Home and Family

The spring season is a great time for small business and residential customers to take charge of their Texas electricity costs.

Have you ever changed your cell phone rate plan? If you are like most people, the answer is yes. But the funny thing is – More than half of Texas consumers have not taken advantage of competitive electricity prices made available through deregulation and they continue to be served by their incumbent utilities. That’s like staying on the same cell phone rate plan from the day you got your first cell phone. It simply doesn’t make sense.

The Texas deregulated energy marketplace enables customers to more easily and confidently evaluate options for selecting a new Retail Electric Provider (REP) based on lower rates, the use of “greener” power sources, different contract lengths or other offers. For consumers, switching is free and without risk. If consumers see an attractive offer they want to accept, they can make the switch to a new REP without worrying about a loss of power or change in customer service levels. The wires company that maintains their wires and delivers the electricity to the home will continue to be the same company – the only thing that changes is who sends you a bill.

Just as the Internet has made it easier for people to compare mortgages, travel rates and other services, ChooseEnergy.com has developed a compare and buy site that offers a trusted and objective comparison of available Texas electricity providers for residential and small commercial customers. Plus, the spring season is a great time to lock in a lower Texas electricity rate. Texas electricity prices usually track with natural gas costs, and natural gas is traditionally lower in shoulder months during the fall and spring season, before consumer demand increases during the hot summer Texas heat.

Each deregulated area of Texas has more than 10 retail providers, including several incumbent utilities to choose from. Customers should shop around to find the best rate and best plan for their home or business. Some people may feel more comfortable with a shorter term, while others may want the insurance of a fixed rate for a longer period of time and want to sign up for a long-term plan. Either way, consumers in deregulated areas should get to know their options and select a plan that fits their needs.

Just like cell phone providers – like AT&T or Sprint – Retail electric providers bid on customers’ electricity business and may personalize their bids to each customer or modify their offers and terms as often as they wish. For instance, electricity retailers may offer exceptionally competitive rates tied to longer term contracts to attract customers in a targeted geographic area or offer a renewable energy product for the same price as you are currently paying. The number of retail electricity providers has steadily increased since deregulation began in 2002 so you will need to do some homework to find the plan that suits your needs the best.

Just as you change your cell phone rate plan, with deregulation in the Texas electric market, you need to do the same with your electric bill. Shop around and lower your rate before the summer heat forces you to use more electricity and your electric bill gets out of hand.