Texas Electricity News & Guides (page 2)

What happens when your Texas electricity contract ends

When a fixed-rate electricity contract in Texas ends and you do nothing, your provider usually moves you to a month-to-month default rate that can change and is often higher than new fixed offers. Under PUCT rules you can usually switch in the last 14 days before the contract's end date without an early-termination fee, so that window is a good time to choose your next plan. Check your contract for the exact dates.

3 5 5 5 42 Oct 8, 2026 · TexasHomeBills™

Utility (TDU) vs retail electricity provider in Texas: who does what

In most of Texas two companies serve your home: the utility (TDU), such as Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP or Lubbock Power & Light, owns the poles, wires and meter and restores power after outages; the retail electric provider sells you the plan and sends the bill. You choose the provider, but your address decides the utility, and its delivery charges pass through on your bill whichever provider you pick.

How to read an Electricity Facts Label (EFL) in Texas

Every Texas electricity plan has an Electricity Facts Label (EFL), a standard disclosure that shows the average price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh a month, whether the price is fixed or variable, the contract term, any cancellation fee and the renewable content. Read the price breakdown and the fine print about credits or minimum-usage charges, not just the 1,000 kWh price.

How much electricity does a Texas home use?

The average Texas household used about 1,096 kWh a month in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, but usage swings sharply with the seasons: on our modeled profile a home that averages 1,000 kWh uses roughly 1,500 kWh in August and 700 kWh in April. Your own 12-month history, from past bills or Smart Meter Texas, is the best number to shop with.

Fixed, variable, time-of-use and prepaid electricity plans in Texas

A fixed-rate plan keeps the same price for the whole contract, apart from limited regulated changes such as utility delivery charges. Variable plans can change price from month to month, time-of-use plans charge different rates by hour or season, and prepaid plans are paid in advance. Most households comparing plans by annual cost start with fixed-rate plans of 6 months or longer, which is what we show by default.

How bill credits work on Texas electricity plans (and the 999 kWh cliff)

A bill-credit plan takes a fixed dollar amount off your bill only in months when your usage reaches a threshold, usually 1,000 kWh. Miss it by a single kWh and you pay the full bill, so a plan that looks cheapest at exactly 1,000 kWh can cost more over a year. Check the credit terms in the Electricity Facts Label before you sign.

Questions

What is on the News & Guides page?

Articles written by TexasHomeBills™ about Texas electricity: rate trends, contracts and switching, bill credits, saving energy, outages and PUCT rules.

How is this different from the Headlines page?

This page has our own articles and guides. The Headlines page lists titles and links to articles published by other news outlets and agencies.

Is this financial or legal advice?

No. The articles are general information, rates and rules change, and they are not advice for your situation. Before you sign up, read the plan’s Electricity Facts Label on the provider’s site.

How do I find an article on a specific topic?

Use the search box, or filter by type, category and topic above the list.

News & guides