Texas Electricity Ratings Bill Calculator

We advise you to read the following to better understand the ins and outs of various electricity plans, but if you're in a hurry, feel free to jump ahead.

Why is my electric bill higher than it should be?

The PUC only requires companies to post their average rates for billing cycles at 500, 1000 and 2000 kWh. What goes on at other usage levels is not required to be disclosed on the web (except on the EFL). That's what allows you to see that 4.9¢ rate that you can't feasibly get on other comparison sites. The rate you see is only at that certain usage amount, and odds are, you aren't going to use 1,000 kWh in every billing cycle.

What do the houses mean?

The houses below represent the plan's rate at the 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh thresholds. The colors show the rate at those usage amounts relative to that plan's lowest rate. All green means the rate is fairly constant, regardless of usage amount. If part of the bar is orange, that means the rate at that amount is somewhat higher than the rate at the lowest usage amount. Red means the rate is significantly higher. Each plan will have at least one green section.
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Plan Profiles

Below are a few example plans we've created to illustrate how different rate structures work:

Fixed Rate

Regardless of how much energy you use, you will pay 10¢ per kWh. This is because the provider has included the TDSP fees into their price. If you use 500 kwh, you will pay $50. If you use 5,000, you will pay $500. The rates may not look as attractive, but you won't get any surprises on your bill.

Flat Rate

This plan has a fixed "monthly" charge of $75 with no energy charge up to 2,000 kWh. At 1,001 kWh, another fixed charge of $75 kicks in. At 2,001 kWh, an energy charge of 15¢ kicks in per kWh over 2,000. Depending on what the energy rate is, these plans could be ideal for large homes.

Bill Credit

This plan has a bundled energy charge of 15¢ per kWh. At 1,000 kWh, a $75 bill credit kicks in, dropping your average rate to 7.5¢/kWh. This credit is per billing cycle, not per month. If you use 1,100 kWh in January but only 950 in February, your February bill almost doubles!

Bill Credit with Cap

This plan also has a bundled energy charge of 15¢ per kWh and a $75 bill credit at 1,000 kWh. The difference is that the bill credit does not apply if you use more than 2,000 kWh in a billing cycle. Even though the EFL rates may look the same, these plans are very different.

To keep our examples simple, we've bundled the rates. Most plans are un-bundled, meaning the company you select will charge a fixed price per kWh and pass the TDSP (utility) fees on to you. TDSP fees usually include a base charge of $3-10 and an energy charge of 3-5¢/kWh. In bundled rate plans, the TDSP fees are not passed through to you. Your electricity company will absorb these costs and pay them to the utility for you. It is important to remember that TDSP fees are charged by your utility (Centerpoint, Oncor, AEP, TNMP). These are NOT bogus fees added to your bill by your electric company.

Other Factors

Keep in mind that there are other charges that can get added to your bill that may not be included in your rate. Some companies charge you for paying your bill online while others charge for paying by phone. There are also some companies that will charge you a monthly fee for not enrolling in auto-pay.

Read the EFL. Know what you're getting into before you sign a contract.


Get calculating!

Average Usage:
If you don't know your average usage, you can enter previous bill info below:

Note: The average bills shown are based on the average kWh entered extrapolated across an entire year based on aggregate customer usage data. Your yearly profile will differ based on factors like in-ground pools, electric heating, small data-centers in your garage, walk-in freezers, etc.

Company

Avg. Bill		 Profile
Amigo Web - 12
view EFL
$139
Amigo Web - 24
view EFL
$133
Amazing 18
view EFL
$151
Fantastic Fixed 6
view EFL
$173
Fast Fixed 4
view EFL
$149
Nifty 9
view EFL
$157
Terrific 12
view EFL
$150
Tremendous 24
view EFL
$144
Champ Saver-12
view EFL
$129
Champ Saver-24
view EFL
$128
Smart Lock 24 Online
view EFL
$142
Smart Value 12 Online
view EFL
$142
Bright Choice
view EFL
$146
Brighter Value 12
view EFL
$152
Direct Control 12
view EFL
$144
Free Power Weekends 24
view EFL
$152
Live Brighter 12
view EFL
$145
Live Brighter 24
view EFL
$143
Choice Now 12
view EFL
$152
Monthly Freedom Plan
view EFL
$146
Power-To-Go Deposit Freedom
view EFL
$134
Select Choice 12
view EFL
$144
You Got This 12
view EFL
$145
You Got This 24
view EFL
$143
Every Day | Every Night 12
view EFL
$157
Gexa Saver 12
view EFL
$144
Gexa Saver Premium 12
view EFL
$175
Gexa Saver Supreme
view EFL
$131
Gexa Saver Supreme 24
view EFL
$131
Gexa Saver Value
view EFL
$148
Pollution Free e-Plus 12
view EFL
$139
Pollution Free e-Plus Preferred Month-To-Month
view EFL
$146
Just Energy Web - 12
view EFL
$144
Just Energy Web - 24
view EFL
$143
Wise Buy 12
view EFL
$139
Wise Buy 14
view EFL
$138
Wise Buy Conservative Plus 12
view EFL
$142
#Jumbo12
view EFL
$163
#LagoVista12
view EFL
$119
#Mandarin12
view EFL
$144
#Quick12
view EFL
$131
#Quick24
view EFL
$131
#Rhythm12
view EFL
$133
#Smile12
view EFL
$106
#Yelp50
view EFL
$133
Clear Flex Plan
view EFL
$140
Secure Advantage 12
view EFL
$142
Truly Free Weekends 12
view EFL
$151
Price Protect 12
view EFL
$160
Price Protect 24
view EFL
$157
Tara Web - 12
view EFL
$139
Tara Web - 24
view EFL
$133