Direct Energy Twelve Hour Power 24 gives you free electricity every night from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. That’s half of every day. The catch is that daytime power costs nearly 30¢ per kWh once delivery is added. Whether you come out ahead depends on how much of your electricity you actually use overnight.
Vault Price Predictability Score: 3/5
Our Price Predictability Score tells you how easy it is to know what you’ll pay before the bill arrives. Twelve Hour Power scores a 3 out of 5. The rates are fixed for two years, but your bill depends heavily on when you use power, not just how much. Two homes with the same usage can see very different bills. The score doesn’t measure whether a plan is cheap, just how predictable it is.
Twelve Hour Power 24 at a glance
| Free hours | 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., every day |
| Average price at 1,000 kWh | 17.6¢/kWh (assuming 45% of usage at night) |
| Daytime energy rate | 22.8432¢/kWh |
| Contract length | 24 months, fixed rates |
| Monthly charges | $9.95 Direct Energy base fee + $4.06 Oncor |
| Early cancellation fee | $295 (waived if you move) |
| Renewable content | 22% |
| Utility area | Oncor (Dallas–Fort Worth and much of North, Central and West Texas) |
Based on Direct Energy’s Oncor Electricity Facts Label dated October 4, 2026. Pricing can vary by address, so check your ZIP for the current offer.
Is this plan a good fit for you?
Twelve Hour Power makes sense if:
- You charge an electric vehicle overnight.
- Your household is busy at night or early in the morning, like night-shift workers or early risers.
- Your smart meter data shows half or more of your usage already happens between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.
You might look elsewhere if:
- Most of your usage is afternoon air conditioning. Texas summer cooling happens during paid hours, and at about 29.7¢ per kWh, that adds up fast.
- You’re not sure what your usage pattern looks like. A simple fixed-rate plan is the safer choice.
How much of your usage needs to be at night?
During the free hours, both the energy charge and Oncor’s delivery charges are free. Direct Energy prorates all delivery charges so you aren’t billed for them during free hours. During paid hours, you pay about 29.7¢ per kWh. The $9.95 base fee applies either way.
| Share of usage at night | Bill at 1,000 kWh | Bill at 2,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $220.77 | $428.74 |
| 40% | $190.65 | $368.91 |
| 45% | $175.59 | $339.00 |
| 50% | $160.53 | $309.08 |
| 60% | $130.42 | $249.26 |
The break-even point: Direct Energy’s simple fixed-rate plan, Live Brighter 24 Auto Pay, costs about $160 at 1,000 kWh. Twelve Hour Power only beats it if about 50% or more of your electricity is used between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m.
The free window covers 50% of the hours in a day. So to come out ahead, your home needs to use at least as much power at night as during the day. Most Texas homes use far more in the afternoon and early evening.
How to check: log in to Smart Meter Texas and look at your hourly usage. It shows exactly how much you use overnight.
What the advertised price means
The Electricity Facts Label shows these averages, assuming about 45% of your usage happens at night:
| Monthly use | Estimated bill | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $93.89 | 18.8¢/kWh |
| 1,000 kWh | $175.59 | 17.6¢/kWh |
| 2,000 kWh | $339.00 | 16.9¢/kWh |
If your nighttime share is lower than that, you’ll pay more than the advertised rate. If it’s higher, you’ll pay less.
Estimates don’t include taxes or small regulatory fees. They’re examples, not actual customer bills.
Getting the most from free nights
- Move flexible chores to the night. Run the dishwasher, washer and dryer after 9 p.m., and set your EV to charge overnight.
- Use the morning hours. Free time runs until 9 a.m., so showers, coffee and breakfast can land in the free window.
- Pre-cool carefully. Cooling the house before 9 a.m. can help a little, but it won’t offset a long, hot afternoon at paid rates.
- Don’t use more just because it’s free. The goal is to shift power you’d use anyway, not add new usage.
What if you need to leave early?
Canceling before the 24 months are up costs $295. Here’s a simple way to decide whether switching is worth it:
- 12 months left: a new plan would need to save you more than about $25 a month to make up the fee.
- 6 months left: it would need to save you more than about $49 a month.
Moving? The fee doesn’t apply if you move. The details are in the Electricity Facts Label.
Fees and fine print
- No Auto Pay discount. This plan’s price doesn’t depend on Auto Pay.
- Smart meter: you need a provisioned smart meter for the free hours to work.
- What “fixed” covers. Direct Energy’s rates are locked for 24 months. Oncor’s delivery charges can still change if regulators approve an adjustment, and taxes apply.
- Not prepaid. This is a standard monthly-billed plan.
Compare before you sign
Free nights sound great, but the math has to work for your home. Enter your ZIP code to compare Twelve Hour Power against simple fixed-rate plans at your actual usage. Direct Energy also offers Free Power Weekends 24 Auto Pay if your household is busiest on weekends.
Sources: Twelve Hour Power 24 Electricity Facts Label, Oncor, dated October 4, 2026 · Live Brighter 24 Auto Pay Electricity Facts Label, Oncor (comparison) · Direct Energy plan chart · Offer checked for Oncor ZIP 75201.