When Texas deregulated its energy market in 2002, the state opened the floodgates for average people to choose how they wanted to purchase electricity. They didn\u2019t have to simply accept the rates and terms as dictated by their local utility company any longer. They could explore electricity plans from a wide variety of companies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to this advent of choice, retail electricity providers began creating plans tailor-made to appeal to every possible consumer \u2013 from prepaid, fixed-, and variable-rate plans, to free nights, free weekends, and renewably sourced power. The options seem nearly endless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, more than 15 years after market deregulation gave consumers the choice to pick the electricity plan that meets their needs, Texans still struggle with picking a plan that\u2019s right for them. Moreover, with the state\u2019s population booming, the energy demand has only increased, which means customers and stakeholders want cleaner energy options from wind, solar, and natural gas. Now, residents are not only having to decide which plan is best for them, but also which is best for the people, places and planet around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Texas’s deregulated energy market, electricity rates fluctuate based on factors like seasonality and demand. Notably, shopping for electricity plans during the Spring and Fall <\/strong>season may help you secure the lowest rates<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s understandable you could become overwhelmed by plan choice, shopping for electricity in Texas is easier than you might think. We\u2019ve collected five crucial tips for navigating the Texas energy landscape, so you choose the right plan for your budget, values, and lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of which plan you eventually choose, it\u2019s important to know how much electricity you use. By knowing your average energy usage, you can easily calculate your estimated payment under each plan to determine which works best with your current situation. You might have seen options like \u201cindexed plans,\u201d \u201creal-time pricing,\u201d \u201ctime-of-use plans,\u201d and various combinations of free nights and weekends. As popular as those plans seem to be, two basic plan types remain: fixed-rate and variable-rate. Both have their pros and cons, so let\u2019s break them down further: Ultimately, there\u2019s no right or wrong answer to this question. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but it\u2019s up to you, the customer, to decide which is the right fit for you. We recommend you peruse your plan options on PowertoChoose.org, the official site from the Texas Public Utility Commission. There, you can pop in your average electricity use, filter by the plan type (fixed, variable, indexed), and even see service records from customers. A crucial part of comparing and contrasting plans on such a comparison site is examining the details of the benefits promised by the plans that interest you. You should also remember that plans often have more benefits and promotions than what\u2019s visible on PowertoChoose.org<\/a>. We encourage you to visit the actual website of the company offering the plan to see the full details of the offer. That said, please remember this general rule of thumb: Anything claiming to be \u201cfree\u201d isn\u2019t really free. If your gut tells you deals like \u201cfree nights and weekends\u201d sound too good to be true \u2013 they probably are. Instead of having these types benefits sway your decision, use that handy-dandy calculator in PowertoChoose.org<\/a> with your average usage and consider the freebies as \u201cbonus points.\u201d#1 Calculate your current energy consumption<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n#2 Pick the right plan for your lifestyle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n#3 Study the details
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