Texas Electricity Ratings

[caption id="attachment_3923" align="alignright" width="300"] Smart meters are one of the big reasons for low Texas electricity rates and the future for homeowners to manage their usage. [/caption] Why Do We Have Smart Meters in Texas? Smart meters are already at work in nearly all Texas homes. But why are they important and do you have to have one in your home? Smart meters can help customers maximize their energy savings and improve ERCOT’s grid reliability. And with Texas energy rates are on the rise this summer, that important to all electricity customers. Smart meters replace the old analog versions with a digital version that sends data every 15 minutes on energy use to your provider. This helps keep costs down by removing the need for someone to come out and manually check your meter every month. There are other benefits as well: Real-time meter readings to monitor and adjust usage Easy to double check usage for accurate billing Instantly aler...

[caption id="attachment_3794" align="alignright" width="364"] Variable rate month-to-month plans in Dallas can be convenient and expensive, especially with rising energy prices. If you’re not ready to commit to a fixed plan yet, check out who has the best prices! [/caption] What Are the Best No-Contract Rates in Dallas, Texas? If you like the freedom to switch between energy providers without committing to a long contract, then you may want to consider a month-to-month energy plan. With a month-to-month electricity plan in ONCOR Dallas , you may pay higher rates, but you won’t have to worry about expensive early termination fees, leaving you free to come and go as you please. If you’re in the market for a month-to-month plan, then your options are Pollution Free E-Plus Preferred Month-to-Month from Green Mountain Energy and the Clear Flex Plan from Reliant Energy . Pollution Free E-Plus Preferred Month-to-Month from Green Mountain Energy If you’re one...

[caption id="attachment_3908" align="alignleft" width="405"] Texas electricity prices vary across the state. But there’s more to the Texas energy market than rates offered by the best energy providers. [/caption] Why are my electricity costs different than other towns? When companies compete for customers, prices are bound to vary. This happens all the time in the deregulated Texas electricity market. Across vast swaths of Texas, electricity companies compete for the privilege to power homes and businesses. In the deregulated areas of Texas, retail electricity providers attract customers by offering competitive prices and other incentives to sign up for fixed rate electricity plans. But there’s more to the Texas energy market than providers. In fact, Texas isn’t entirely deregulated. Is your home in a regulated or deregulated market? Municipally-owned utilites (MOUs) and rural electric cooperatives (REC) operate as regulated monopolies but they are not r...

[caption id="attachment_3898" align="alignright" width="438"] Free of commitment and hefty early termination fees, no-contract, variable rate plans in Houston do offer convenient, short term solutions. But they are very expensive when Texas wholesale electricity rates soar! [/caption] How can I get Houston electricity without a contract? Many people in deregulated parts of Texas that pay Houston CenterPoint rates will sign up with a retail electricity provider under a contracted plan. These plans typically include an early termination fee often in excess of $100 and at times more than $200. While contracts are a good way to get the best Houston electricity rate , sometimes it might not be all that convenient. You can purchase electricity on a month-to-month basis. No lengthy contract. No early termination fees. If you become dissatisfied with your retail electricity provider, you can dump them and sign up with someone else right away. Most retail power ...

Does ERCOT Have Enough Electricity for Today? ERCOT is heading into a show down between Texas electricity demand and Texas heat. With Friday temperature highs throughout the state expected between the upper 90s and 100s, ERCOT forecasts that it will face a peak demand of 68,374 megawatts (MW) on Friday, June 22 at roughly 6 P.M. ERCOT announced back at the end of April that it had enough reserves available to handle 72,756 MW of demand. Both the FERC and NERC , which oversee grid reliability, have voiced concerns over ERCOT’s preparations. There are also fears that scarcity pricing could result in spiking wholesale prices . Current scarcity pricing is set to $9,000 per mWh. With conditions being shown at “normal”, reserves margins dropped just below 4,000 MW by 2:30 PM. While first official day of summer is certainly a hot one, prices have so far stayed within the “normal” range. Going into mid afternoon, wholesale prices for Texas electricity remained ...

[caption id="attachment_3891" align="alignright" width="375"] Rising Houston electricity rates this summer will really hurt Texas consumers who haven’t locked in a low fixed rate. [/caption] Are Houston Electricity Rates Going Up? In the first half of 2018, the average electricity rate for new customers climbed almost 20%. Amazingly, electricity prices jumped 10% from early May to early June. With above-average temperatures forecast and ERCOT’s reserve margin on the thin side, this summer’s retails electricity rates are expected to be some of highest and most volatile. Texas is expected to reach record high temperatures this summer, and with that comes extreme load on power plants. When there isn"t enough power to meet electricity demand, the price electric companies must pay for your power can skyrocket as high as 4000% above the normal wholesale electricity price . Texas electricity companies are preparing for that situation by raising their rates ...

[caption id="attachment_3710" align="alignright" width="300"] Using your power to choose the best Dallas electricity rates is a lot easier when you get reliable information from TexasElectricityRatings.com. We show you where Texas energy prices have been and where they are heading. [/caption] How Much Do Electricity Prices Change Year To Year? With energy rates always fluctuating, it’s good to compare plans from previous years to provide perspective and help choose the best plan for the future. Last year, Champions’ Champ 12 made the list for the best 12-month electricity plan in Dallas . Now, one year later, we’ll compare Champ Saver 12 ’s electricity rates and see how they’ve changed. Has Champ Saver 12 Changed Since 2017? The most significant difference between last and this year’s rates is a noticeable increase in price. Champ Saver 12 offered 7.8 cents for 2000 kWh, 8.0 cents for 1000 kWh, and 8.5 cents for 500 kWh. This year prices rose to 11...

[caption id="attachment_3880" align="alignright" width="375"] Comparing and shopping for the cheapest summer rates is the best way to choose your Dallas power provider. [/caption] What Are Best Electricity Plans For Summer In Dallas? With what could potentially be one of the hottest summers on record approaching, the time to shop for the cheapest rates in Dallas , Texas is now. You have a lot of great options to choose from when comparing Dallas electric rates . But how do you choose the best plan for your electricity needs in time for summer? Three Great Plans with Cheap Energy for Summer Here are the top three options for locking in low rates for the summer. All the plans on this list are from the best electric companies in Texas with ratings of 3.4 stars or higher. If you’re in the market for low rates for any size household, then these plans are great options for you. Tri-Eagle Energy’ Eagle 12 Tri-Eagle Energy’s Eagle 12 offers customers the lowest...

Summertime is always a very busy season in the world of Texas electricity, and 2018 is no exception. In fact, 2018 as already been an extremely active shopping season, and it will only get busier as the days and weeks continue to tick by into the crucible of the summer heat. We"ve been doing this for a long time, and for many reasons 2018 is shaping up to be the most fascinating, but more importantly the most dangerous summer for customers since the record breaking summer of 2011. In 2011, the city of Dallas experienced 70 straight days of temperatures of 100 degrees or higher. That is not a typo, it was 70 straight days. The rest of Texas suffered as much as Dallas, with basically the entire state hovering around 100 degrees for two straight months. The net result of this was chaos in the electricity market, even if customers and shoppers didn"t always see it front and center. Many REP"s sold their books to larger providers to get out of the volatile marketplace. Texans...

[caption id="attachment_3801" align="alignright" width="375"] Houston electricity rates may have increased over the past year but it’s no sweat when you shop for better rates with your power to choose! [/caption] How have Houston electricity rates changed this year? It seems like the prices always go up. Whether it’s gasoline, groceries, or utilities, it feel like every company wants more money for its products. Looking at Houston electricity rates over the last year, it’s clear the cost to power your home has increased. Last July, Texas Electricity Ratings compared the best 12-month electricity plans for CenterPoint Houston. At that time, Gexa Energy had the best price for large homes at 7.0 cents per kWh. Their best 12-month plan available today is the Gexa Saver Premium 12 with a rate of 9.9 cents per kWh. If you dig deeper into the information on Texas Electricity Ratings , you find similar stories for other companies. A power plan for all year The...

[caption id="attachment_3794" align="alignright" width="345"] Reading a plan’s Energy Fact Label (EFL) tells you everything you need to know about it — and more! [/caption] What Is an EFL in Texas? No one wants to read the fine print. But when you’re comparing Dallas electric rates , you need to know the full picture. This helps you save big when using the power to choose to find the cheapest electricity plan for your Dallas, Texas home. The Energy Facts Label (EFL) is a document that provides a quick overview of a plan to help you better understand exactly what it offers. Reading over a plan’s EFL helps you pick the best electricity provider for your energy needs. And when combined with the plan’s Terms of Service, these documents illustrate what you can expect from an electricity provider’s charges for your Texas electricity usage. What Kind of Details Are on the EFL? At the top of the EFL is the name of the plan, whether the plan is a variable of...

[caption id="attachment_3848" align="alignright" width="300"] Increase your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your use with a smart thermostat from one of these fixed rate plans for your Dallas home. [/caption] What’s the best smart thermostat electricity plan in Dallas? One way to keep your energy bill low is with a smart thermostat. If you don’t already have one, you should choose a plan that provides you with one for free. TriEagle’s Smart Energy 24 makes that easy. It’s the best smart thermometer plan, providing the lowest rates in Dallas. The Smart Energy Plan for the Cheapest Rates This is the best smart thermometer plan for the ONCOR area. It offers cheap rates, easy billing, and tons of perks for customers. Smart Energy 24 provides fixed rates at a low electricity supply rate of 9.7¢ per kWh for 24 months. There’s the monthly base charge of $4.95 each month. This brings the average price per kWh to 10.2¢ for 1000 kWh of usage ea...

[caption id="attachment_3863" align="alignleft" width="293"] Texas summer heat has arrived! Shop now for a low fixed rate to keep from getting burned! [/caption] ERCOT"s new June peak demand record? But It’s Only June 1! ERCOT’s Twitter posting on June 1 sent an electric shiver through a sweltering Texas: ERCOT set a new June peak demand record this afternoon, reaching 67,887 MW between 4 and 5 p.m .  Well, technically— demand was 67886.60 MW but you get the point. Texas electricity demand was getting to be in spitting distance of ERCOT’s anticipated peak load forecast of 72,756 MW and that  made folks nervous and look fretfully at their air conditioners. And while ERCOT updated it’s available capacity to 78,184 MW on April 31, the amount hasn"t provided much comfort against high Texas energy prices this summer. ERCOT’s generation shortfall stems partly from the retirement of about 4,500 MW in coal-fired generation and construction delay...