There are dozens of electric companies (often called light companies) selling power in Texas, and they vary a lot on price and customer service. Here are the best Texas electric companies right now, based on Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) complaint ratings and the plans and prices on our comparison pages. Enter your ZIP code to compare every plan at your address.
Best Texas electric companies right now
| Company | PUC rating | Dallas | Houston |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXU EnergyBest overall | 5/5 | 9.9¢Smart 1000 Select 12 | 9.5¢Smart 1000 Select 12 |
| Express EnergyLowest prices | 3/5 | 7.1¢Flash Value 14 | 7.0¢Flash Value 14 |
| Gexa EnergyLow prices, strong rating | 4/5 | 7.3¢Eco Saver Plus 12 | 7.2¢Eco Saver Plus 12 |
| TriEagle EnergySteady bills | 4/5 | 13.9¢Sure Value 12 | 12.5¢Sure Value 12 |
| 4Change EnergySmaller homes | 3/5 | 7.3¢Maxx Saver Value 12 | 7.2¢Maxx Saver Value 12 |
| Payless PowerNo credit check | 1/5 | 19.6¢6 Month Prepaid | 19.4¢6 Month Prepaid |
| Frontier UtilitiesAlso on our pages | 3/5 | 7.3¢Saver Plus 12 | 7.2¢Saver Plus 12 |
| Veteran EnergyAlso on our pages | 3/5 | 14.7¢Valor 24 | 13.2¢Valor 24 |
Lowest price at 1,000 kWh on our comparison pages, November 2026, including delivery charges. PUC rating: 5 = fewest complaints. Green marks the lowest price in each column.
Best overall: TXU Energy
TXU Energy has a 5 out of 5 PUC complaint rating, the best of any company on our comparison pages, and more plans on them than almost anyone else. Its lowest 1,000 kWh price right now is Smart 1000 Select 12: 9.9¢ in Dallas and 9.5¢ in Houston, with a $100 bill credit every month you use 1,000 kWh or more. For large homes, Smart 2000 Select 12 costs 10.5¢ at 2,000 kWh in Dallas. Read our TXU Energy review.
Lowest prices: Express Energy
Express Energy Flash Value 14 has the lowest 1,000 kWh price on our comparison pages: 7.1¢ in Dallas, 7.0¢ in Houston and 6.5¢ in the Corpus Christi area. It’s a bill credit plan, so you need to use at least 1,000 kWh a month to get the $125 credit; at 500 kWh, the price is 20.0¢. Express has a 3 out of 5 PUC rating. Read our Express Energy review.
Low prices with a strong rating: Gexa Energy
Gexa Energy pairs a 4 out of 5 PUC rating with prices close to the lowest: Eco Saver Plus 12 costs 7.3¢ in Dallas and 7.2¢ in Houston at 1,000 kWh. Gexa also has plans built for other usage levels, like Eco Saver Lite 12 (12.2¢ at 500 kWh in Dallas) and Eco Saver Premier 12 (11.1¢ at 2,000 kWh). Read our Gexa Energy review.
Best for steady bills: TriEagle Energy
TriEagle Energy has a 4 out of 5 PUC rating, and its plans use small bill credits instead of big ones, so your price doesn’t jump much if your usage changes. Savvy Value 12 in Houston costs 14.8¢ at 500 kWh, 14.3¢ at 1,000 kWh and 12.5¢ at 2,000 kWh. Read our TriEagle Energy review.
Best for smaller homes: 4Change Energy
4Change Energy Perfect Fit 12 is the cheapest plan on our comparison pages for homes using about 500 kWh a month: 11.4¢ in Dallas and 12.4¢ in Houston. 4Change also gives a share of its profits to charity. It has a 3 out of 5 PUC rating. Read our 4Change Energy review.
No credit check: Payless Power
Payless Power’s prepaid plans don’t require a credit check, which makes them an option if a deposit is a problem. They cost more, about 19.6¢ in Dallas and 19.4¢ in Houston at 1,000 kWh. Payless has a 1 out of 5 PUC rating, the lowest on our comparison pages, so read our review before you sign up. Read our Payless Power review.
How we pick the best electric companies
We only recommend companies whose plans you can compare and sign up for on our comparison pages. Then we look at three things:
- Complaint record. The PUC rates every Texas electric company from 1 to 5 based on the complaints it receives. We weigh this heavily, because a cheap plan isn’t worth much if billing goes wrong.
- Current prices. We compare each company’s plans at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh, because the cheapest plan depends on how much power you use.
- Predictable bills. Our Price Predictability Score shows how easy each plan’s bill is to predict. Plans that depend on big bill credits score lower.
We update these picks every month as prices and ratings change.
All Texas electric companies and their complaint ratings
The PUC rates electric companies on how many complaints they get compared with their number of customers. A 5 means the fewest complaints; a 1 means the most. Click any company to read our full review, including its plans and complaint history.
- 4Change Energy3/5
- Almika SolarNot rated
- Ambit Energy3/5
- Amigo Energy3/5
- Ampra EnergyNot rated
- BKV Energy5/5
- Branch EnergyNot rated
- Champion Energy5/5
- Chariot Energy1/5
- Cirro Energy2/5
- CleanSky Energy4/5
- Clearview EnergyNot rated
- Constellation5/5
- Direct Energy4/5
- Discount Power2/5
- Eligo EnergyNot rated
- Energy To GoNot rated
- Express Energy3/5
- Frontier Utilities3/5
- Gexa Energy4/5
- Green Mountain Energy3/5
- Infuse Energy5/5
- Just Energy2/5
- MP2 Energy TexasNot rated
- NEC Co-op Energy5/5
- New Power TexasNot rated
- Now PowerNot rated
- Octopus Energy2/5
- OhmConnectNot rated
- Payless Power1/5
- Pogo EnergyNot rated
- PowerNextNot rated
- Pulse PowerNot rated
- Ranchero Power4/5
- Reliant4/5
- Rhythm Energy3/5
- Southern Federal Power4/5
- Southwest Power & LightNot rated
- Spark Energy5/5
- Stream EnergyNot rated
- Summer Energy1/5
- Tara Energy3/5
- Texpo EnergyNot rated
- Think Energy1/5
- TriEagle Energy4/5
- True Power1/5
- TXU Energy5/5
- Veteran Energy3/5
- Windrose EnergyNot rated
- YepNot rated
PUC complaint ratings as shown in our reviews, November 2026. “Not rated” means the PUC hasn’t rated that brand; some of these companies are no longer signing up new customers.
How Texas electric companies work
In most of Texas, three different companies are involved in getting power to your home:
- Your electric company (also called a retail electric provider, or light company) sells you a plan, sets your price and sends your bill. This is the company you choose.
- Your local utility owns the poles and wires, reads your meter and fixes outages. Depending on where you live, that’s Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas or TNMP. You can’t choose your utility, and its delivery charges are the same no matter which electric company you pick.
- ERCOT runs the power grid for most of Texas and keeps supply and demand in balance.
If you live in an area served by a co-op or a city-owned utility, like Austin or San Antonio, you can’t choose your electric company. See our map of Texas electric providers to find out who serves your area.
How to choose an electric company
- Start with your usage. Check your last 12 bills. The cheapest company for a home using 500 kWh a month is often different from the cheapest one at 1,000 or 2,000 kWh. See current Texas electricity rates at each usage level.
- Check the complaint rating. A company with a 4 or 5 is less likely to give you billing headaches.
- Read the Electricity Facts Label. Every plan has one, listing its price, fees and contract terms. Our guide to reading an Electricity Facts Label walks you through it.
- Know the cancellation fee. Some companies charge $150 or more to leave early, while others charge $20 for each month left on your contract.
- Time your switch. You can usually switch without a cancellation fee in the last 14 days of your contract.
Questions people ask about Texas electric companies
Who is the best electric company in Texas?
It depends on what matters most to you. TXU Energy is our best overall pick, with a 5 out of 5 PUC complaint rating and plans for every usage level. Express Energy has the lowest 1,000 kWh price on our comparison pages right now, and Gexa Energy combines low prices with a 4 out of 5 rating.
What is the cheapest electric company in Texas?
No one company is always the cheapest, because prices change often and depend on your usage. This month on our comparison pages, Express Energy Flash Value 14 is cheapest at 1,000 kWh, 4Change Energy Perfect Fit 12 is cheapest at 500 kWh, and TXU Energy Smart 2000 Select 12 is cheapest at 2,000 kWh in Dallas and Houston.
How do PUC complaint ratings work?
The Public Utility Commission of Texas rates each electric company from 1 to 5 based on the complaints it receives compared with its number of customers. A 5 means the fewest complaints. The rating covers billing, service and other complaints filed with the PUC.
What’s the difference between my electric company and my utility?
Your electric company sells you your plan and sends your bill. Your utility, such as Oncor or CenterPoint, delivers the power and fixes outages. You choose your electric company, but your utility depends on where you live.
How do I switch electric companies in Texas?
Enter your ZIP code, compare plans and sign up with the company you choose. Your new electric company handles the switch, so you don’t need to call your old one. If you’re still under contract, check your cancellation fee first; you can usually switch without one in the last 14 days of your contract.
Is a light company the same as an electric company?
Yes. “Light company” is another name for your electric company, the company that sells you power and sends your bill.
Compare Texas electric companies in your area
The best electric company for you depends on your address and how much power you use. Enter your ZIP code to compare plans from every company that serves your area.
Tip: have a recent bill handy. Your monthly kWh usage tells you which plans will cost the least.
Sources: plan prices from our comparison pages, November 2026 · PUC complaint ratings as shown in our provider reviews · PUC customer complaint statistics · PUC electricity FAQ