Moving into a new-to-us house in Belton and need to get the power deal done. Anybody have recommendations for a provider? I've been to power to choose and Griddy and and still confused.
Choosing a power provider in Texas
- Thread starter tomcatmv
- Start date
Texas is now being called Taxas, muther fuckers, I hope you aint another fucking Cali refugee.
Welcome
Welcome
I'm an eastern Washington redneck refugee leaving this commie state that would be fine if it weren't for the fucksticks in Seattle and Olympia. Does anyone use 4 Change Energy or Pennywise?
Yeah, I hate Austin. When we flew in and out of there last February it reminded me of the last time i was in Seattle with all the skinny jean millennial pukes. Belton still seems like a pretty conservative area and we're kind of out in the country and only about 10 minutes from a boat launch. Anyhow I've been doing some serious googling on this power stuff and it is really confusing.
It's typical to change providers every year or two. Free market keeps those that read the fine print paying less. Auto renewal is a bad idea. Electricity brokers are a option. FYI mine went form 2.8 cents per KWH for the last 2 years to 9.1 KWH. Rates jumped across the the board in my area. 9.1 was the best available. For thous with poor credit 12 was the average.
If your on a co-op your stuck with them, there are good coops and some that suck.
If you on Oncor, Tex Mex, or some of the other random providers power to choose site like said above. I'm on United Coop here and there good to go and cheap for the most part.
If you on Oncor, Tex Mex, or some of the other random providers power to choose site like said above. I'm on United Coop here and there good to go and cheap for the most part.
Green Mountain does not manage the lines to your house, they only broker the power so don't call them if your power goes out. In the Houston area, Center Point Energy owns the wire and also the NG service. Amigo Energy is who brokers my power and I pay my bill to. If my lights go out and unfortunately they often do, I have Center Point on speed dial.
To the OP, you first need to be sure there is a choice at your address. My main house I have a choice, my ranch house (small town) I have to use a Co-op only. Some small towns are single provider/co-op only. When I first looked at power for the ranch, Power to Chose said I had a choice, it was wrong.
If you have a choice, be sure to look at ALL the charges. They typically list a KW rate but many brokers also have pass through fees from the utility company (this can be $20-$50+/mo) AND they may have a small print rider that allows them to change your "fixed" rate if the price to them changes by a certain percentage.
Also, ask the provider if you select a fixed rate for 12-24 mo, will they allow you to go to a lower rate if they lower their published rates during your term without having to pay a fee. You have to monitor this and call if rates drop. Amigo Energy will do this. I have no affiliation with Amigo, just been a customer for a long time. I don't like the games many of the other brokers play.
If you want to do solar at some point, from what I found a few years ago, most Co-ops in TX are not required to buy back surplus power. Major utilities like Center Point were required to buy back surplus power.
When I was working out in Texas I lived in Bay City and used Amigo, no problems, office right in town and so was a big Center Point center. I just went with what the guys out at the power plant recommended. Been a couple of years so things could have changed.
watch property taxes and fees in this state the gov is as bad as cali on the local level,,, corrupt and statists, they are like 38 on the freedom index, right in there with Illinois
I’m with Discount Power and have been happy.
Be wary of the door to door salesmen from TXU they will pull some shady shit to fool you into switching.
I had one try to tell me they had a state mandate to take over the area because our current provider had been overcharging.
His story fell apart when I started asking questions so I didn’t fall for it, but some people might.
They stop by probably once a year but not once have they been even close to competitive with pricing.
I was with Green Mountain for a long time, but they also stopped being competitive after awhile.
Be wary of the door to door salesmen from TXU they will pull some shady shit to fool you into switching.
I had one try to tell me they had a state mandate to take over the area because our current provider had been overcharging.
His story fell apart when I started asking questions so I didn’t fall for it, but some people might.
They stop by probably once a year but not once have they been even close to competitive with pricing.
I was with Green Mountain for a long time, but they also stopped being competitive after awhile.
If you have never lived in the house before, or dont have access to the prior bills, sign up for a 6 month plan, even though it might be more expensive. Shit do a month to month for a month or two.
See what your KW usage is.
My house in Dallas is super energy efficient and I am gone typically 2 weeks a month and I was getting by on a 500kw plan for like 4.5c per KW, but if I exceeded 500kw the price jumped to like 15c per KW. So a reward for using less energy. Well now that I am married and somebody is at the house all month, holy shit. My 35-45 dollar bills are now 100+ and I wouldnt say, beyond HVAC, we are power users. We are now firmly in the 1000 or so KW a month area so in August when the plan expires, I will be re-shopping. I dont personally buy into the "free nights and weekends" bull shit because if you look at it the day rate is like triple what a regular plan is so in the end, are you really saving anything...
Ive had Reliant 2x and Gexa once. Our line provider is Oncor.
Like was said, watch the pass-through to the line provider. I read at one point it should be 20-25 bucks at most.
See what your KW usage is.
My house in Dallas is super energy efficient and I am gone typically 2 weeks a month and I was getting by on a 500kw plan for like 4.5c per KW, but if I exceeded 500kw the price jumped to like 15c per KW. So a reward for using less energy. Well now that I am married and somebody is at the house all month, holy shit. My 35-45 dollar bills are now 100+ and I wouldnt say, beyond HVAC, we are power users. We are now firmly in the 1000 or so KW a month area so in August when the plan expires, I will be re-shopping. I dont personally buy into the "free nights and weekends" bull shit because if you look at it the day rate is like triple what a regular plan is so in the end, are you really saving anything...
Ive had Reliant 2x and Gexa once. Our line provider is Oncor.
Like was said, watch the pass-through to the line provider. I read at one point it should be 20-25 bucks at most.
