Texas Power Price Roundup: Cheapest Electricity Prices for June 24, 2015

This is a beginning of a series of weekly posts that will round up some of the best prices for electricity in Texas. Please keep in mind, however, that prices in Texas can change daily, and so this selection serves as a snapshot of prices in Texas. Our selections are for residential customers consuming 500 kWh/month, 1,000 kWh/month, and 2,000 kWh/month, based on the cheapest prices available at the time of writing.

Want to find the cheapest prices for you in real time? Call us at 1 (832) 460-0233 for up-to-the-minute prices and recommendations about the cheapest prices for you in Texas

What Type of Plan to Choose?

Whether you're new to the Texas electricity market, or a seasoned electricity shopper, check out some of our mistakes to avoid when shopping for electricity in Texas, for some helpful tips. In general, we recommend choosing fixed rates, for at least a 12 month term. The lowest rates offered in Texas at the moment tend to be for one-year contracts, and locking in a price over the long term should also shield you from price fluctuations throughout the year.

Houston Cheapest Power Prices

Your utility in Houston is CenterPoint Energy.

Houston residents who consume 2,000 kWh per month or more are best with 4Change Energy's Generous Saver 12-month plan. This plan comes in at 7.8 cents/kWh, with no base charges or minimum usage fees, and a renewable energy content that matches the state average (11%). Keep in mind however that this plan includes EZ Pay and e-communication, and you may be charged additional fees if you don't stick by online-only communication: $19.95 for not having EZ Pay or e-Docs established on your account by the time of bill generation, up to $5.95 for each payment that isn't made through your approved EZ Pay method. 4Change Energy charges a $20/month remaining early cancellation fee.

Next best options: Frontier Utility's Instant 12 plan (7.9 cents/kWh, 6% renewable content, and a $150 early termination fee - no minumum usage fees but pricing for this product is tiered for different consumption levels), and 4Change Energy's Eco Saver 12 (100% renewable content at 8.3 cents/kWh).

For customers who use less power (between 1,000 and 1,999 kWh per month), we recommend TriEagle Energy's Eagle 12 plan, at 8.9 cents/kWh. It contains 6% renewable content. TriEagle charges $20 per month remaining on the contract for early cancellation.

The next best options in Texas come from First Choice Power (with their Texas Choice 12 plan at 9.1 cents/kWh) and TriEagle Energy's Green Eagle 12 option - 100% renewable energy at 9.1 cents/kWh.

Small consumers in Houston (less than 1,000 kWh/month) will find the lowest rates with TriEagle Energy and their Eagle 12 plan. For consumption under 1,000 you can expect to pay 9.4 cents/kWh, but for 0.3 cents/kWh more you can green your energy with their Green Eagle 12. The third best option for smaller power consumers is also from TriEagle Energy, with their Eagle 24 plan at 9.9 cents/kWh.

Lowest Power Rates in Dallas

The utility in Dallas is Oncor.

Dallas households who use over 2,000 kWh per month will find cheapest rates with 4Change Energy and their Generous Saver 12 plan. This comes in at 7.3 cents/kWh, with 11% renewable content and no minimum usage fees or base charges (though you usually don't have to worry about these if you consume over 2,000 kWh in a month). The next best option on the market comes from 4Change Energy again, with their Eco Saver 12 plan (100% renewable content, at 7.7 cents/kWh). Watch out for additional charges if you choose not to stick to online-only communication: $19.95 for not having EZ Pay or e-Docs established on your account by the time of bill generation, up to $5.95 for each payment that isn't made through your approved EZ Pay method. 4Change Energy charges a $20/month remaining early cancellation fee. First Choice Power comes in third with their Texas Choice Savings 12 plan, at 7.9 cents/kWh.

It's a tie for residential customers who use slightly less power (1,000 - 1,999 kWh/month) between First Choice Power and their Texas Choice Savings 12 plan, which offers 10% green power at 8.4 cents/kWh, and TriEagle Energy and their Eagle 12 option (also 8.4 cents/kWh, with 6% renewable). Not sure which one to choose? Here are a few more details that might help you out: First Choice Power charges $150 for early cancellation, whereas TriEagle Energy charges $20 per month remaining on the contract. Customers who use only slightly over 1,000 kWh per month (and who might drop under 1,000 kWh once in awhile) might want to go with TriEagle, as their rate for lower consumption levels are slightly cheaper than that of First Choice Power. The next runner up is First Choice Power, with their 24-month Texas Choice Savings option. This plan locks in your rate at 8.6 cents/kWh for two years.

For smaller power consumers (under 1,000 kWh/month), we recommend TriEagle Energy's Eagle 12 plan at 8.9 cents/kWh. This is their standard option at 6% renewable, but the next best option on the market is their Green Eagle 12 plan, which is 100% renewably sourced and comes in at 9.2 cents/kWh. The next best option is First Choice Power, with their Texas Choice Savings 12-month plan, at 9.4 cents/kWh.

Fort Worth Power Prices

Oncor is the utility in Fort Worth.

For residential customers in Fort Worth who use over 2,000 kWh per month, we recommend the Generous Saver 12 plan from 4Change Energy. At 7.3 cents/kWh, with no minimum usage fees or base charges, this plan contains 11% renewable content (which is about the same as the state average). Keep in mind that as this plan includes EZ Pay and e-communication, you may be charged additional fees if you don't stick by online-only communication. Potential charges include $19.95 for not having EZ Pay or e-Docs established on your account by the time of bill generation, up to $5.95 for each payment that isn't made through your approved EZ Pay method. 4Change Energy charges a $20/month remaining early cancellation fee.

Next best options: 4Change Energy again with their Eco Saver 12 plan at 7.7 cents/kWh for 100% green electricity, and First Choice Power's Texas Choices Savings 12 plan at 7.9 cents/kWh.

Residential customers who use slightly less power (1,000 - 1,999 kWh/month)can choose between First Choice Power and their Texas Choice Savings 12-month plan or TriEagle Energy and their Eagle 12 plan. Both plans are at 8.4 cents/kWh for 12 months. First Choice Power includes 10% renewable content and a $150 early termination fee, whereas TriEagle Energy's offer includes 6% renewable content and charges an early termination fee of $20 for every month remaining on the contract. Our advice for choosing between the two is the same as for Dallas: consumers who may use slightly less than 1,000 kWh every month or so might find TriEagle a better option, as their rate for under-1,000 kWh consumption is lower than First Choice Power.

For smaller power consumers (under 1,000 kWh/month), your cheapest options are: TriEagle Energy's Eagle 12 plan at 8.9 cents/kWh, followed by their Green Eagle 12 plan at 9.2 cents/kWh, and First Choice Power and their Texas Choice Savings 12-month plan, at 9.4 cents/kWh.

Corpus Christi

The utility for Corpus Christi is AEP Texas.

Larger power consumers (2,000 kWh/month or more) can find the cheapest rate with 4Change Energy's Generous Saver 12 plan at 8.3 cents/kWh. This plan has 11% renewable content but note that as an online-based plan you will be charged for not sticking to online-only communication: $19.95 for not having EZ Pay or e-Docs established on your account by the time of bill generation, up to $5.95 for each payment that isn't made through your approved EZ Pay method. 4Change Energy charges a $20/month remaining early cancellation fee. The next best option for customers in Corpus Christi comes from Frontier Utilities, with their Instant 12. This plan includes 6% renewable content and has a $150 early termination fee. Keep in mind that this is also an online-only account, so you may be charged fees for additional services such as: up to $20 for having documents mailed, up to $10 for speaking with a service representative, and $5 each for payments taken by means other than auto-pay. The third best option on the market is TXU Energy, with their Smart Deal 12 at 8.5 cents/kWh. This includes 9% green content, and comes with a $150 early termination fee. Keep in mind that you may be charged a $3.95 fee when you use a TXU Energy customer service representative to help you make a payment by credit card, debit card or e-check.

For Corpus Christi residents who consume between 1,000 and 1,999 kWh/month, we recommend First Choice Power as their first and second choice for low power rates. Their 12-month Texas Choice Savings plan comes in at 9.7 cents/kWh, and their 24 month option is 9.9 cents/kWh. Both plans have 10% green content and come with a $150 early termination fee. The First Choice Power 24-month plan is tied with a 12-month plan from TXU Energy, which is also 9.9 cents/kWh and includes 9% renewable content. Watch out for the $150 early termination fee and the possibility of being charged a $3.95 fee if you need to pay your bill over the phone.

Smaller consumers (who use less than 1,000 kWh in a month month) will find the cheapest rate with TriEagle Energy. Their Eagle 12 plan is the cheapest, at 10.5 cents/kWh, followed by their Eagle 24 plan at 10.7 cents/kWh, and their Eagle 36 plan at 10.8 cents/kWh. All plans include 6% renewable content and $20 per month remaining on the contract. Keep in mind that this policy could make for a very high cancellation fee should you need to leave their 36 month contract.

Laredo

Your utility in Laredo is AEP Texas.

For residential customers who consume 2,000 kWh/month or more, we recommend 4Change Energy's Generous Saver 12 plan. This is a 12-month plan at 8.3 cents/kWh, with no minimum usage fees or base charges. 11% renewable content - the same as the state average. Note that this plan includes EZ Pay and e-communication, and you may be charged additional fees if you don't stick by online-only communication: $19.95 for not having EZ Pay or e-Docs established on your account by the time of bill generation, up to $5.95 for each payment that isn't made through your approved EZ Pay method. 4Change Energy charges a $20/month remaining early cancellation fee.

Next best options: Frontier Utilities Instant 12 at 8.4 cents/kWh, and TXU Energy's Energy Smart Deal 12 at 8.5 cents/kWh.

Residential customers who consume 1,000 - 1,999 kWh/month are best off with the Texas Choice Savings 12-month plan from First Choice Power. At 9.7 cents/kWh this product has 10.8% renewable - the same as the state average. If this plan is online-based, you may be charged a $5.95 fee if you contact a First Choice Power customer care representative by telephone (you can avoid this fee by using their website or automated telephone service. You may also be chaged $15.00 if you don't set up autopayment on time. First Choice Power charges a flat $150 termination fee.

Next best options: First Choice Power's Texas Choice Savings 24 plan, or TXU Energy's Energy Smart Discount 12, both at 9.9 cents/kWh.

Smaller consumers (who use less than 1,000 kWh/month) would be best off with TriEagle Energy's Eagle 12 plan, at 10.50 cents/kWh, or - for only 0.3 cents/kWh more - their Green Eagle 12 plan, which is sourced from renewable power generation (100% of your consumption is compensated). TriEagle charges $20 per month remaining on the contract for early cancellation.

Next best options: TriEagle Energy again, for their 24-month plan at 10.7 cents/kWh, or their Eagle 36 plan at 10.8 cents/kWh.