First Choice Power · Reviews
First Choice Power reviews 2026
Customer feedback from Trustpilot, Google, BBB and the Selectra Reviews network, plus an editorial verdict from our energy team.
Selectra editorial verdict
First Choice Power is a legitimate, accessible product rather than a cheap one. Its no-credit-check, no-deposit prepaid plans open the Texas retail market to households that fixed-rate providers exclude, and they come with real PUCT Rule 25.498 protections — text alerts, a disconnection threshold and a penalty-free exit to any postpaid plan. But the accessibility is paid for with a per-kWh premium of roughly 2 to 5¢, which at typical 1,176 kWh usage works out to about $46 a month, or ~$550 a year — a permanent, non-refundable cost versus a refundable $200 to $400 deposit. For most credit-clean households a fixed 12-month plan is cheaper. Go prepaid only if a deposit plan has declined you (or asked for more than ~$400) or you genuinely want daily cash-flow control, then re-shop at month six, since a clean prepaid payment history often unlocks postpaid plans with no deposit.
Pros
- No credit check and no deposit on prepaid plans — accessible to thin-file, prior-disconnection and credit-excluded households the fixed-rate market quietly turns away.
- Prepaid plans are month-to-month with no early termination fee, which suits short-term renters and households in transition.
- Strong regulatory protections under PUCT Substantive Rule 25.498: written Terms of Service, daily balance and low-balance text alerts, a minimum disconnection threshold (commonly $10) and the right to switch to a postpaid plan at any time with no penalty.
- Reconnection after a top-up is often same-day, thanks to the smart-meter remote-settlement rails prepaid runs on.
- Backed by NRG's Houston wholesale desk — the same hedging operation behind Reliant Energy and Green Mountain Energy.
Cons
- Prepaid and no-deposit plans price roughly 2 to 5¢ per kWh higher than a comparable fixed contract — about $46 more per month, or ~$550 per year, at the Texas average of 1,176 kWh. That premium is permanent and non-refundable, unlike a deposit.
- Daily debit from the account balance means a heat wave can drain $20 to $30 in a weekend; if the balance hits the disconnection threshold, service is cut remotely via the smart meter after the required notice.
- Comparing First Choice against Direct Energy, Reliant or Green Mountain is shopping inside a single NRG wholesale book — not a genuine market price check.
- It is not the cheapest product on the market: the premium only makes sense if a fixed plan would decline you (or ask for a deposit over ~$400) or if you specifically want the cash-flow control of daily settlement.
- Not available where you cannot choose a provider — municipal utility (e.g. Austin Energy, CPS Energy) or electric-cooperative areas take the regulated tariff instead.
Common questions about First Choice reviews
First Choice Power reviews — answers
Reliability is best judged across multiple sources, not one platform. Trustpilot and Google reviews skew negative (dissatisfied customers post more often), while BBB ratings reflect complaint handling. The most balanced check: look at the BBB letter grade for complaint resolution, scan recent (last 6 months) Trustpilot reviews for recurring themes, and compare First Choice's unit rate against your utility's price-to-compare before signing up.
Retail energy is a complaint-driven category — customers rarely write reviews when their bill arrives correctly, but a billing dispute, a variable-rate surprise, or a renewal price increase often triggers a 1-star review. The same dynamic affects every US retail-energy brand. The BBB complaint-resolution rate and the state public-utility-commission complaint reports (often public) tend to be more representative than aggregate review scores.
You can leave reviews on Trustpilot, Google, the BBB profile and the Selectra Reviews network. Selectra Reviews verifies that the reviewer is a real First Choice customer before publishing — so the signal is higher quality than open platforms.