Fixed or Variable? Finding the Best Houston Electricity Rates

            Do you know how to find the best Houston electricity rates? Do you know what benefits each plan offers from a particular provider? Have you looked at several providers and compared the plans and rates? Knowing what kind of electricity plan to look for is integral to getting a low Houston electricity rate. Fixed rate and variable rate plans work very differently and while one may look more attractive on the surface, it could end up costing you more.

            Fixed Rate Plan

            Depending on the time of year, these plans could have a higher rate than you’d hope. During the summer and winter, energy rates tend to be higher due to increased electricity and energy usage for AC and heat, respectively. It’s ideal to get the best rates during the spring or fall when rates are lower, but you can still save with these plans.

            Locking in your fixed rate means that your rate won’t change for the duration of your contract. The contract terms generally last between three months and three years, depending on the provider and plan. Throughout this time, with the exception of TDSP changes and new regulations, your rate will not change. No matter how much the market fluctuates, including as a result of severe storms, you keep paying the same rate. It’s a safeguard for the future of your energy use.

            Variable Rate Plan

            This plan might look more attractive on the surface compared to a fixed rate plan. They might be a bit cheaper at the time you sign up, but the rate will change every month. The good thing is you can switch plans at any time while in a variable rate plan, as they have no contract. If you’re in the last month or so of summer and want to get the good fall rates, a variable plan can be beneficial to get you through those last few weeks before the rates drop without locking you out of good rates due to a contract.

            Check the EFL

            Fixed rate plans lock in your rate, so you pay the same rate throughout your contract. Since there is a contract, there is almost always an early termination fee if you decide to switch before your contract expires. Other fees such as meter reading and base charge are applicable to any plan you get. The electricity facts label (EFL) for a plan will tell you what fees and other charges are applicable to your plan and how they are implemented. The overall rate you see for a plan will usually take into account the charges like meter reading and base charge, breaking it down so you see overall how much you’re paying for electricity per kilowatt hour.

            Read your EFL carefully to ensure there are no surprises. Some plans may show a low rate, but in the EFL that low rate only applies to a specific range of electricity use. Anything outside that range could be notably higher. Once you find a few plans you like and compare their EFLs and rates, you’ll be able to pick the one that gives you the best Houston electricity rate for your home.

Narrow Your Search for Houston Electricity

Houston, Texas is home to the Energy Corridor, a stretch of Interstate 10 that houses several well known energy companies. These companies, along with many others work hard to maintain the best deals and cheapest electricity in the city for consumers. They are dealing with changing market conditions, generation facilities, and distribution every day, all looking to make their clients happy. How do you choose the best out of these companies and find electricity that meets your needs?

The simple answer to that question is shopping around. Since there are dozens of energy providers all over the state, and each has several energy plans, there is a multitude of options to choose from. How does Houston find the best deal of electricity? You could spend a lot of time searching all over the internet, finding each retail energy provider that operates in your area, or you could save a lot of time and search through Shop Texas Electricity, instead.

We don’t sell electricity, so we’re not trying to get you to buy it from us. Rather, we help you speed up your search by bringing the electricity providers to you. Our comprehensive list of energy plans and providers lets you make apples to apples comparisons of electricity plans for your home. We list all of the major points in the quick view, including provider and plan name, average rate, contract term length, special offers, and even a handy annual savings calculator.

The list lets you quickly look at several plans at once without having to switch between multiple tabs and try to remember which plan offered what. Even better, we let you sort through plans using filters that group listings by provider, product name, term length, and price. This way, you can find plans based on your preferences. Plans that have special offers like rebates, credits, and other special promotions will have such items listed on the quick view as well. If you come across a plan that has a good price, and you like what they offer, you can look in greater detail by clicking the EFL link.

The EFL, or electricity facts label, is the “fine print” of any plan. All plans are required to have them and it shows how the average price is broken down, factoring in things like monthly base charges, meter reading fees, transmission charges, and other items. They will also tell you of any difference in rates for certain ranges of energy use. Sometimes an energy provider will offer a low average rate for electricity usage in a certain range, like 501 to 1000 kilowatt hours of electricity. Below or above that range, the price could be significantly higher. This is why it’s important to check the EFL for any plan you may wish to sign up for. The EFL will also list all possible charges and penalties associated with the product.

Once you’ve found a provider and plan for your Houston electricity service, all you need to do is click the “Order Now” button or call the phone number listed and you’ll be brought right to that company’s website and be able to sign up for the plan you chose. By helping you narrow down your search with an easy to read, sortable list, Shop Texas Electricity takes the hassle out of finding a good electricity plan for you home.