costs 18-22¢/kWh? For night owls and shift workers, the answer is often yes.

Here's what the advertisements don't emphasize: TDU delivery charges still apply during "free" hours.

Your Transmission and Distribution Utility charges about 5-6¢/kWh for delivery regardless of when you use power. That charge doesn't go away during free hours.

So "free nights" really means "5-6¢ nights" after TDU charges. Still a good deal compared to 18-20¢ peak rates, but not actually free.

Example calculation (1,000 kWh monthly, 60% shifted to free hours):

Compare to flat 12¢/kWh plan: $120 total

The free nights plan saves about $7/month—only if you shift enough usage.

Several Texas providers offer free-time plans. Here are the notable options:

TXU Energy Free Nights & Solar Days:
Free electricity from 9pm-6am daily. Higher daytime rates. Includes solar credits during peak solar hours. One of the original free nights offerings in Texas.

Reliant Truly Free Nights 100% Solar:
Free from 8pm-6am with 100% renewable energy. Premium pricing but appeals to eco-conscious night owls.

Champion Energy Free Weekends:
Free electricity all weekend (Friday 6pm through Monday 6am). Better for families who are home on weekends versus working night shifts.

Gexa Energy Free 3-Day Weekends:
Extended weekend free period. Good option if your household is busiest Friday evening through Sunday.

Rates and terms change frequently. Check current offerings on [Power to Choose filtered by "Free Nights" or "Free Weekends."

Free nights plans aren't for everyone. They work best for specific lifestyles:

Night Shift Workers: If you're home during the day sleeping and active at night, you naturally use more power during free hours.

EV Owners: Electric vehicles take significant power to charge. Set your EV to charge overnight during free hours and you're essentially fueling your car for just TDU delivery costs.

Pool Owners: Pool pumps run several hours daily. Program your pump to run overnight (free) instead of afternoon (peak rate). Easy savings.

These plans can cost you more if your usage pattern doesn't match:

Work-From-Home Professionals: If you're home running a computer, AC, and appliances all day, you're using peak-rate power constantly. A flat-rate plan is almost certainly cheaper.

Heavy AC Users in Summer: Texas AC runs hardest during hot afternoons—exactly when peak rates apply. Unless you're willing to precool your home at night and let it warm during the day, summer bills can spike dramatically.

Low-Usage Households: If you only use 500-700 kWh monthly, you don't have enough usage volume to shift meaningfully. A simple low-rate fixed plan is better.

Before signing up, do the math for your household:

Step 1: Get Your Usage Data
Register at SmartMeterTexas.com. Download your 15-minute interval data for the past month. You'll see exactly when you use power.

Step 2: Calculate Your Usage Split
Add up kWh used during free hours (e.g., 8pm-6am). Divide by total usage. If 50%+ falls in free hours, these plans might help.

Step 3: Model Both Scenarios

Free nights plan calculation:
- Free hours kWh × TDU rate (~5.5¢)
- Peak hours kWh × peak rate (~20¢)
- Add monthly fees if any

Flat-rate alternative:
- Total kWh × flat rate (e.g., 11¢)
- Add monthly fees if any

Step 4: Add a Cushion
Peak rates can change. Usage patterns shift seasonally. Build in 10-15% cushion before committing.

If you decide a free nights plan fits your lifestyle, maximize your savings:

Quick wins for free-hour optimization:

Shift Discretionary Usage: Run dishwasher, laundry, and dryer during free hours. Use delay-start features.

Pre-Cool Your Home: Lower thermostat during free hours (morning before peak starts) so your house is cold heading into the hot afternoon.

Use Smart Home Automation: Smart thermostats, smart plugs, and programmable timers automate the shift without constant manual management.

Monitor Your Bills Closely: Your first two months will show whether the plan actually saves money. If peak-hour usage is higher than expected, switch to a flat-rate plan before you're locked in.