Our blog covers Texas electricity rates, plan comparisons, TDSP delivery charges, solar buyback, home battery storage, Free Nights plans, and practical energy-saving tips for homes and small businesses across the ERCOT deregulated market.

Compare three things: the energy charge (¢/kWh), the TDSP delivery fee for your service area (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, TNMP), and the contract term + early-termination fee. Match the plan type (fixed-rate, variable, indexed, Free Nights, prepaid) to your usage pattern — fixed-rate works for most homeowners who want predictable bills. Always review the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) before signing.

A fixed-rate plan locks your energy charge for the contract term (typically 12–36 months), insulating you from wholesale-price swings. A variable-rate plan moves with the market — usually cheaper than fixed when prices are low, but exposes you to spikes during summer peaks or ERCOT events. Most Texas homeowners benefit from fixed-rate pricing.

Your TDSP (Transmission and Distribution Service Provider) depends on your physical location, not your retail electricity provider. Most of DFW + the Permian Basin is Oncor; Houston metro + Galveston is CenterPoint; the Coastal Bend, Valley, and West Texas are AEP Texas; Lubbock + parts of South Texas are TNMP. You can confirm yours by entering your ZIP at powertochoose.org or by checking the back page of any Texas electricity bill.

You can switch any time after your contract end date (most are 12–36 months). Many providers will waive the ETF in the final 14 days of your contract. You can also move to a new address without an ETF on most plans. If you're mid-contract and want to switch early, check your EFL — the ETF is typically $150–$300 depending on remaining term.

Solar buyback (also called net metering or surplus-energy credit) compensates you for the kWh your rooftop panels send back to the grid. In Texas, buyback isn't standardized — each retail electricity provider sets its own credit. A 1:1 buyback plan credits you at the same per-kWh rate you're charged for consumption, which is the best economics for a solar homeowner. Partial-credit plans (below 1:1) make rooftop solar payback longer.

Yes. Many Texas retail electricity providers offer no-deposit plans for customers who pass a soft credit check or who pre-pay. Prepaid (pay-as-you-go) plans skip the deposit entirely. If you've been quoted a deposit and want to skip it, ask whether a no-deposit or prepaid option is available — we can help match you to one.

We publish new articles weekly, covering Texas rate changes, ERCOT events, solar and battery developments, and seasonal energy-saving guidance. The blog hub is refreshed each time a new article publishes, and the page itself is reviewed for accuracy quarterly.