First Choice Power
First Choice Power is an electricity provider serving Texas customers.
Summary:
Our Take On First Choice Power
Based on our analysis of available offers and of online customer reviews, we rate First Choice Power 4 out of 5 stars
What we like about First Choice Power:
- Good variety of plans
- Company with long ties to Texas
- Customers may find the First Choice mobile phone app handy
What made First Choice Power lose some points:
- Terms and Conditions could be more clear and transparent
- On all fixed and some variable plans, First Choice Power charges a base charge of $4.95 per month
Compare customer reviews of First Choice Power with other suppliers.
Available Plans
| Plan Type | Contract Length | Features | Early Termination Fee | Our Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Fixed | 3, 12, 24 months |
|
$135 |
|
| Variable | Month-to-month |
|
None |
|
| Green Energy | Fixed, Variable |
|
Equivalent to corresponding non-green plans |
|
Plan Types In-Depth
Fixed Rate Rlans
With a fixed rate plan, the price you pay for your electricity (in ¢/kWh) stays the same throughout the whole period of the contract. Customers on a fixed contract should, however, keep track of when their contract ends, as many retail electric providers will automatically switch them to a variable rate once the contract is finished. Find more information about fixed rates in Texas here.
Some customers have reported that they appreciate savings on fixed rate electricity plans with CPL Energy, particularly those who were able to lock in a good rate at the right time of year. As electricity prices per kilowatt-hour fluctuate throughout the year, depending on the time of year you may actually lose money by not being able to take advantage of prices when they are low (this is where time of year becomes a factor in how good of a deal you can get with a fixed price plan). However, because electricity prices tend to increase over time, locking in fixed rates for longer periods may prove advantageous and deliver savings. This is why in general we recommend that customers choose fixed rate contracts of at least one year.
Variable Rate Rlans
Variable rate plans usually offer a low introductory rate, which can then change month-to-month, often based solely on the provider's discretion, but sometimes with guidelines or price caps. The advantages of a variable rate plan are no early termination fees, and that when market rates are low, the provider may pass savigns along to you (or the plan may be indexed to the market rate), however the prioce per kWh can rise drastically with market fluctuation, or at the provider's discretion.
In general, we do not recommend that consumers sign up for variable rate plans because of this potential for their bills to rise dramatically. Most consumer complaints against providers result from dissatisfaction with bills on variable rate plans.
Prepaid Plans
Under pre-paid plans, consumers purchase a fixed dollar amount of kWh at their discretion. Usually pre-paid plans result in a higher price per kWh, but they require no deposit or security check, and so may be the best choice for some consumers. Upon depletion of the available kWh in your account, your electricity will shut off.
Pre-paid plans can often be the source of customer complaints, because it might be difficult to track your usage, and because the price per kWh can vary from month to month.
First Choice Power does not offer pre-paid plans.
Base Charges
On some plans, First Choice Power charges a monthly fee of $4.95 on its fixed rate plans. Whereas some providers waive their monthly fee, base charge, or minimum usage fee after a certain kWh usage threshold (usually above 1000 or 2000 kWh/month), First Choice does not.
Green Energy Plans
Green Energy plans promise electricity purchased from renewable energy production, or equivalent offsets. First Choice Power does offer green energy plans. If you are interested in purchasing green energy in Texas, we recommend you check out some of our articles on green energy in Texas.
Customer Reviews
We rate First Choice Power for customer experience. Many customer complaints are related to problems related to prepaid plans, though some customers also reported negative experiences with customer service. First Choice Power has not been accredited with the Better Business Bureau.
Company Background
First Choice Power was the affiliate retail energy provider of Texas-New Mexico Power Company bought by Direct Energy in 2012. First Choice Power is also active in the community through a number of service and outreach program, including Food First, assistance to needy families, and employee volunteering opportunities.
Contact First Choice Power
General Customer Service
Phone: 1-866-469-2426
Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday, 7:30 am - 8:00 pm CT
Email: [email protected]