October 2018 Texas Electricity Rate Update

October 2018 Texas Electricity Rate Update

Texas electricity rates have ticked up slightly in October after falling in September following a summer spike in electricity rates. The average 12 month rate for new electricity plans available in Texas sets at 10.7¢/kWh. This is up slightly from the 10.6¢/kWh rate in September.

For the Houston area specifically, the average rate is currently 10.8¢/kWh, up slightly from 10.7¢/kWh. In the Oncor service area which includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, and other cities, the average went up to 9.9¢/kWh from 9.6¢/kWh.

For the second straight month however, there are deals to be found by opting for shorter length plans. The Fantastic Fixed 6 plan from Bounce Energy was already among the cheapest electricity plans available before getting an even lower rate in October. This 6 month plan is a priced at 8.7¢/kWh in Houston for the 2,000 kWh usage level.

The Gexa Energy Steady Saver 9 plan is a 9 month plan that is also cheaper than most currently available 12 month plans. It is available for 8.7¢/kWh in the Oncor deliver area.

The average rate available for apartments (500 kWh usage) across the state in October is 12.1¢/kWh with the best rate being the Bounce Energy Easy Fixed 3 plan in the Dallas area. For large homes (2000 kWh usage) the average across Texas is 9.9¢/kWh

Texas Electricity Rate Guide October 2018

Texas Location/Size	Average Rate	Lowest Rate	Cheapest Provider
Houston Apartment (500 kWh)	11.8¢/kWh	10.9¢/kWh	Gexa Energy
Houston Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.6¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Houston Lg Home (2000 kWh)	10.1¢/kWh	9.4¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Dallas Apartment (500 kWh)	10.8¢/kWh	10.0¢/kWh	Gexa Energy
Dallas Sm Home (1000 kWh)	9.6¢/kWh	9.0¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Dallas Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.3¢/kWh	8.2¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Lewisville Apartment (500 kWh)	12.7¢/kWh	12.3¢/kWh	Direct Energy
Lewisville Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.1¢/kWh	9.3¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Lewisville Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.7¢/kWh	9.0¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Victoria Apartment (500 kWh)	12.8¢/kWh	12.2¢/kWh	Trieagle
Victoria Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.8¢/kWh	9.9¢/kWh	4Change Energy
Victoria Lg Home (2000 kWh)	10.4¢/kWh	9.7¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Abilene Apartment (500 kWh)	12.1¢/kWh	11.4¢/kWh	Trieagle
Abilene Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.8¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Abilene Lg Home (2000 kWh)	10.2¢/kWh	9.9¢/kWh	4Change Energy

****IMPORTANT***

The rates listed here are a snapshot as of 10/8/2018. To see current rates in your city use our real time electricity rate comparison tool at the top of the page.

Rates listed in table are for 12 month plans. Rates will be different for longer or shorter duration plans.

Cheapest Electricity Rates

The cheapest electricity plan currently available in Texas is the Bounce Energy Easy Fixed 3. This is a 3 month plan. In Dallas this plan is priced at a rate of 8.2¢/kWh for the 1000 kWh usage level. This is compared to the cheapest 12 month plan available which is the Smart Value 12 Online plan offered by Cirro energy.

Interestingly, the Easy Fixed 3 is the lowest rate plan across all three of the standard usage levels – 500 kWh, 1000 kWh, and 2000 kWh. This is unusual as plans are normally crafted to target their best rate for the 1000 or 2000 kWh usage levels. This plan has no tiers or bill credits. Aside from the standard pass through charges that are included on all Texas electricity plans, the Easy Fixed 3 plan only includes an additional energy charge and a $4.95 per month base charge.

What is the cheapest electricity provider in my area?

Electricity rates very throughout the state of Texas. To find a complete list of electricity companies and plans in your area, enter your zip code above. When you find the plan that is right for you, you can enroll right here online or over the phone.

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September 2018 Texas Electricity Rates Update

Texas electricity rates are on their way down again. After a summer spike, electricity rates across Texas have fallen. Utility officials were concerned about having enough electricity to meet peak summer demand. This resulted in electricity providers increasing the rates on their fixed rate plans in anticipation of higher wholesale electricity prices.

Now that summer is over and the feared power shortages never materialized, Texas electricity rates are back down. Now is a great time to lock in a great rate if you are not under contract.

For example, Bounce Energy has a 6 month plan for just 8.4¢/kWh in the DFW area (9.2¢ in Houston area). If you have a larger home, Frontier has a plan targeted for the 2,000 kWh usage rate at just 7.3¢/kWh.

The average electricity rate for a 12 month plan at the 2000 kWh usage rate stands at 9.9¢/kWh for the Houston area. In the DFW area the average rate is 9.1¢/kWh. This is down from the peak average in August 2018. Certain shorter term electricity rate plans have lower rates.

Texas Electricity Rate Guide September 2018

Texas Location/Size	Average Rate	Lowest Rate	Cheapest Provider
Houston Apartment (500 kWh)	11.7¢/kWh	10.9¢/kWh	Gexa Energy
Houston Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.6¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Houston Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.9¢/kWh	8.5¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Dallas Apartment (500 kWh)	10.6¢/kWh	10.0¢/kWh	Gexa Energy
Dallas Sm Home (1000 kWh)	9.0¢/kWh	6.9¢/kWh	Pennywise Power
Dallas Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.1¢/kWh	7.3¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Lewisville Apartment (500 kWh)	12.4¢/kWh	12.1¢/kWh	Champion Energy
Lewisville Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.1¢/kWh	9.3¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Lewisville Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.5¢/kWh	8.1¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Victoria Apartment (500 kWh)	12.8¢/kWh	12.0¢/kWh	Trieagle Energy
Victoria Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.8¢/kWh	9.9¢/kWh	4Change Energy
Victoria Lg Home (2000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.1¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Abilene Apartment (500 kWh)	12.2¢/kWh	11.3¢/kWh	Trieagle Energy
Abilene Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.8¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Abilene Lg Home (2000 kWh)	10.0¢/kWh	9.7¢/kWh	Direct Energy

****IMPORTANT***

The rates listed here are a snapshot as of 9/14/2018. To see current rates in your city use our real time electricity rate comparison tool at the top of this page.

Rates listed in table are for 12 month plans. Rates will be different for longer or shorter duration plans.

Cheapest Electricity Rates

The lowest rate electricity plans currently include the Bounce Fantastic 6 Plan. This is a straightforward plan with a simple pricing structure that is unlikely to lead to surprises in your electric bill.

For smaller homes that use around 1,000 kWh per month, the Pennywise Power Wise Buy Conserve Plus 12 plan priced at a very attractive 6.9¢/kWh in the Oncor deliver area that includes Arlington, Grand Prairie and several other Texas cities.

For apartments that use around 500 kWh, the cheapest electricity rate going is the Fantastic Fixed 6 plan at 9.7¢/kWh

What is the cheapest electricity provider in my area?

Electricity rates very throughout the state of Texas. To find a complete list of electric companies and plans in your area, enter your zip code above. When you find the plan that is right for you, you can enroll right here online or over the phone.

How to Get Electricity With No Credit Check or Deposit Required

You can get a great electricity rate from Texas’s cheapest electricity supplier and the flexibility you need with a no credit check, no deposit electricity plan. You work hard for your money, so why would you want hundreds of dollars sitting where you can’t get to it? Starting or switching to a new electricity plan with no deposit has never been easier.

The Standard Electric Plan Start-Up

Before no credit check, no deposit electricity plans were popular, starting or switching to a new plan was a lengthy, often expensive process. You’d have to call or visit your prospective provider to fill out an application. They’d run a credit check and either refuse service or approve you with a deposit. Then you’d have to run to the bank or ATM, get cash, visit a payment station, get a reference number, call your prospective provider back, give them the number, hope they found your payment in your system, then finally, if nothing went wrong, you could schedule a connection date.

What Could Lead To A Deposit?

Without no deposit, no credit check electricity plans, your deposit would be assigned based on two factors, and could add up to hundreds of dollars. In determining your deposit, electric companies would look at your history of payments and your credit report. If there was a negative mark on either, such as if you’d lost a job or had an unexpected emergency that forced your payment to be late, then you had to pay before you even had service.

Electricity With No Deposit And No Credit Check

Our process is simple, and you can switch or start new service in your pajamas from the comfort of your own home. Find the right no-deposit plan on our website where you can compare plans side by side to find the cheapest electricity supplier for your needs, then let us know your choice. We’ll start the process of moving you to your new prepaid electricity plan.

Prepaid electricity puts you in control from the very start. Rather than paying a deposit then getting your electricity bill at the end of your billing cycle with no idea what will be on it, you’ll get started with no credit check, no deposit electricity service, just an initial payment for the electricity you’re going to use. Making your initial payment to fund your balance is easy and we’ll make sure you get switched over right away. Your service is paid from your prepaid balance, so there are no end-of month-surprises.

Why Texans Choose Prepaid Electricity

Many people find that plans that don’t require deposits or credit checks are the right way to get their electric service on their own terms. Some of the most popular reasons our customers have reported they choose and love prepaid electric plans.

No Credit Check – Many people don’t know that their credit report doesn’t just show loans and credit cards. It also shows anytime a credit report is requested, and the number of those requests or checks can lower your credit score. Too many requests can have a negative impact on credit decisions made when approving you for a mortgage, car loan, or even a job. This can lead to credit denials and higher interest rates. No deposit, no credit check electricity service protects your credit report, shielding it from unnecessary inquiries.
No Deposit – When you pay a deposit, do you know what happens to it? Rather than having access to that money to spend or invest, it’s given to another company that then uses it for their own expenses, investments, or to generate interest. Depending on their rules, you may get your money back after a specified amount of time, at the end of your service arrangement with them, or possibly not at all once they deduct fees and charges. No deposit, no credit check electricity keeps your money where it belongs: with you.
Flexible Payment Dates – Even with the cheapest electricity supplier in Texas, you may not want a single, large payment due every month. One of the prime benefits of prepaid electricity is that it puts you in control of your bills and finances. You have full access to your account to make payments and check the balance on your schedule, any time you want. You can match your payments to your paydays, to a specific date, or pay a little bit each week. The choice is yours with a flexible no credit check, no deposit prepaid electricity plan.
No Lengthy Contracts – With many electric plans, in order to get the advertised price, you have to sign a binding contract for a specified period of time, usually either 12, 24, or even 36 months! If you cancel, move out of state, or change plans before then, you could lose your deposit or be assessed a contractual penalty that is even larger than your deposit will cover. A prepaid electric plan lets you live your life without worrying about restrictive contracts. You get your low electricity price for however long you need service.

Take Control Of Your Plan

There’s nothing like getting the electric service you need on your terms. With flexible electricity plans, you can do just that. Compare electric plans from the cheapest electricity supplier in Texas side by side and save with a no credit check, no deposit electricity plan.

September 2018 Texas Electricity Rates Update

September 2018 Texas Electricity Rates Update

Texas electricity rates are on their way down again. After a summer spike, electricity rates across Texas have fallen. Utility officials were concerned about having enough electricity to meet peak summer demand. This resulted in electricity providers increasing the rates on their fixed rate plans in anticipation of higher wholesale electricity prices.

Now that summer is over and the feared power shortages never materialized, Texas electricity rates are back down. Now is a great time to lock in a great rate if you are not under contract.

For example, Bounce Energy has a 6 month plan for just 8.4¢/kWh in the DFW area (9.2¢ in Houston area). If you have a larger home, Frontier has a plan targeted for the 2,000 kWh usage rate at just 7.3¢/kWh.

The average electricity rate for a 12 month plan at the 2000 kWh usage rate stands at 9.9¢/kWh for the Houston area. In the DFW area the average rate is 9.1¢/kWh. This is down from the peak average in August 2018. Certain shorter term electricity rate plans have lower rates.

Texas Electricity Rate Guide September 2018

Texas Location/Size	Average Rate	Lowest Rate	Cheapest Provider
Houston Apartment (500 kWh)	11.7¢/kWh	10.9¢/kWh	Gexa Energy
Houston Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.6¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Houston Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.9¢/kWh	8.5¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Dallas Apartment (500 kWh)	10.6¢/kWh	10.0¢/kWh	Gexa Energy
Dallas Sm Home (1000 kWh)	9.0¢/kWh	6.9¢/kWh	Pennywise Power
Dallas Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.1¢/kWh	7.3¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Lewisville Apartment (500 kWh)	12.4¢/kWh	12.1¢/kWh	Champion Energy
Lewisville Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.1¢/kWh	9.3¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Lewisville Lg Home (2000 kWh)	9.5¢/kWh	8.1¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Victoria Apartment (500 kWh)	12.8¢/kWh	12.0¢/kWh	Trieagle Energy
Victoria Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.8¢/kWh	9.9¢/kWh	4Change Energy
Victoria Lg Home (2000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.1¢/kWh	Frontier Utilities
Abilene Apartment (500 kWh)	12.2¢/kWh	11.3¢/kWh	Trieagle Energy
Abilene Sm Home (1000 kWh)	10.3¢/kWh	9.8¢/kWh	Cirro Energy
Abilene Lg Home (2000 kWh)	10.0¢/kWh	9.7¢/kWh	Direct Energy

****IMPORTANT***

The rates listed here are a snapshot as of 9/14/2018. To see current rates in your city use our real time electricity rate comparison tool at the top of this page.

Rates listed in table are for 12 month plans. Rates will be different for longer or shorter duration plans.

Cheapest Electricity Rates

The lowest rate electricity plans currently include the Bounce Fantastic 6 Plan. This is a straightforward plan with a simple pricing structure that is unlikely to lead to surprises in your electric bill.

For smaller homes that use around 1,000 kWh per month, the Pennywise Power Wise Buy Conserve Plus 12 plan priced at a very attractive 6.9¢/kWh in the Oncor deliver area that includes Arlington, Grand Prairie and several other Texas cities.

For apartments that use around 500 kWh, the cheapest electricity rate going is the Fantastic Fixed 6 plan at 9.7¢/kWh

What is the cheapest electricity provider in my area?

Electricity rates very throughout the state of Texas. To find a complete list of electric companies and plans in your area, enter your zip code above. When you find the plan that is right for you, you can enroll right here online or over the phone.

What you need to know about the Bounce Energy Fantastic Fixed 6 Plan

The Fantastic Fixed 6 plan has long been a popular plan offered by Bounce Energy. As of the time of this writing, it features one of the cheapest electricity rates available in Texas. Electricity rates in Texas are quite volatile, however. Before choosing this or any other plan you should compare electricity rates from providers in your area to find the plan that works best for you.

Electricity Rates for Bounce Energy Fantastic Fixed 6

For the Houston area, the all-in rate for the Fantastic Fixed 6 plan is 9.2¢ per kWh for usage levels of 2,000 kWh per month. If you live in an apartment you should expect to pay a higher average rate for this plan. The published rate for the 500 kWh usage level is 10.7¢ per kWh. This rate will be different if you live in another part of Texas. To see the current rate for this and other plans in your area, enter your zip code above.

By the standards of electricity plans in Texas, this plan has a simple pricing structure. The components that go in to the average rate are listed below:

Bounce Energy Charge (per kWh)	4.4¢
Bounce Base Charge	$4.95

Flat Pass Through Delivery Charge	$5.47
Pass Through Delivery Charge per kWh	4.254¢

Total Average Rate	9.2¢/kWh

*Rates are for Houston area as of 9/27/2018. Use the Vaultelectricity.com real time electricity rate comparison tool to see current rates in your area.

The important numbers to note are the 4.4¢ Energy charge and the $4.95 base charge. These charges are specific to Bounce Energy. The TDU delivery charges are pass-through charges that you will have to pay regardless of the electricity provider you choose. Unlike many other plans, Fantastic Fixed 6 Plan has no hidden price bumps based on how much electricity you use (or don’t use).

Bounce Energy vs. Other Texas Electricity Providers

Here is how the electricity rate for the Bounce Energy Fantastic Fixed 6 Plan compares to the plans from other Texas electricity providers.

Rewards

This plan is eligible for the Bounce Energy Rewards program.

Cancellation Fee

This plan has a cancellation fee of $135

Texas Electricity Rates to Go Up In 2018

****Update Fall 2018****

Good News!

Texas electricity rates are on their way down again. After a summer spike, electricity rates across Texas have fallen. Utility officials were concerned about having enough electricity to meet peak summer demand. This resulted in electricity providers increasing the rates on their fixed rate plans in anticipation of higher wholesale electricity prices.

Now that summer is over and the feared power shortages never materialized, rates are back down. Now is a great time to lock in a great rate if you are not under contract.

For example, Bounce Energy has a 6 month plan for just 8.4¢/kWh in the DFW area (9.2¢ in Houston area). If you have a larger home, Frontier has a plan targeted for the 2,000 kWh usage rate at just 7.3¢/kWh.

***Original Story****

Texas electricity rates are expected to go up in 2018 as the state’s electricity grid experiences growing pains. 2018 will see the closing of a number of coal fueled power plants. Coal has been giving way to cheaper electricity fuel sources for a number of years.

The growth in wind power and natural gas fueled power will offset the loss in coal over time but for the summer of 2018, expected record demand for electricity will converge with power plant closures to put a squeeze on wholesale electricity rates. This, in turn, will cause the retail electricity prices paid by most Texas consumers to increase. The rise in wholesale rates could be particularly dangerous for consumers who have electricity plans that are tied directly to the wholesale price of electricity.

The rise in prices could be felt more in areas like Houston. Houston electricity rates tend to be higher that rates in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Average summer temperatures also tend to be higher in the southern part of the state.

Reserves to fall below comfort level

The state of Texas typically targets a reserve margin of 13.75%. This means that the available supply of electricity should exceed the projected peak demand for electricity by at least that amount. This give a cushion for unforeseen spikes in demand or lose of capacity such as could be experienced during a large storm.

The most recent projections by ERCOT put the reserve margin during the summer of 2018 at 9.3%. This number is expected to climb to 11.7% by the summer of 2019 as newer power plants come on line.

What You Need To Know About The Reliant First Month Free Plan

The Reliant Energy First Month Free Plan sounds like a great deal. After all, we all love free. But, as with all Texas electricity plans, in order to know if it is really a good deal for you a little math is required. (Ok, actually, a lot of math is required).

The Details

Here is what you need to know about Reliant’s First Month Free plan.

The free month of electricity applies to both Reliant’s energy charge as well as TDSP (also called TDU) charges. Electricity bills in Texas are comprised of several components; including an energy charge from the provider as well as pass through charges from your TDU (Transportation Distribution Utility). The TDU is responsible for maintaining poles and wires and delivering electricity to your address. TDU fees are the same regardless of the electricity provider you choose or the plan you choose.
The plan comes with a free google home mini. This is a $49 value according to Reliant.
The average rate on this plan is higher than other plans offered by Reliant. That, in itself, is not necessarily a deal breaker. That’s where the math comes in.

The Math

Electricity Providers in Texas quote rates for their plans based on 3 standard usage levels. They are:

500 kWh – a typical average usage for an apartment in Texas
1000 kWh – a typical average usage for a small house in Texas
2000 kWh – a typical average usage for a large house in Texas

For this example, we will assume an average usage rate of 2,000 kHw per month. However, in Texas, electricity usage by month can vary greatly. The table below shows about what your monthly usage would be for each month if your overall average usage is 2,000 kWh. This is important because some months of free electricity are more valuable than other months.

A little more math gives us the actual bill amount for each month. Below are the charges for the plan in the Oncor delivery area as of 3/1/2018 which is the most recent version as of this writing. Oncor is the TDU that covers the Dallas and Fort Worth area as well as some other parts of Texas.

When these charges are applied to the kWh hours for each month you come up with the following monthly bills.

For this analysis we assume the best case scenario which is August as the free month. When all is said and done, for the 12 month term of the plan, you end up with an average rate of 11.9¢ per kWh over the life of the plan. Plus, you get the $49 google Home mini. As of the time of this writing you can sign up for the Reliant Secure Advantage 12 Plan on vaultelectricity.com for the same 11.9¢ per kWh. (Note: Electricity rates update frequently. For up to the minute rates in your area enter your zip code at the top of this page.)

Oncor Hikes Rates Yet Again

Oncor (Formally TXU) filed another rate hike request with the Public Utility Commission a rate-hike. This rate hike will is quite significant, with commercial customers seeing a 15.5% jump in rates, residential customers having their costs rise by 14.6%, and streetlight rates increasing by a whopping 25.9%.

Let’s not forget this is right on the heels of a rate increase by Oncor less than two years ago.

According to Oncor’s Chief Operating Officer Charles Jenkins, “The proposed new rates reflect both the investments we’ve made and the cost controls we’ve put in place, including recently refinancing a portion of our debt at lower interest rates and passing those savings on to customers.” Just ask a bondholder about that fiasco….

When Oncor announced just how high they were going to be raising rates, it was met with astonishment. Thomas Brocato, an Austin attorney who specializes in making cities’ cases before regulatory boards, said the 16.5-percent increase was “really surprising given the very favorable outcome they had in their last case.

Cities are still fighting Oncor’s previous rate hike, so this comes as a double whammy.

Compare The Lowest Electricity Rates In Your Area

The Standard Electric Plan Start-Up

What Could Lead To A Deposit?

Electricity With No Deposit And No Credit Check

Why Texans Choose Prepaid Electricity

Take Control Of Your Plan