Unlike most other electricity providers you may have heard of Nueces is a non-profit cooperative, which is owned by its members, and even returns excess revenue to them at the end of the year!
Our Take On Nueces Electric Cooperative
Electricity cooperatives date back to the 1930's, when rural areas were left unelectrified or paid exhorbitant rates because it simply wasn't profitable for utility companies to serve them. In response, community members got together to form more than 1000 electricity cooperatives across the nation in order to provide power to themselves and their neighbors. NEC serves areas in McMullen, Duval, Live Oak, San Patricio, Nuecas, and Kleberg Counties. NEC also has a retail division that sells power to competitive areas across Texas.
NEC offers residential and commercial electric service to Texas customers, both in its co-op region, and through out the state through NEC Retail. Because NEC is a non-profit and a cooperative, it offers low rates, great service, and transparency. While we urge consumers to be wary of variable rate plans, there is no need to have this concern with NEC--nobody will raise your rate unfairly in order to make a buck. The people who run Nueces all live in the community, and know the area and their fellow customers. Because of this, we have decided to give NEC five out of five stars.
What we like about Nueces Electric Cooperative:
- Low prices and transparency
- High customer satisfaction from its members)
- End of year profit distribution
What made Nueces lose some points:
- Membership structure entails some extra steps to signing up for service
- No 100% renewable energy option
Available Plans
| Plan Type | Contract Length | Features | Early Termination Fee | Our Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable Rate plan | 1 month (month-to-month plan) |
|
None |
|
Nueces offers military discounts including a $25 credit on every Memorial Day bill, in addition to a credit for severely burned veterans, Christmas credits, and unlimited $60 referral credits. Nueces also supports students with various scholarships, electricity safety education in schools, and a yearly trip to Washington D.C. for two high school students as part of the Government In Action Youth Tour program.
Plan Types In-Depth
Fixed Rate Plans
A fixed rate is a rate (in ¢/kWh) that does not change over the whole period of the contract. However, once the contract reaches the end of its term, Nueces does not offer fixed rate contracts, however customers who continue service for a whole year are eligable to receive profit distribution payments.
Electricity customers should opt for fixed rate contracts of longer periods of time. Electricity prices per kilowatt-hour fluctuate throughout the year, and you may actually lose money by not being able to take advantage of prices when they are low. However, because electricity prices tend to increase over time, locking in fixed rates for longer periods may prove advantageous and deliver savings.
Variable Rate Plans
A variable rate (in ¢/kWh) changes every month. A variable rate change can be at the discretion of the supplier or it might change based on a certain formula (this is known as an indexed rate). Learn more about variable rates in Texas, including our opinion of which type of rate you should choose.
Base Charges
No base charges are applied to NEC plans.
Green Energy Plans
NEC does not offer 100% renewable plans. The standard offer includes 9.5% renewable content, just below the 2014 state average of 10.8%.
Customer Reviews
Nearly all the publically available reviews of NEC are positive, with customers enjoying the low prices, the December profit distribution, and the extensive rewards and referrals programs.
Contact Nueces Energy Cooperative in Texas
Phone: 1-800-NEC-WATT (1-800-632-9288) or 361-387-2581
Email: Can be sent via an embedded form on the NEC website.
Nueces Electric Cooperative
14353 Cooperative Avenue
Corpus Christi, Texas 78380