Small Business Electricity Renewal in Texas: When to Renew, What to Compare, and What Happens If You Wait

Start shopping about 60 to 90 days before your business electricity contract ends. Texas rules require at least three expiration notices, the last at least 14 days before a small commercial fixed rate ends. If you do nothing, you move to a month-to-month plan you can cancel anytime without a fee, though its price can change each billing cycle.

This small business electricity renewal guide covers what the rule behind those protections actually says, a renewal timeline you can put on the calendar, and what to compare on each Electricity Facts Label (EFL). It's written for owners and office managers of Texas businesses under 50 kW, like restaurants, law and professional offices, and franchise locations. The rule is 16 TAC §25.475, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) rule for residential and small commercial customers.

Key takeaways

• Who's covered: Nonresidential customers with peak demand under 50 kW during any 12-month period, unless the load is part of a larger aggregation. Texas calls them small commercial customers.
• Notices: Your provider must send at least three written expiration notices during the last third of a fixed-rate term. For a small commercial customer, the final one must arrive at least 14 days before the contract expires.
• If you do nothing: You move to a month-to-month default product you can cancel at any time without a fee. Its price can vary from one billing cycle to the next.
• What to compare: A small commercial EFL shows the average price at 1,500, 2,500 and 3,500 kWh a month. Check those against your own usage, along with the term, the early termination fee and how any demand charge works.

Is your business a small commercial customer?

Texas draws a specific line. Under 16 TAC §25.471(d)(11), a small commercial customer is "a non-residential customer that has a peak demand of less than 50 kilowatts during any 12-month period," unless its load is part of an aggregation program whose peak demand tops 50 kW in the same 12 months. So the test is peak demand in kW, not your monthly kWh. And it's under 50 kW, not 50 or less.

Peak demand is the biggest burst of power your location pulls over a short window. Power to Choose, the PUCT's shopping site, defines it in its glossary as "the highest 15- or 30-minute demand period recorded during a 12-month period." If you're billed on demand, check the bill. Texas billing rules call for it to show the units measured, including actual kW or kVA and, where it applies, billed kW or kVA, as long as your provider gets that data from the utility. Oncor also notes you can access your business's usage history at Smart Meter Texas.

Why does the class matter? The notice timeline, the 14-day statements and the month-to-month default below all come from §25.475, which covers residential and small commercial customers. Above the line, a business "may agree to terms of service that reflect either a higher or lower level of customer protections" than the rules would otherwise give (§25.471(a)(3)). Power to Choose notes that "For many businesses, shopping for electricity is a negotiated purchase process."

What must your expiration notices tell you?

If you're on a fixed rate product, your provider has to warn you well before the end date. Section 25.475(e)(1) requires "at least three written notices" of the expiration date, sent during the last third of the contract period and spread out as evenly as practical. On a contract of 12 months or longer, the first notice can come up to three months before the end date. For a small commercial customer, "the final notice must be provided at least 14 days before the fixed rate contract will expire."

The notices go by mail to your billing address unless you've opted into electronic communications. Look for the words "Contract Expiration Notice" on the outside of the envelope or in the subject line of an electronic bill. You don't have to wait for it, either. Every small commercial bill has to show your fixed-rate expiration date in bold, underlined type, under 16 TAC §25.479(c)(6).

The notice itself has to include:

• The date your contract expires, in bold, underlined text.
• If your contract carries an early termination fee, a bold statement that no termination penalty applies to small commercial customers during the 14 days before the contract ends. If the original contract had no termination fee, this statement isn't required.
• Any renewal offers the provider chooses to make, where to find their terms of service and EFLs, what you need to do to take one, and the deadline.
• In the final notice, the EFL for the default renewal product (or how and when you'll get it, no later than 14 days before expiration), a statement that service continues under that EFL if you take no action, and a statement that the default service is month-to-month and can be canceled at any time with no fee.

One more protection is easy to miss. If your provider doesn't send the required notices and you don't pick another product before the term ends, the rule says it "must continue serving the customer under the terms of the fixed rate contract" until it does provide notice.

A note on older contracts: these small commercial notice requirements took effect in early 2022, and a contract signed before then follows the version of the rule in place when it was signed.

What happens if you do nothing?

You don't lose power. If you take no action after the final notice, §25.475(e)(2)(A) requires your provider to serve you on "a default renewal product that is a month-to-month product that the customer may cancel at any time without a fee." The same rule says that price "may vary between billing cycles based on clear terms designed to be easily understood by the average customer."

Month-to-month has a precise meaning in Texas. It's a contract with a term of 31 days or less, and it "may not contain a termination fee or penalty" (§25.475(b)(7)). You can also read the default product's terms today, because every contract has to include the terms of the default renewal product you'd roll into.

Will the default cost more than a new fixed plan? The rule doesn't say, and the only way to know is the default product's EFL, which the final notice has to include. Compare its average price at your usage with the renewal offers before you decide.

One timing detail: if your contract ends on a calendar date, your provider can keep billing the contract price "through the first meter read on or after the end date" (§25.475(c)(3)(C)). So the last bill at your old price may run a few days past the date on your notice.

When should you renew a business electricity contract?

The rule sets the minimum notice. It doesn't tell you when to start shopping. Here's the timeline we'd recommend for a small business on a fixed-rate contract, counted back from the expiration date on your bill.

Want to see Ambit Energy's small business options before your notice deadline? Request small business plan options

What should you compare on a small commercial EFL?

The EFL is the standardized fact sheet every Texas provider has to publish for each product. It's the closest thing to an apples-to-apples electricity comparison for a small business, because every provider has to use the same price points. Under §25.475(g)(2)(C)(ii), the average price is shown in cents per kWh, rounded to the nearest tenth of a cent, at 1,500, 2,500 and 3,500 kWh a month. "If demand charges apply assume a 30 percent load factor." Load factor is simply how steady your use is: your average demand divided by your peak.

That 30 percent assumption matters. If your location runs steady all day, or spikes hard at lunch, your real average price can land away from the label's sample numbers. Ask for the price at your own usage and load shape.

Our guide to reading a Texas Electricity Facts Label walks through the residential basics. The idea is the same, but the small commercial price points are different.

Lining up EFLs side by side and want Ambit's in the mix? Request small business plan options

Fixed term or month-to-month for a small business?

For a small commercial account, the choice is narrower than you might expect. Providers can't offer indexed products to residential or small commercial customers on or after February 1, 2022, and wholesale indexed products have been off the table since September 1, 2021 (§25.475(c)(3)(F)). That leaves fixed rate products and variable price products, including the month-to-month default.

In Texas, a fixed rate product has a term of at least three months, and its price stays the same for that term except for actual changes in TDU charges, ERCOT or Texas Regional Entity administrative fees, and new costs from federal, state or local law (§25.475(b)(5)). A month-to-month product carries no termination fee, but its price can change from one billing cycle to the next.

Here's how we'd weigh it for a small business:

• Your lease and your plans. If you might move, check the relocation terms. A Texas contract is tied to the location, and there's no early termination fee for moving if you give a forwarding address and, if asked, reasonable evidence you've left (§25.475(c)(2)(C)).
• Budget certainty. A fixed rate holds your price steady for the term, apart from the allowed pass-throughs, which makes monthly costs easier to plan.
• Flexibility. Month-to-month commercial electricity lets you leave at any time without a fee. That can help during a short gap, such as a remodel or a pending sale.
• Other locations. If you run more than one site, lining up end dates means you renew once instead of chasing several deadlines. We can work out the setup for all of them.

Will your delivery charges change when you renew?

Renewing doesn't change them, and neither does switching providers. Delivery charges come from the utility that owns the poles and wires at your location, called the TDU. Oncor lists four of them in the state's deregulated zones: Oncor, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP) and AEP Texas. As Oncor's Delivery Charges 101 page puts it, its "delivery rates are regulated and approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas," and providers include those charges on your bill "at a rate structure agreed to by the customer when they enroll."

Those charges do change over time. Oncor notes that "TDU delivery charges are revised from time to time," and the PUCT rule lets even a fixed rate product pass through "actual changes in TDU charges" (§25.475(b)(5)). When that happens, your bill has to show the change as a separate line item or carry a notice that the amount billed may include price changes allowed by law or regulatory actions (§25.475(d)(2)(B)).

How those charges are built also depends on your demand. In Oncor's area, nonresidential accounts above 10 kW move to a schedule where most of the variable delivery charges are billed on kW instead of kWh, and CenterPoint draws its line at 10 kVA (each utility's current tariff, read November 3, 2026). Our guide to TDU delivery charges breaks down each line on the bill.

Running a restaurant? Our guide to what uses the most electricity in a restaurant shows how demand billing plays out in a busy kitchen.

How VIP Energy Service helps you renew

Ambit Energy is the retail electric provider, so it's the company that sells you the electricity and sends the bill. Your TDU still delivers the power and reads the meter, whichever provider you choose.

If your commercial electricity renewal is coming up, the business plan request form is the place to start. Sending it doesn't enroll you in anything. We'll reach out to talk through your options.

Send your service address in the form, and we'll confirm the business plans available there.

Ready to plan your renewal? Request small business plan options

Renewing at home instead? Residential customers get different notice timing, which our guide to the best time to renew your electricity contract covers.

Opening another location? Our guide to setting up electricity before move-in day walks through ESI IDs, peak demand and move-in timing.

Frequently asked questions

When should a Texas small business start shopping before its electricity contract ends?

About 60 to 90 days before the expiration date printed on your bill. That leaves time to gather usage, request offers and compare EFLs before the final notice deadline. On a contract of 12 months or longer, the first expiration notice can arrive up to three months before the end date, so treat it as your cue to start.

What happens if my business electricity contract expires and I do nothing?

Your service continues. Your provider must move you to a month-to-month default product you can cancel at any time without a fee, and the final notice has to include that product's EFL. The month-to-month price can vary between billing cycles.

Can my business leave its contract in the last 14 days without a cancellation fee?

If your contract has an early termination fee, your expiration notice must state, in bold, that no termination penalty applies to small commercial customers during the 14 days before the contract ends. Check the notice and your terms of service for the exact dates. Before that window, the early termination terms in your contract apply.

How do I know if my business is a small commercial customer in Texas?

Look at your peak demand. A small commercial customer is a nonresidential customer with peak demand under 50 kW during any 12-month period, unless its load is part of an aggregation that peaks above 50 kW. If your bill lists actual or billed kW, that's your demand. Smart Meter Texas shows your usage history too.

What should I compare on a small business Electricity Facts Label?

Start with whether it's a fixed rate or variable price product and the average price at 1,500, 2,500 and 3,500 kWh a month, which assumes a 30 percent load factor if demand charges apply. Then check the term, the early termination fee and the fee list, and read how the terms of service apply any demand charge.

Will my delivery charges change when I renew?

Not because you renewed. Delivery charges come from your TDU's PUCT-approved tariff and change on the utility's schedule, and a fixed rate product can pass through actual changes in TDU charges. Switching providers doesn't change the TDU's charges either.

Sources

• Public Utility Commission of Texas, 16 TAC §25.471, General Provisions of Customer Protection Rules (effective January 6, 2022). Accessed November 3, 2026.
• Public Utility Commission of Texas, 16 TAC §25.475, General Retail Electric Provider Requirements and Information Disclosures to Residential and Small Commercial Customers (effective January 6, 2022). Accessed November 3, 2026.
• Public Utility Commission of Texas, 16 TAC §25.479, Issuance and Format of Bills (effective January 6, 2022). Accessed November 3, 2026.
• Public Utility Commission of Texas, Electric Substantive Rules (index of current rules and effective dates). Accessed November 3, 2026.
• Power to Choose, Glossary and Business (Nonresidential). Accessed November 3, 2026.
• Oncor Electric Delivery, Delivery Charges 101 and Tariff for Retail Delivery Service (Section 6.1.1.1.3, effective June 1, 2026). Accessed November 3, 2026.
• CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, Tariff for Retail Delivery Service (Sections 6.1.1.1.2 and 6.1.1.1.3, effective February 26, 2026). Accessed November 3, 2026.

Plan details and rates subject to change. Electricity service is subject to credit approval. Rule text and tariff details in this article are as of November 3, 2026, from the sources linked above. Published by Ambit Energy, VIP Energy Service.

If your Texas electric bill is bigger than your paycheck, whether it came from the July 2026 heat wave or this winter's first cold snap, four assistance programs can actually help: CEAP (Texas's state energy-assistance program, run locally by agencies like BakerRipley in the Houston area), the Weatherization Assistance Program, 2-1-1 Texas referrals, and Salvation Army utility grants. Households at or below 150% of the federal poverty guideline, which works out to $49,500 a year for a family of four in 2026, qualify for CEAP bill help.

Winter 2026-27 Update: Houston-Area Utility Help Reopens November 9

Updated October 27, 2026. If you're expecting a higher bill once the heat comes on this winter, here's what has changed since this guide first ran in August.

BakerRipley utility assistance (Harris, Brazoria and Galveston counties)

BakerRipley runs utility assistance for Harris, Brazoria and Galveston counties with funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). It helps pay electricity, gas or propane bills. It doesn't cover water.

Applications are closed right now, and BakerRipley says they're expected to reopen on Monday, November 9, 2026. In-person appointments for November became available to schedule on Monday, October 26, through the BakerRipley Utility Assistance Hotline at 713-590-2327. If you'd rather apply in person, or if anyone in your household doesn't have a Social Security number or ITIN, that hotline is the way in.

Here are the annual income limits BakerRipley lists, effective January 26, 2026:

What to have ready before you apply:

• Proof of income from the last 30 days for every household member 18 or older. Anyone 18 or older with no income needs a Texas Workforce Commission Wage Detail Inquiry printout, which you get in person at a Workforce Solutions office.
• An ID (a driver's license, passport, Matricular Consular or school ID) and a Social Security card for everyone in the household, children included.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for each household member.
• A copy of your current electricity, gas or propane bill.

BakerRipley allows one application per household per calendar year, won't review incomplete applications, and says to expect a written decision within six weeks. These details come from BakerRipley's utility assistance page as of October 27, 2026. Dates can move, so check the page before you go.

Outside the Houston area

BakerRipley is one of the local agencies that deliver CEAP, and every Texas county has one. To find yours, open TDHCA's Help for Texans search, choose Utility Bill Payment Help, and enter your city or county. You can also call 877-541-7905.

Statewide funding: where things stand

As of October 27, 2026, neither TDHCA nor the Governor's office has announced a separate winter energy-assistance package. On the federal side, the Administration for Children and Families released the first $3.6 billion of fiscal year 2027 LIHEAP funding, the federal money behind CEAP, on October 9, 2026, under a continuing resolution. The $166 million state boost announced in June still starts January 1, 2027.

Freeze protection works like heat protection

The rule that protects you in a heat wave also covers a hard freeze. Under PUCT rule 16 TAC §25.483(j), a retail electric provider can't authorize a disconnection for nonpayment in a county having an extreme weather emergency. That includes any day when the previous day's high didn't get above 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is forecast to stay at or below freezing for the next 24 hours. Providers also have to offer a deferred payment plan, on request, for bills that come due during that emergency. For how ERCOT sees grid risk this December, read Texas Power Grid Winter Storm: ERCOT's December Outlook.

A correction: the August version of this guide listed Texas Utility Help as an open program. TDHCA's Texas Utility Help website stopped taking energy-assistance applications on September 15, 2023, so this update replaces it with the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Key Takeaways

• CEAP is the state's flagship program and typically pays between roughly $300 and $1,500 toward a Texas electricity bill, with a maximum of $12,600 per year for heating and cooling combined and $1,800 for crisis help, according to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse Texas profile (updated April 20, 2026).
• 150% of the federal poverty guideline is the income line for CEAP in Texas. For a family of four in 2026 that's $49,500, since the 2026 HHS poverty guideline for four people is $33,000.
• BakerRipley, the CEAP agency for Harris, Brazoria and Galveston counties, expects to reopen applications on Monday, November 9, 2026. Appointments: 713-590-2327.
• Texas providers can't disconnect for nonpayment during an extreme weather emergency, which covers both freezing days and National Weather Service heat advisories, per PUCT rule 16 TAC §25.483(j).
• The $166 million in new state energy-assistance funding announced on June 8, 2026, starts January 1, 2027, per the TDHCA news release. No separate winter package had been announced as of October 27, 2026.

Why Do Texas Electric Bills Spike in Summer and Winter?

Summer bills in Texas rise for a simple reason: cooling a Texas home in July and August takes far more electricity than in mild months. The average Texas household uses roughly twice as many kilowatt-hours in summer as in spring, and the July 2026 heat wave pushed ERCOT into repeated peak-demand events and conservation notices. Higher usage on the same rate produces a bigger bill. Higher usage on a variable rate produces a much bigger one.

Winter works the same way in homes that heat with electricity. When temperatures drop toward freezing, a heat pump leans on its backup resistance heat strips, and those strips draw far more power than the heat pump does on a mild day. So a cold week can produce a bill that looks a lot like August's.

The good news is that Texas has a real safety net for households whose bill has outrun their paycheck. The four programs below either put money toward the bill or cut what you'll owe next time. They aren't just tip sheets.

What Are the 4 Assistance Programs That Actually Help Texans?

Here's the side-by-side view, in one place, so you can pick the right door to knock on first.

Program 1: CEAP (Texas's State Energy-Assistance Program)

CEAP is Texas's LIHEAP-funded bill-payment program, administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and delivered through local agencies that together cover all 254 counties. According to the TDHCA CEAP program page, the program is designed to help low-income households meet their immediate energy needs and control energy costs over time.

The numbers are the reason to start here. According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse Texas profile (updated April 20, 2026), Texas's LIHEAP funding for fiscal year 2026 is $202,298,015, including $9,496,375 from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The maximum household benefit is $12,600 for heating and cooling, and the maximum crisis benefit is $1,800. According to the NuWatt Energy Texas income-eligible programs guide (2026), a typical CEAP bill-assistance award falls between $300 and $1,500 depending on household size, income, and how severe the crisis is.

Eligibility is straightforward. CEAP is open to households at or below 150% of the federal poverty guideline. With the 2026 HHS guideline at $33,000 for a family of four, the CEAP line is $49,500, which matches the income table BakerRipley publishes for its TDHCA-funded program. Renters qualify if they're responsible for the electric account.

To apply, call 877-541-7905 or find your local CEAP provider through TDHCA's Help for Texans search. In Harris, Brazoria and Galveston counties that's BakerRipley, which expects to reopen applications on November 9, 2026 (see the winter update above). Most agencies ask for a photo ID, proof of income for every adult in the household, a recent electric bill with the account number, and proof of residency. Processing typically takes a few business days to about two weeks, per the Texas utility-help resource summarized in the Powerwizard 2026 guide, though BakerRipley tells applicants to expect a written decision within six weeks.

Program 2: Weatherization Assistance Program

The Weatherization Assistance Program doesn't pay a bill. It makes the next ones smaller, which is why it belongs on a winter list. TDHCA runs it with U.S. Department of Energy and LIHEAP funding through local agencies that cover all 254 Texas counties, according to the TDHCA weatherization page.

An eligible home gets a free energy audit, then work like caulking, weather-stripping, ceiling, wall and floor insulation, duct work, and tune-up, repair or replacement of inefficient heating and cooling systems. Households at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline qualify, according to the PUCT's help-paying-your-bill page. Priority goes to households with children under six, older residents, a resident with a disability, or the highest energy costs and lowest incomes.

Apply through the same Help for Texans search you'd use for CEAP. Some agencies run both programs (BakerRipley does), so ask about weatherization when you call about bill help.

Program 3: 2-1-1 Texas

2-1-1 Texas is the state's free, 24/7 referral line. It isn't a bill-payment program by itself, but it's the fastest way to find the local nonprofit, church, or partner agency near you that does write checks. According to the PUCT consumer-help page, 2-1-1 is the number PUCT itself directs Texans to call when they can't pay their electric bill. Dial 2-1-1 from any phone, or visit 211texas.org.

Use 2-1-1 when your CEAP agency is backed up or closed between application windows, the way BakerRipley is until November 9, or when you need something the state programs won't cover, like a partial-month deposit to keep service on.

Program 4: Salvation Army and Community Action Agencies

The Salvation Army offers emergency utility grants through its local Texas offices, and it partners with community action agencies across the state. According to the Salvation Army 2025 annual report, the organization provided financial assistance to 1,575,098 households nationwide that year.

Funds are limited and awarded case by case, but Salvation Army help is often the last-mile grant that closes the gap between your CEAP award and your actual balance. The fastest path is to dial 2-1-1 and ask for the nearest Salvation Army utility program.

What Should I Do First If I Already Have a Disconnection Notice?

Call your electric provider today, before you do anything else, and ask for a deferred payment plan. Texas rules require providers to offer one on request for bills that come due during an extreme weather emergency. They also have to make a payment plan available to many residential customers who say they can't pay a bill due in July, August or September, or a January or February bill when their county had five or more straight days of extreme weather the month before, under PUCT rule 16 TAC §25.480(j). Even when the rule doesn't require it, ask anyway.

There's also a legal safety net during extreme weather. Under 16 TAC §25.483(j), a provider can't authorize a disconnection for nonpayment in your county on a day that counts as an extreme weather emergency: a National Weather Service heat advisory that day or either of the two days before, or a day after a high that stayed at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit with freezing temperatures forecast for the next 24 hours. That's a floor, not a permission slip. Your balance still stands, and disconnection risk returns once the weather breaks. Get on a deferred plan and apply for CEAP while the protection is in effect.

Ambit Energy customers who are worried about a seasonal bill spike can also call the Ambit customer care line printed on the bill to ask about payment arrangements and confirm the account is in good standing before applying to a program.

The $166 Million State Boost Starts January 1, 2027

On June 8, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott announced $166 million in new energy-assistance funding for low-income Texans, administered by TDHCA and available for utility bills and efficient heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment. According to the TDHCA news release (2026), the funds are scheduled to begin January 1, 2027.

That money won't reach November or December bills, so the four programs above are still the doors to knock on this winter. For who qualifies and how the new funding is expected to work, read Texas Just Approved $166 Million in Energy Bill Assistance.

The 24-Hour Bill Relief Playbook

Here's the sequence I'd run through, in order, if a big bill just arrived and you can't pay all of it.

1. Call your electric provider today. Ask for a payment extension, a deferred payment plan, or both. Get the confirmation number in writing.
2. Dial 2-1-1 Texas. Ask for CEAP intake and for the nearest Salvation Army or community action agency that helps with utility bills.
3. Apply to CEAP at 877-541-7905 or through your local agency. In Harris, Brazoria and Galveston counties, call BakerRipley at 713-590-2327 to book a November appointment. Ask the same agency about weatherization while you have them on the phone.
4. Reset the plan for next season. Look at your kWh usage from your highest month, summer or winter, then choose a plan built for that kind of usage so this doesn't repeat.

Do all four in a day. That's the difference between a disconnection notice and a manageable payment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible for CEAP, and what income counts?

CEAP eligibility is set at or below 150% of the federal poverty guideline, per TDHCA CEAP program guidance. Household income includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security, unemployment, and most other cash income for every adult member. For a family of four in 2026, 150% of the federal poverty guideline is $49,500.

How long does CEAP processing take?

Processing time varies by local agency. The Powerwizard Texas bill-help guide reports a typical range of a few business days to about two weeks, while BakerRipley tells Houston-area applicants to expect a written decision within six weeks. Applications marked as a crisis (imminent disconnection or broken heating or cooling equipment) are usually expedited.

Do renters qualify?

Yes. Renters qualify if they're responsible for the electric account and meet the income and residency requirements. This is confirmed by the Texas Law Help utility-assistance article (2026).

What documents do I need to apply?

Most agencies ask for a government-issued photo ID, proof of income for every adult in the household (recent pay stubs, benefits letters, or tax returns), a recent electric bill with the account number and balance, and proof of residency. Some agencies also request medical documentation if a household member has a life-support need. BakerRipley's list is stricter: income from the last 30 days, ID and a Social Security card for every household member, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.

Can my power be shut off during a Texas heat wave or freeze?

Not on a day that counts as an extreme weather emergency in your county. Under PUCT rule 16 TAC §25.483(j), that's a day with a National Weather Service heat advisory (or one in the two days before), or a day after a high that didn't get above 32 degrees Fahrenheit with freezing temperatures forecast for the next 24 hours. The protection is temporary, so use the window to apply for CEAP and lock in a deferred plan.

Is Texas Utility Help still taking applications?

No. TDHCA's Texas Utility Help website stopped accepting energy-assistance applications on September 15, 2023, and water-assistance applications on November 3, 2023. TDHCA now points people to its Help for Texans search to find the local agency that handles utility assistance in their county.

Is Lite-Up Texas still available?

No. Lite-Up Texas discounts ended on August 31, 2016, when the System Benefit Fund that paid for them ran out of money, according to Texas Tribune reporting at the time. CEAP is now the main statewide program for help with an electric bill.

Can I get electricity in Texas without a deposit?

Sometimes. PUCT rule 16 TAC §25.478 lists ways to establish satisfactory credit without paying a deposit, including being 65 or older and not currently behind on any electric account. Victims of family violence can have the deposit waived with a certification letter from the Texas Council on Family Violence, according to the PUCT. Otherwise, providers can ask for a deposit based on your credit history, so ask each provider what it requires before you enroll.

What if my income is normally above the limit but this bill is crushing me?

Talk to your provider about a deferred payment plan, then call 2-1-1. Community action agencies and Salvation Army partners often have discretionary emergency funds that aren't tied to the 150% FPL line and can bridge a one-time hardship.

Related Reading on VIP Energy Service

• Texas Power Grid Winter Storm: ERCOT's December Outlook
• Texas Just Approved $166 Million in Energy Bill Assistance. Here's Who Qualifies and How to Save Before It Starts.
• Texas Utility Shutoffs Are Rising: What Homeowners Should Know
• Texas Summer Electricity Bills: How to Stay Cool and Save Money
• How Many kWh Does a Texas Home Use Per Day in Summer
• How to Read Your Texas Electricity Bill: Every Line Item Explained

External Resources

• BakerRipley: Utility Assistance (Harris, Brazoria and Galveston counties)
• TDHCA: Help for Texans (find your local utility assistance provider)
• Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs: CEAP program page
• TDHCA: Weatherization Assistance Program
• Public Utility Commission of Texas: Help Paying Your Electric Bill
• PUCT rule 16 TAC §25.483: Disconnection of Service (extreme weather, subsection j)
• LIHEAP Clearinghouse: Texas profile
• Administration for Children and Families: First LIHEAP Block Grant Funding Release, FY 2027
• TDHCA: Texas Utility Help website is closed
• Texas Tribune: Texas Stops Helping Poor Families Pay Their Electric Bills (2016)
• USA.gov: Get help with energy bills
• Texas Law Help: Help with Utilities
• 211 Texas
• TDHCA: Governor Abbott Announces $166 Million in Energy Assistance Funds

Ambit Energy plan details and rates subject to change. Energy facts label available on request. Subject to credit approval. Independent Consultant earnings vary. Rates, program funding, and eligibility rules current as of October 27, 2026. Program eligibility and benefit amounts are set by the administering agencies and can change. Always confirm current terms at the source before applying.

An Electricity Facts Label (EFL) is the one-page disclosure every Texas retail electric provider must hand you before you enroll in a plan. It carries six numbers that decide your monthly bill: the average price per kWh at three usage levels, the base charge, the energy charge, the TDU delivery charge, any bill or usage credit, and the early termination fee. Miss any of them and your real cost can land twice as high as the rate printed at the top of the ad.

Reading the label takes about three minutes once you know where to look. This guide is written for Texas households and small businesses shopping for electricity plans on Power to Choose. It walks the six numbers, shows the math at your own usage, and works through a real two-plan comparison so you can pick with your eyes open.

Key Takeaways

• Every Texas EFL shows the average price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh. Read the row closest to YOUR monthly usage, not the marketing rate.
• Three inputs move your bill: base charge, energy charge, and TDU delivery charge. Two structural traps skew the average: bill credits and cancellation fees.
• A June 2026 Retail Energy Revealed report found Texas households on the competitive retail market paid about $400 more per family than the regulated benchmark in 2024, roughly $2.8 billion in aggregate across roughly 7 million residential shoppers.
• The Public Utility Commission of Texas requires every EFL to use a standard format under Substantive Rule 25.475, so plans from any provider compare side by side.
• The rate you see on Power to Choose is almost always the average price at 1,000 kWh. If you use less or more, your real price is different.

What is a Texas Electricity Facts Label (EFL)?

An Electricity Facts Label is a standardized one-page plan disclosure that every retail electric provider (REP) in the deregulated ERCOT market must give you before enrollment. It is Texas's version of a nutrition label for an electricity plan. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) codified the format under Substantive Rule 25.475 so a family in Sugar Land can compare a Rhythm plan against a Chariot plan against an Ambit plan and read all three the same way. For a plain-English tour of how the Texas retail market itself works, see our guide to how Texas deregulated electricity works.

Your enrollment kit actually includes three documents: the EFL, the Terms of Service (TOS), and the Your Rights as a Customer (YRAC) notice. The EFL is the pricing sheet. The TOS is the contract. The YRAC is the rights disclosure. When people say "read the fine print," the EFL is the part that changes your bill.

Where do I find the EFL for a plan?

You will find the EFL on the plan card itself while you shop. On the state's official comparison site, powertochoose.org, every plan listing carries an "EFL" or "Fact Sheet" link right under the price. On a provider's own site, the link sits next to the "Sign Up" button. After enrollment, the provider is required to mail or email the EFL with your welcome pack.

If you already have service and cannot find the EFL, ask your provider's customer service line for the exact plan name and PDF. The PUCT requires them to give it to you at no charge.

The 6-Number EFL Cost Test

Every Texas EFL puts six numbers in the same six places. Read them in this order and you have the whole plan:

1. Average Price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh
2. Base Charge (monthly)
3. Energy Charge (cents per kWh)
4. TDU Delivery Charge
5. Bill Credit or Usage Credit (and the usage window it requires)
6. Early Termination Fee

The next six sections walk each number, in order.

Number 1: Average Price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh

The average price per kWh is the all-in cost of the plan: base plus energy plus delivery minus credits, divided by your monthly usage. Every EFL prints it at three usage levels: 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh.

Providers advertise the middle row. It looks cleanest and it is the number Power to Choose shows on the plan card. But most Texas homes do not use exactly 1,000 kWh a month, especially in summer. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported the Texas residential all-in rate averaged about 15.41 cents per kWh in Q2 2026. A single-adult apartment might land at 500 kWh in winter. A four-bedroom home with the AC running in July often hits 2,000 kWh or more. Our breakdown of how many kWh a Texas home uses per day in summer can help you pin down your own row.

Read the row closest to your actual usage. If the 500 kWh cell shows 22 cents but the 1,000 kWh cell shows 12 cents, that is a plan built around a bill credit that only fires at 1,000 kWh. Your real price at 700 kWh will look nothing like the advertised 12 cents.

Number 2: Base Charge (Monthly)

The base charge is a flat monthly fee the provider adds regardless of how much power you use. It usually runs zero to about $10, though a handful of plans go higher.

The trap is math. A $9.95 monthly base charge on a 500 kWh apartment adds about 2 cents per kWh to the effective rate, wiping out a 9-cent headline rate. On a 2,000 kWh home the same $9.95 fee spreads to half a cent per kWh. Base charges hurt low-usage households harder than heavy users. Some EFLs word this as "base charge applies only when usage is below X kWh," which is worse: it is a hidden minimum-usage penalty in different clothing.

Number 3: Energy Charge (Cents per kWh)

The energy charge is what the retail provider bills you per kWh for the power itself. It is the piece the REP controls: their generation cost, their margin, and their risk premium.

On a fixed-rate plan the energy charge does not change during the term. On a variable-rate plan it can move month to month, sometimes with only the small-print notification the PUCT requires. On an indexed plan it is tied to a formula (like the ERCOT wholesale price plus a fixed adder), and the EFL is required to show the exact formula.

Number 4: TDU Delivery Charge

Your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) owns the poles and wires. In Texas that means Oncor (Dallas-Fort Worth), CenterPoint (Houston), AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North, or TNMP. The TDU charge covers moving power to your meter and is regulated by the PUCT, so every retail provider passes through the same TDU rate in a given service territory. Our full walkthrough of TDU delivery charges on your Texas bill goes deeper on each utility.

Industry data compiled by Electric Choice in 2026 puts delivery charges around 15.9 cents per kWh in Oncor territory, 16.4 cents in CenterPoint, 15.1 cents in AEP Texas North, 15.4 cents in AEP Texas Central, and 14.6 cents in TNMP for typical residential usage. The EFL breaks this out as a monthly service fee plus a per-kWh charge. It is not something a plan competes on: two plans in Houston pay CenterPoint the same amount to move a kWh.

Number 5: Bill Credit or Usage Credit (the trap that turns a 9-cent plan into a 15-cent plan)

A bill credit is a fixed dollar amount ($75, $100, and $125 are common) the provider subtracts from your bill only when your monthly usage lands in a specific window (say, 1,000 to 1,999 kWh). A usage credit is the same idea worded slightly differently: a per-kWh rebate that kicks in above a threshold.

This is where the average-price-per-kWh headline breaks down. Doug Lewin, energy consultant and author of the Texas Energy and Power Newsletter, told Houston Public Media in May 2024 that Texas retail bills have grown more expensive and more volatile as plan complexity has climbed. A plan advertising 9.9 cents at 1,000 kWh often carries a $100 bill credit that fires exactly at 1,000 kWh. Use 950 kWh and the credit does not trigger, so your real rate might be 15 cents. Use 1,050 kWh and you win. Households whose usage swings across the threshold pay wildly different effective rates month to month. Our reporting on Texas households overpaying $480 a year on electricity unpacks the specific plan tricks that create this gap.

If a plan lists a bill or usage credit, write down the exact usage window on the EFL. If your actual usage does not land inside it most months, skip the plan.

Number 6: Early Termination Fee

The early termination fee is the flat dollar amount you pay if you cancel before the contract term ends. Common ranges run $50 to $295 for residential plans. Some EFLs use a tiered structure ($50 per remaining month, up to a cap), which often works out worse than a flat fee if you cancel early in the term.

Two carve-outs to know: month-to-month plans have no termination fee (that is the trade for a higher headline rate), and Texas law lets you cancel without a fee if you move out of the service address.

How to calculate your real per-kWh price

The formula is straightforward:

Real price per kWh = (Base charge + Energy charge x Usage + TDU per-kWh x Usage + TDU monthly - Credits) / Usage

Worked example: a 700 kWh household on a plan that shows 9.9 cents at 1,000 kWh with a $75 bill credit at 1,000 kWh, an 8.5-cent energy charge, a 4.8-cent TDU pass-through, a $4.39 TDU monthly, and a $0 base charge:

• Energy: 8.5 cents x 700 = $59.50
• TDU: 4.8 cents x 700 + $4.39 = $37.99
• Credit at 700 kWh: $0 (the 1,000 kWh threshold is not hit)
• Total: $97.49
• Real price: $97.49 / 700 = 13.9 cents per kWh, not 9.9

Same plan at 1,800 kWh triggers the credit and the math flips: the real price lands closer to 11.2 cents. Same plan, same household, two different worlds. If you want to trace the same math back to the individual line items on your invoice, our guide to how to read your Texas electricity bill shows exactly where each number lands.

A side-by-side comparison: Plan A vs Plan B

Consider a Houston family that uses about 750 kWh a month year-round (a modest apartment or an efficient small home).

At 750 kWh Plan A wins by four dollars. At 1,050 kWh Plan A wins by $80 because the credit kicks in. But at 950 kWh, Plan A loses badly because the credit misses and the per-kWh drops back to low-usage math. The advertised 9.9-cent rate never once matches this family's real bill.

Fixed vs Variable vs Indexed: what the "product type" line means

Every EFL declares the plan's product type. The three you will see in Texas:

• Fixed rate: energy charge does not change for the length of the term (6, 12, 24, or 36 months). The EFL number is the number.
• Variable rate: energy charge can change month to month at the provider's discretion. Historically the most expensive category on Power to Choose.
• Indexed rate: energy charge is tied to a published formula (typically the ERCOT wholesale price plus an adder). The EFL is required to show the exact formula and a warning that the rate can rise sharply during scarcity events.

A June 2026 report from Retail Energy Revealed found that Texas households on the competitive retail market paid roughly $400 more per family than they would have under the pre-deregulation benchmark in 2024, an aggregate overpayment of about $2.8 billion across roughly 7 million residential shoppers. Ed Hirs, an energy economist writing in Forbes in July 2026, argued that retail-choice electricity markets consistently price above traditional regulated markets. Fixed-rate customers on a well-read EFL routinely beat this average. Variable-rate customers routinely miss it.

What PUCT Substantive Rule 25.475 requires

The Public Utility Commission of Texas requires every EFL to show plan type, contract term, all pricing components (energy charge, base charge, TDU pass-through), any usage credits with their trigger, the early termination fee, and the renewable content percentage. The rule also requires that the numbers on the EFL match what actually appears on your bill (allowing for TDU adjustments that the PUCT approves separately, usually in March or September).

If a plan you enrolled in bills you differently than the EFL you signed up under, you have grounds to file a complaint with the PUCT's Customer Protection Division at puc.texas.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find my EFL if I already enrolled? Ask your provider's customer service line and give them your plan name. They are required by PUCT rule to send it. It is also usually posted in your online account under "Documents" or "Plan Details."

Is the price on my bill the same as the EFL price? The line-item breakdown matches (energy charge, base charge, TDU). The all-in cents-per-kWh figure may not, because your actual usage rarely lands exactly at 500, 1,000, or 2,000 kWh. Do the math with your real usage using the formula above.

Why is my TDU delivery charge different on my bill? The PUCT approves TDU rate changes twice a year (usually March and September). Your EFL number is fixed at enrollment. Your bill number updates when the PUCT approves a change.

Do all Texas EFLs use the same format? Yes. PUCT Substantive Rule 25.475 mandates a standard layout, so the same six numbers sit in the same six places on every EFL from every REP.

What does "100% renewable" on an EFL actually mean? It means the provider retires enough Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to cover 100% of your usage. Actual power flowing to your outlet still comes off the ERCOT grid (a mix of gas, wind, solar, nuclear, and coal).

Can I switch plans if my current EFL numbers changed? If the change is a TDU pass-through approved by the PUCT, no (that is a market-wide adjustment). If the provider changed the plan itself outside a variable-rate or indexed formula, you can cancel without a termination fee. Call PUCT if the provider refuses.

What to do next

Pull up powertochoose.org, enter your ZIP, and screen every plan on your shortlist using the 6-Number EFL Cost Test above. Do the real per-kWh math at YOUR usage, not at the 1,000 kWh headline. Skip plans whose usage-credit windows do not match your monthly range.

If you would rather have a Texas-based team read the EFLs for you, we can pull the current numbers for your ZIP and walk them line by line before you enroll.

Plan details and rates subject to change. Energy facts label available at ambitenergy.com. Subject to credit approval. This guide is intended for Texas households and small businesses. Rates and terms current as of August 2026.

You can get same-day electricity in Texas with no deposit by signing up for a prepaid pay-as-you-go plan before your provider's daily cutoff, funding your first balance, and confirming your address has an active smart meter. Most cutoffs land between 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. CT, Monday through Saturday, and remote smart-meter activation puts power on within a few hours.

Key takeaways

• Prepaid plans skip both the credit check and the refundable security deposit. You pay for kilowatt-hours before you use them.
• Same-day connection typically requires enrollment before 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. CT on a business day, plus a working smart meter (nearly every Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and TNMP home already has one).
• Initial funding usually runs $30 to $75 and covers your first few days of power.
• The Public Utility Commission of Texas allows two deposit-free paths beyond prepaid: a letter of credit showing 12 months of on-time payment, and a letter of guarantee signed by a qualified third party.
• Prepaid electricity typically costs 20 to 30 percent more per kWh than a competitive 12-month fixed rate, so it is a short-term bridge, not a long-term strategy.

What is same-day no-deposit electricity in Texas?

Same-day no-deposit electricity in Texas is a prepaid, pay-as-you-go retail plan that starts service the same business day you enroll, without a credit check or a refundable security deposit. Instead of a deposit, you pre-load a balance (usually $30 to $75) and pay for kilowatt-hours as you use them.

The legal framework sits in the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) rules. Under 16 TAC §25.478, Credit Requirements and Deposits, a retail electric provider (REP) may require a security deposit from a residential applicant, but must waive it when the applicant meets specific conditions. Prepaid service, governed separately under §25.498, is the fast lane because it bypasses the deposit process entirely by moving the customer to advance funding.

Two things make "same day" work: an operational smart meter at your address, and enrollment before the provider's daily cutoff. Nearly every home served by Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas, or TNMP already has a smart meter, so the local wires company (your TDU) can turn service on remotely within a few hours, no truck roll needed. For the details on which TDU serves your address and what shows up on your bill, see our breakdown of TDU delivery charges by Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and TNMP.

Which Texas providers offer same-day service with no deposit today?

Four prepaid REPs consistently appear in same-day, no-deposit searches: Pogo Energy, Payless Power, Acacia Energy, and Now Power Texas. Each is licensed by the PUCT and operates in the ERCOT competitive market. The ranked table below shows their advertised same-day cutoffs, initial funding requirement, and coverage.

Sources: provider websites and Choose Energy provider guide, as of August 6, 2026. Plan details and rates subject to change. Call the provider to confirm before you enroll.

What are the same-day electricity cutoff times by provider and TDU?

Cutoff time is the single biggest factor in whether power actually flows today. Miss it by ten minutes and you wait until the next business day. Non-prepaid REPs also offer same-day connection, but many still require a credit check and a possible deposit.

Sources: Pogo Energy, Choose Texas Power, Reliant Energy, Constellation, and Choose Energy provider comparison, as of August 6, 2026. Plan details and rates subject to change.

The TDU itself does not set a customer-facing cutoff. Your address is assigned to one of the four Texas TDUs (Oncor, CenterPoint Energy, AEP Texas, or TNMP), and that TDU physically performs the reconnect order the REP sends over. Because remote reconnects on a smart meter typically complete in 1 to 4 hours, the REP's cutoff is what governs whether the lights come on today.

Can I get same-day electricity if I have bad credit? The 3-Path Same-Day Framework

Yes. There are three legal paths to same-day power without a large upfront deposit, all grounded in PUCT rules. We call this the 3-Path Same-Day Framework. Pick the path that fits your credit history and how long you plan to stay on the plan.

Path 1: Prepaid Pay-As-You-Go

The fastest path. No credit check, no deposit, and same-day activation with any of the prepaid REPs above. You fund an initial balance, and the account draws down as you use power. The trade-off is a higher per-kWh rate and the risk that service pauses if the balance hits zero. Best for renters, short leases, or anyone bridging 30 to 90 days.

Path 2: Deposit Waiver

Under PUCT §25.478, a REP must waive the security deposit if you provide a letter of credit from your most recent electric utility showing 12 consecutive months of on-time payment with no more than one late payment, or if you qualify as a customer 65 years of age or older with no delinquent balance, or as a documented victim of family violence. This path preserves standard (non-prepaid) rates and is the right move if you can wait one to two business days for the letter to be verified. Subject to credit approval.

Path 3: Letter of Guarantee

Under §25.478, a qualified third party (a friend, family member, or business) can sign a letter of guarantee that transfers deposit responsibility to them, up to a set dollar cap. The guarantor must be an existing customer of the REP in good standing. This path lets you skip the deposit and stay on a standard fixed-rate plan without waiting on your own payment history.

How does the same-day power connection actually work?

Here is the timeline from click to lights on:

1. Enroll and fund (0 to 15 minutes): Sign up online or by phone with a prepaid REP. Provide your Texas ZIP code, service address, and driver's license or state ID. Pay the initial balance by debit card, credit card, or cash at an authorized retailer.
2. Address confirmation (15 to 30 minutes): The REP verifies that your address maps to a smart-metered ESI ID in the ERCOT market. If your home is not on a smart meter (rare), same-day service is not available and a technician visit is required.
3. TDU reconnect order (30 to 60 minutes): The REP sends a reconnect message to your TDU (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, or TNMP). No technician visit is needed for a smart-meter home.
4. Meter energized (1 to 4 hours after the reconnect order): The TDU switches the meter on remotely. You receive a text or email confirming power is live.

Total elapsed time from click to power: usually 2 to 6 hours during business hours, provided you beat the cutoff.

How much does no-deposit prepaid electricity really cost compared with a traditional plan?

Prepaid electricity is a convenience product, not a value product. Expect to pay 20 to 30 percent more per kilowatt-hour than a competitive 12-month fixed rate. Run the math against your actual usage before you commit. The average Texas electricity rate is 10.58 cents per kWh, as of August 6, 2026, according to Texas Electricity Ratings, so the gap is real money on a typical bill.

Plan details and rates subject to change.

Texas homes average 1,096 kWh per month, above the national average of 863 kWh, according to nodepositlights.com Texas usage data (2026). At the summer peak of 2,000 kWh, prepaid bills can hit $250 to $330, while a competitive fixed rate lands closer to $200 to $240. The USA Today Hostage to Heat investigation (2026) reported that Texas accounts for about 20 percent of the roughly one million U.S. prepaid utility accounts, and that prepaid customers face a higher disconnection risk during heat waves. Match the plan to how long you actually need it. For a full breakdown of the plan types on Power to Choose, see our guide to Texas electricity plans and how to pick the right rate in 2026.

How do I sign up for same-day no-deposit electricity in Texas?

1. Verify your ZIP is in the ERCOT competitive market. If your address is served by Austin Energy, CPS Energy (San Antonio), or a municipal utility, retail choice does not apply, and this playbook will not help you.
2. Compare same-day prepaid plans. Check the state comparison portal, Power to Choose, and filter for prepaid. Compare per-kWh rate at 1,000 kWh, daily service fee, and cancellation terms.
3. Enroll before the cutoff. Have your ID, service address, and payment method ready. Aim for at least an hour before the cutoff to allow for phone hold time or online verification.
4. Fund the initial balance. Expect $30 to $75. Pogo Energy specifically requires $60 before 6 p.m. CT for same-day activation.
5. Wait for the "power on" confirmation. Set up balance alerts and auto-refill so service does not lapse mid-heat wave.

Documents required at enrollment: Texas driver's license or state ID, current service address, contact phone and email, and a valid payment method.

Same-day electricity in Houston, Dallas, and other major Texas metros

The four Texas TDUs cover distinct territories:

• CenterPoint Energy serves Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, and Baytown.
• Oncor covers Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Frisco, Killeen, and Waco.
• AEP Texas covers Corpus Christi, McAllen, and Laredo.
• TNMP covers portions of the Gulf Coast, the Panhandle, and select suburbs.

Because all four TDUs support remote smart-meter reconnects, same-day service works uniformly across metros. Your cutoff time is dictated by the REP, not the TDU. If you want a longer-term view of how the deregulated market decides which providers serve your address, our guide to how Texas deregulated electricity works walks through the ERCOT retail structure.

What are the trade-offs of prepaid no-deposit electricity?

Prepaid buys speed and access, and costs you optionality. The trade-offs are consistent across every prepaid provider we reviewed.

Advantages

• No credit check, no deposit, and same-day activation, six days a week.
• Month-to-month with no early termination fee. Cancel any day, no penalty.
• Daily usage and balance alerts help households on a fixed income track spending in real time.
• Fast path to service after an unpaid balance with a prior REP.

Trade-offs

• Effective per-kWh rate is typically 20 to 30 percent higher than a comparable fixed-rate plan.
• If the account balance hits zero, service can pause within a few hours. The disconnection notice window is shorter than a traditional monthly bill.
• Auto-refill requires an active payment method on file. Declined cards can trigger interruption during heat waves.
• Prepaid plans usually cannot access promotions like free nights and weekends or solar buyback credits.

If you plan to stay in the home more than 3 to 4 months and can pass a credit check, run the math on Path 2 (deposit waiver) or Path 3 (letter of guarantee). The one-time hassle usually pays back within the first billing cycle. If you want a month-to-month plan without the prepaid premium, our Lone Star Flex no-contract guide covers the standard-billed alternative.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get same-day electricity in Texas on a Sunday or a holiday?

In most cases, no. Pogo Energy, Payless Power, and other prepaid REPs list Monday through Saturday cutoffs and pause same-day activation on Sundays and major holidays. Enroll and fund the account, and service typically turns on the next business day.

Do I need a smart meter for same-day electricity?

Yes. Same-day power depends on the TDU remotely switching your meter on. If your address does not have a smart meter (uncommon in ERCOT territory), a technician visit is required and service can take 1 to 3 business days.

How much do I need to pay up front for prepaid electricity in Texas?

Initial funding typically ranges from $30 to $75. Pogo Energy requires $60 before 6 p.m. CT for same-day activation. Payless Power and Acacia Energy list similar ranges.

Is prepaid electricity the same as no-deposit electricity in Texas?

Prepaid is the most common no-deposit path, but not the only one. PUCT §25.478 also allows a deposit waiver via a letter of credit from your prior utility or a letter of guarantee from a qualified third party, both of which keep you on a standard non-prepaid plan. Our complete guide to no-deposit electricity in Texas provides a comparison of all three choices.

Can I switch to a cheaper plan later if I start on prepaid?

Yes. Prepaid plans are month-to-month with no early termination fee, so you can move to a fixed-rate plan the moment you build up 12 months of on-time payment history and qualify for a deposit waiver under §25.478.

Which Texas providers offer same-day service with no credit check?

Pogo Energy, Payless Power, Acacia Energy, and Now Power Texas are the four most commonly cited prepaid REPs offering both no credit check and same-day activation on business days.

Need power on today in the ERCOT market? Start with our request-a-quote form and we will point you to the fastest same-day path for your ZIP, TDU, and credit situation.

No-deposit electricity in Texas is any residential plan that starts service without a refundable upfront deposit or a hard credit check. There are three legal doors to it: qualifying on your credit, using a PUCT deposit waiver (age 65 plus, letter of credit, or family violence certification), or enrolling in a prepaid pay-as-you-go plan under PUCT Rule 25.498. Each door has a different cost and a different trade-off.

Key takeaways

• Texas gives you three legal ways to skip an electricity deposit: qualify on credit, use a Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) waiver, or enroll in prepaid service.
• Traditional postpaid deposits run about $100 to $400, per Electric Choice (2026). A soft-check no-deposit plan typically runs 10 to 16 cents per kWh, and a prepaid plan typically runs 12 to 18 cents per kWh.
• PUCT Substantive Rule 25.478 waives the deposit for customers who are 65 or older with no recent past-due balance, for customers who can show a good 12-month letter of credit, and for certified victims of family violence.
• Prepaid service starts with a connection balance of up to $75 under PUCT Rule 25.498, and can be disconnected once your balance falls to the low-balance threshold.
• On 1,000 kWh a month, choosing prepaid over a deposit-waived fixed-rate plan can add roughly $15 to $40 to your bill, or about $180 to $480 a year, per Electric Choice (2026).

What is no-deposit electricity in Texas?

No-deposit electricity in Texas is a residential retail electric plan that begins service without an upfront security deposit. Some no-deposit plans waive the deposit because your credit qualifies, some waive it because a PUCT rule requires the waiver, and some are prepaid plans that never ask for a deposit at all. All three sit inside the state's deregulated retail market, which means dozens of retail electric providers (REPs) compete on the same wires from your local transmission and distribution utility (TDU).

The important detail is that "no deposit" is not one product. It is three different paths to the same result: your power turns on without you writing a several-hundred-dollar check. This guide is written for Texas households shopping for a residential plan, not for consultants looking at the business opportunity.

Why do Texas retail electric providers ask for a deposit?

A deposit is how a Texas REP protects itself against unpaid bills from a customer it cannot yet score as low risk. When you apply for a standard postpaid plan, the provider runs a credit check. If your credit sits below the provider's internal threshold, the provider can either refuse service or approve you with a refundable security deposit, typically $100 to $400, according to Electric Choice (2026). The deposit sits with the provider, earns a small amount of interest under state rule, and comes back to you (usually as a bill credit) after a period of on-time payments.

That process is legal, common, and painful for anyone moving in, rebuilding credit, or getting hit with a several-hundred-dollar cost on top of first-month rent.

What are the three doors to no-deposit electricity in Texas?

We call these the three doors because each one is a completely separate path with its own rules, its own paperwork, and its own price.

Door 1: Credit qualification (no deposit, no waiver needed)

If your credit score meets the provider's threshold, the provider will start service on a regular postpaid plan and will not ask for a deposit at all. Different REPs use different thresholds. ElectricChoice.com (2026) reports that a credit score around 650 or higher is usually enough for most Texas REPs to waive the deposit on a standard fixed-rate plan. Some providers use a "soft-check" model that pulls a lighter credit review and offers a slightly higher rate (typically 10 to 16 cents per kWh, per Electric Choice 2026) as the trade-off for the softer check.

Door 1 is the cheapest door if your credit qualifies, because you get access to standard fixed-rate pricing.

Door 2: A PUCT deposit waiver under Substantive Rule 25.478

Even if your credit does not qualify on its own, Texas rules force REPs to waive the deposit for specific categories of customers. PUCT Substantive Rule 25.478 (credit standards) recognizes at least three:

• Age 65 or older. The applicant is 65 or older and does not have an outstanding balance from the last two years with the same type of electric utility service.
• Letter of credit from a prior utility. The applicant has been an electric customer within the last two years, is not delinquent, was not late more than once in the last 12 consecutive months, and was not disconnected for nonpayment.
• Certified victim of family violence. The applicant qualifies under Texas Family Code section 71.004 and provides the standard certification letter developed by the Texas Council on Family Violence.

If you fit one of those buckets, the REP is required to waive the deposit. Ask for it in writing, and cite Rule 25.478 if you get pushback.

Door 3: Prepaid electricity under PUCT Rule 25.498

Prepaid electricity skips the credit check entirely and never asks for a deposit. Instead, you fund a small starting balance, the smart meter tracks your usage daily, and you top up the account before it runs low. PUCT Substantive Rule 25.498 governs how prepaid service works in Texas, including the maximum $75 initial connection balance and the low-balance disconnection rules.

Door 3 is the easiest door to walk through. It is also usually the most expensive per kilowatt-hour, and it comes with a different risk profile we will get to in a moment.

What credit score do you need for no-deposit electricity in Texas?

Most Texas REPs waive the residential deposit at roughly 650 or higher, per ElectricChoice.com (2026), though the exact cutoff varies by provider and is not published. Below that threshold, a hard-check standard plan will usually require a $100 to $400 refundable deposit. A soft-check no-deposit plan will often approve you at a lower score in exchange for a rate that runs 2 to 4 cents higher per kWh, per Electric Choice (2026).

If your score sits in the mid-600s or below, it is worth checking Door 2 (a PUCT waiver) before you agree to pay the deposit, because a valid waiver bypasses the score question entirely.

Who qualifies for a PUCT deposit waiver?

Under Rule 25.478, you qualify for a waiver if any one of these is true:

1. You are 65 or older with no outstanding electric balance from the last two years.
2. You have a letter of credit from a prior electric utility showing you were not delinquent, were not late more than once in the last 12 months, and were not disconnected for nonpayment.
3. You have been certified as a victim of family violence under Texas Family Code section 71.004 by an agency that uses the Texas Council on Family Violence certification letter.

You only need one. The REP is required to accept the qualifying documentation and start service without collecting a deposit. Rule 25.478 also encourages utilities to include a letter of credit history with your final bill so you can carry that record to your next provider.

How does a prepaid electricity plan actually work?

A prepaid plan turns your electric bill into a debit-card-style balance. Rule 25.498 sets the mechanics:

• You fund a starting connection balance of up to $75. Choose Energy (2026) notes Payless Power's popular 6- and 12-month prepaid plans start at a $40 minimum funding amount.
• Your smart meter reports usage every day. The REP debits your balance daily at your plan's kWh rate plus any fixed daily fees.
• The REP sends you a low-balance alert (typically by text or app) as your account approaches the disconnection threshold.
• If your balance falls to the disconnection threshold and you do not add funds, the REP can disconnect service, often the next business day, without the standard 10-day written notice a postpaid customer would receive.

That last bullet is the point every family should read twice. Prepaid gets your power on without a credit check, but it also strips out the delinquency buffer standard postpaid customers rely on.

How much more do prepaid plans cost per month?

Prepaid plans typically cost 12 to 18 cents per kWh, versus 8 to 14 cents per kWh for a standard fixed-rate plan with good credit, per Electric Choice (2026). ElectricRates.org (2026) puts the delta at roughly 17 to 21 cents per kWh for prepaid versus 7.7 to 8.1 cents per kWh for traditional fixed-rate plans. PowerWizard (2026) reports the average prepaid plan runs 17 to 22 cents per kWh, compared with 12 to 15 cents per kWh for a standard fixed-rate plan.

Translated to a real bill, on 1,000 kWh a month (roughly the ERCOT statewide residential average), that gap is about $15 to $40 per month, or $180 to $480 per year in extra cost, per Electric Choice (2026). Here is the shape of it at a mid-range set of assumptions:

Rate ranges cited above are illustrative industry ranges as of August 2026, gathered from public rate-comparison sites, and reflect market conditions on that date. Plan details and rates are subject to change. An Energy Facts Label is available for every plan on each provider's site and on the state's Power to Choose marketplace, and the EFL is the only binding source for what you will actually pay. We walk through how to read the EFL line by line in How to Read Your Texas Electricity Bill: Every Line Item Explained.

Which door should you choose?

There is no single right answer, but there is a clean decision rule.

• If your credit score is around 650 or higher, choose Door 1 (a standard fixed-rate plan with the deposit waived on credit). It is the lowest per-kWh cost by a wide margin.
• If you fit any category under Rule 25.478 (age 65 plus, valid letter of credit, or family violence certification), choose Door 2. You get the same low postpaid rates as Door 1 with a legally required deposit waiver.
• If neither Door 1 nor Door 2 fits, and you need power today, choose Door 3 (prepaid) and budget for the higher per-kWh rate. Then revisit Door 1 or Door 2 after 12 months of on-time payments, when you can request a letter of credit and switch to a cheaper standard plan.

The plans we cover in more depth for shoppers who want to compare across all three doors live in our pillar guide, Texas Electricity Plans Explained: How to Pick the Right Rate Plan in 2026.

What do consumer advocates say about prepaid electricity?

Prepaid plans have real defenders and real critics, and it is worth hearing both.

Carol Biedrzycki, executive director of the Texas Ratepayers' Organization to Save Energy (Texas ROSE), told the Texas Tribune she considers Texas prepaid electricity "almost dysfunctional," citing repeated small disconnections, recurring fees, and the way the model targets low-income Texans. Then-state representative Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, backed a Texas ROSE petition asking the PUCT to examine one prepaid product, and PUCT spokesman Terry Hadley confirmed at the time that the commission's staff was reviewing the petition.

A USA Today Network investigation titled "Hostage to Heat" documented Texas prepaid customers losing power on hot days with only hours of notice, and traced it back to the fast-disconnection mechanics baked into the prepaid model.

None of this makes prepaid wrong. It makes it a tool with a sharp edge. Read the PUCT Prepaid Electric Service FAQ and the PUCT Know Your Rights page before you sign, especially the notice-of-disconnection rules.

How do you enroll in no-deposit electricity in Texas?

Enrollment looks a little different for each door.

• Door 1 (credit-qualified postpaid). Choose a plan on your REP's site (or on Power to Choose, the state's official comparison marketplace), enter your address and Social Security number, and consent to a credit check. If you qualify, the REP schedules service in one to three business days.
• Door 2 (PUCT waiver). Choose the same plan you would under Door 1, then submit your qualifying documentation (proof of age 65 plus, a letter of credit from a prior utility, or the Texas Council on Family Violence certification) with your application. Ask the enrollment agent to note that you are requesting a Rule 25.478 waiver.
• Door 3 (prepaid). Enroll with a REP that offers prepaid service. Fund your initial connection balance (up to $75 by rule, sometimes as low as $40). Same-day service is common, per Electric Choice (2026).

If you want a family-friendly, Texas-rooted REP to walk you through the door that fits your situation, request a personalized quote from an Ambit Energy consultant here: Ambit Energy plan quote. Ambit has served Texas households since 2006, and we can help you compare a deposit-waived fixed-rate plan against a prepaid option before you commit. All enrollments are subject to credit approval, and plan details and rates are subject to change.

Frequently asked questions

What credit score do I need to skip an electricity deposit in Texas?

Roughly 650 or higher will waive the deposit at most Texas REPs, per ElectricChoice.com (2026). The exact cutoff varies by provider and is not published, so the safest step is to check with two or three REPs before agreeing to a deposit.

Is prepaid the same as no-deposit electricity?

Prepaid is one type of no-deposit plan, but the reverse is not true. Choose Energy (2026) explains that some no-deposit plans still run a credit check and waive the deposit based on your score, while prepaid plans skip the credit check and let you pay in advance instead.

How much is the average electricity deposit in Texas?

Traditional postpaid electricity deposits in Texas typically run $100 to $400, per Electric Choice (2026). The exact amount is set by the REP based on your credit review and expected usage.

Can seniors (65 plus) skip an electricity deposit in Texas?

Yes. Under PUCT Substantive Rule 25.478, a residential applicant who is 65 or older and does not carry an outstanding electric balance from the last two years has satisfactory credit for the deposit and cannot be charged one. Provide proof of age with your application.

What happens if a prepaid balance runs out?

Under PUCT Rule 25.498, once your balance falls to the disconnection threshold, the REP can disconnect service on very short notice, often the next business day, without the 10-day written notice a postpaid customer receives. Turn on low-balance text alerts and keep a small buffer to avoid a surprise outage.

Can I switch from a prepaid plan to a standard fixed-rate plan later?

Yes. After 12 consecutive months of on-time payments, ask your REP for a letter of credit and use it to enroll on a standard fixed-rate postpaid plan under Rule 25.478's letter-of-credit waiver. That is the fastest legal path from Door 3 back to Door 1 pricing.

For the broader picture of how retail electric providers compete in Texas, see How Texas Deregulated Electricity Works: A Homeowner's Guide to ERCOT and Power to Choose, and if a month-to-month rather than a fixed contract is what you actually want, our guide to No-Contract Month-to-Month Electricity in Texas walks through Lone Star Flex.

Need the power on today rather than in one to three business days? Our guide to same-day electricity with no deposit in Texas covers provider cutoff times and what to have ready when you call.

This is a plan-shopping guide for Texas households and small businesses in the deregulated ERCOT market. It is not financial advice, and it is not an income or business opportunity. All rate figures are illustrative and as of July 28, 2026. Plan details, availability, EFL, and Terms of Service vary by provider and ZIP code, and every enrollment is subject to credit approval.

TL;DR: A June 2026 Retail Energy Revealed report found Texas residential retail-choice customers overpaid about $4 billion in 2024 (roughly $480 per household) versus regulated default service. The cause is plan design, not usage. Five recurring tricks account for most of the gap: teaser rates, bill-credit thresholds, tiered pricing, silent auto-renewal to variable, and opaque free-nights plans. Six numbers on every Electricity Facts Label (EFL) catch every one of them: the average price at 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh, base charge, TDU delivery charges, and any minimum-usage fee or bill credit. This guide, using the Rule of 5-and-6 framework, walks through each trick and how to spot it before you sign.

A new report is putting a dollar figure on something Texas power shoppers have suspected for years: retail electricity plans are engineered to look cheap on the shelf and quietly cost more once the meter starts running.

The June 8, 2026 Retail Energy Revealed report found that Texas residential retail-choice customers paid about $4 billion more in 2024 than regulated default service would have cost, and more than $48 billion extra since deregulation began in the early 2000s. That works out to roughly $480 a year for a typical household. The findings were amplified on July 21, 2026 by the Dallas Morning News, Texas Standard, and a Forbes column by University of Houston energy economist Ed Hirs, all pointing at the same culprit: plan design, not usage.

At Ambit, we have been selling straightforward retail electricity in Texas since 2006, so this is our lane. Here is the Rule of 5-and-6 framework: the 5 plan tricks that drive most of the overpayment, and the 6 numbers on the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) that catch every one of them.

What Did the Retail Energy Revealed Report Actually Say?

The Retail Energy Revealed analysis, first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters on June 8, 2026, compared what residential retail-choice customers across the country actually paid to what regulated default service would have cost over the same years. Texas, the largest deregulated market in the United States, contributed the biggest slice of the $4 billion 2024 gap.

Ed Hirs, writing in Forbes on July 8, 2026, framed the same numbers as an ongoing consumer-protection problem: providers compete hard for you during a short promotional window, then monetize the relationship through renewal terms, credits tied to a narrow usage band, and rate structures that are hard to compare on a single dollar figure.

None of this is illegal. All of it is disclosed on the plan's Electricity Facts Label. But the tricks work because the average Texas shopper reads the marketing headline, not the EFL.

What Is the Teaser Rate Trick?

The rate you see on the ad is the rate for the first billing cycle or the first few months. After the promo ends, the price steps up, sometimes materially.

QuickElectricity and the Dallas Morning News both flag this as the single most common plan-design tactic in Texas. A plan advertised at 10.9 cents per kWh may be a 12-month contract that averages closer to 14 cents per kWh once the introductory period ends.

How to catch it: open the EFL. The "Average Price per kWh" figures at 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh are the contract-length averages, not the promo price. If those three numbers are noticeably higher than the marketing headline, you are looking at a teaser.

How Do Bill-Credit Thresholds Inflate Your Bill?

This is the most expensive trap of the five. The plan gives you a fixed dollar bill credit only if your monthly usage falls inside a narrow window, often 1000 to 2000 kWh. Use 999 kWh in a mild April, and the credit disappears. ElectricRates and Texas Electricity Ratings both note this can effectively double your rate in months where you miss the threshold.

Bill-credit plans reward one usage pattern and punish every other one. A family that goes on vacation for a week, a small business that closes for a holiday, or a household running efficient appliances all get penalized.

How to catch it: the EFL will list a "Minimum Usage Fee" or a bill credit line under "Other Key Terms and Questions." If either exists, calculate your effective rate at 500 kWh (a light month) and 750 kWh (a shoulder month), not just at the sweet spot.

What Is Tiered or Usage-Benchmark Pricing?

Similar to bill credits, but structured as different per-kWh rates at different usage bands. The plan quotes 9 cents per kWh at 1000 kWh, then 13 cents at 500 kWh and 11 cents at 2000 kWh. Looks attractive at exactly one benchmark, expensive everywhere else.

ElectricRates recommends always calculating your effective rate at your own historical monthly usage rather than at the benchmark the plan is designed around.

How to catch it: if the three "Average Price per kWh" numbers on the EFL vary by more than 1.5 cents across the 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh columns, the plan has tiered pricing. Pick the column closest to your actual bill.

How Does Silent Auto-Renewal to a Variable Rate Cost You?

Your fixed-rate contract ends. If you do not re-shop, most providers roll you onto a month-to-month variable plan at a materially higher price. The Dallas Morning News notes this as one of the main levers behind the $480 annual overpayment figure, because plenty of Texans forget the renewal date and stay on the variable rate for months.

Variable rates are legitimate in the right context (Ambit's own Lone Star Flex is a no-contract month-to-month plan for people who want that flexibility), but a variable-rate auto-renewal from a contract you thought was fixed is usually the most expensive rate the provider offers.

How to catch it: the EFL and the Terms of Service both disclose renewal treatment. Look for "Renewal Type" on the Terms of Service. If it says the plan renews to a "month-to-month variable rate," calendar the contract end date now and plan to re-shop 30 days before it hits.

When Do Free Nights or Free Weekends Plans Actually Cost More?

Time-of-use plans that give away a chunk of hours (nights, weekends, sometimes both) are excellent for the right household and expensive for the wrong one. The catch is that the on-peak rate that funds the free window is often 3 to 5 cents per kWh above a comparable fixed plan.

ElectricRates puts a rule of thumb on it: unless more than about 30 to 40 percent of your usage falls inside the free window, a straight fixed-rate plan is cheaper. A household that runs the dishwasher and laundry after 8 PM, charges an electric vehicle overnight, or runs a pool pump on a night schedule can win. A household that mostly cools an empty house during the day and cooks dinner at 6 PM usually loses.

Ambit's Free and Clear Nights is a genuine option in this category with published on-peak and off-peak windows, but even a good time-of-use plan is the wrong tool if your usage does not fit the window.

How to catch it: the EFL will show two "Energy Charge" lines instead of one, one for the free window and one for the paid window. Multiply your actual on-peak kWh (roughly 60 to 70 percent of usage for most Texas households) by the paid rate to see what you would really pay.

Which 6 EFL Numbers Catch Every Trick?

Every Texas retail electricity plan is required to publish an Electricity Facts Label. You can find it on Power to Choose or on the provider's own site. Six numbers on that label neutralize all 5 tricks:

If those three "Average Price" numbers are close to each other, the plan is straight per-kWh pricing with no hidden usage cliff. If they vary widely, the plan is a threshold play. That single test filters out four of the five tricks.

Where Ambit Fits

We have been selling retail electricity to Texas households and small businesses since 2006, so we have watched every one of these tactics enter and exit the market. Our plans are built to survive the EFL test:

• Lone Star Classic is a fixed-rate plan with straight per-kWh pricing and no bill-credit thresholds. The "Average Price per kWh" numbers at 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh are close together on purpose.
• Free and Clear Nights is our time-of-use plan for households that actually shift load into the free window, with clearly published on-peak and off-peak hours on the EFL.
• Lone Star Flex is our month-to-month variable option for people who want no contract, priced as a straightforward variable plan (not a renewal trap).

We publish the EFL for every plan, we do not price to a bill-credit threshold, and we send renewal notices in advance so nothing rolls silently to a higher variable rate.

Bottom Line for August 2026 Shoppers

The $480 gap the Retail Energy Revealed report identified is a plan-design problem, not a rate-market problem. Every one of the 5 tricks above is disclosed on the EFL before you sign. Read the label. Calculate at your actual monthly usage, not the benchmark. Calendar your renewal date. Prefer straight per-kWh pricing unless a time-of-use plan genuinely fits your household.

If you would like someone to review a Lone Star Classic quote for your ZIP code, we can gladly assist you with that as well. You can request a quote and we will retrieve your EFL to compare.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Electricity Facts Label (EFL)?

This is one page document provided by Texas retail electricity providers for each plan. It includes the average price for 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh, the base charge, TDU delivery pass-through, length of the contract, renewal treatment, percentage of renewable energy, and the minimum usage fee or a bill credit. It is available for each plan on the provider's site or on Power to Choose.

What is a bill-credit threshold, and why is it a trap?

A bill-credit plan provides a fixed dollar amount as a credit only when your monthly usage falls within a specified range (typically, 1000 to 2000 kWh). If your usage is lower than that range, you will lose the credit. This means your rates may double during that month. Texas Electricity Ratings and ElectricRates have both cited this as the most costly tactic when designing electricity plans for Texas.

When does a free nights or free weekends plan actually make sense?

As a rule of thumb, you usually need more than 30 to 40 percent of your monthly usage to be free in order for a time-of-use plan to offer better value than a straight, fixed-rate plan of equivalent quality. Households doing dishwashing, laundry, EV charging, or pool pumping at night stand to benefit; those who predominantly cool an unoccupied house during the day do not.

How often should I re-shop my electricity plan?

Mark your contract end date on the calendar, and aim to re-shop around 30 days ahead of it. Most fixed-rate contracts in Texas auto-renew to a month-to-month variance which tends to be the highest price offered by the provider. The Dallas Morning News cites auto-renewal as a key contributor to the $480 annual overpayment.

Which TDU serves my ZIP code?

Texas is served by four regulated TDUs (Transmission and Distribution Utilities). For the majority of the DFW metroplex, it is Oncor. For Houston and the coastal areas around it, it is CenterPoint. AEP Texas serves the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, and around Corpus Christi, while TNMP serves a mix of North, Central, and Gulf Coast areas. The TDU is a fixed pass-through charge listed on every EFL, and is the same across providers within your ZIP code.

Is the $480 overpayment figure applicable to my home?

This figure represents an average in the Texas market, so your actual gap may vary based on your current plan, usage pattern, and how long you have been on your current contract. A household that is stuck on a variable rate after an unnoticed auto-renewal will be well above the average. A household that reads the EFL and re-shops annually will be well below it.

Additional Information

• TDU Delivery Charges Explained: Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP, TNMP Line Items on Your Texas Bill
• Free Nights Energy Plans in Texas: How They Work and Who They Are For
• Ambit Lone Star Classic (fixed-rate)
• Ambit Free and Clear Nights (time-of-use)
• Request an Ambit Energy Quote

References

• Retail Energy Revealed report, reported by EnergyChoiceMatters, June 8, 2026: energychoicematters.com
• Ed Hirs, University of Houston, "Why Are Retail Choice Electricity Markets More Expensive?" Forbes, July 8, 2026: forbes.com
• Dallas Morning News, Watchdog column on Texas retail electricity overpayment, July 21, 2026: dallasnews.com
• Texas Standard, "How energy companies are getting away with overcharging consumers": texasstandard.org
• ElectricRates, guides on bill credits and Texas plan design: electricrates.org