Choosing a power company in Texas can be confusing because the advertised price is not always the amount a household finally pays. Base charges, usage credits, free-night periods, transmission fees and minimum-consumption conditions can all influence the monthly bill.
In deregulated parts of Texas, customers select a retail electricity provider, while the local transmission and distribution utility maintains power lines and restores outages. Residents of cities such as Austin and San Antonio generally receive electricity from municipal utilities and cannot freely choose among retail providers.
The companies below were selected by considering their Texas presence, plan variety, renewable-energy options, account-management tools and overall market experience. Prices are not ranked because rates vary by ZIP code, contract length and electricity usage.
1. TXU Energy
TXU Energy is one of the largest and most established retail electricity providers operating in deregulated areas of Texas. Headquartered in Irving, it is owned by Vistra and serves both residential and business customers.
The company offers fixed-rate plans, free-night and free-hour options, renewable-energy plans, solar buyback programmes and plans designed for electric-vehicle charging. Customers can monitor usage, pay bills and manage service through the TXU Energy app and online account.
Its large Texas operation can be helpful for households that value a recognised provider, several plan structures and established customer-support systems. However, customers should study the Electricity Facts Label because promotional credits and free-use periods may only benefit homes with the right consumption pattern.
Why TXU Energy is included: Its long Texas history and broad plan selection make it suitable for families who want several contract and usage-based options from a major provider.
- Corporate headquarters: 6555 Sierra Drive, Irving, TX 75039
- Official website: https://www.txu.com/
2. Reliant Energy
Reliant is a Houston-based electricity provider owned by NRG Energy. It supplies residential and business customers across Greater Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, West Texas, Central Texas and South Texas.
Its available products include fixed-rate, month-to-month, apartment, solar and usage-based plans. Reliant also offers renewable-energy additions, home-protection products, smart-home bundles and electricity plans designed around certain EV-charging habits.
Reliant provides 24-hour customer support and a mobile app for tracking electricity usage and paying bills. Qualifying new customers can also change to another Reliant plan within the first 90 days without an early termination charge, subject to programme conditions.
Why Reliant Energy is included: Its statewide reach, customer-service availability and combination of electricity and home-energy products make it a strong option for homeowners and renters.
- Corporate address: 1301 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77010
- Official website: https://www.reliant.com/
3. Gexa Energy
Gexa Energy was founded in Houston and has served the Texas competitive electricity market since 2001. It provides residential and commercial plans throughout deregulated regions of the state and operates as part of NextEra Energy Resources.
Gexa’s residential electricity is matched with renewable energy credits. Its plan selection also includes products created for solar households and electric-vehicle owners. Customers with rooftop panels can examine its solar buyback options, while EV plans may provide discounted nighttime charging.
The company’s app includes usage-monitoring and account-management tools. Gexa states that it served 1.8 million unique Texas households between 2001 and 2026.
Why Gexa Energy is included: Its renewable-energy focus, solar-related services and EV plan choices make it worth examining for households investing in cleaner home-energy technology.
- Houston office: 20455 State Highway 249, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77070
- Official website: https://www.gexaenergy.com/
4. Green Mountain Energy
Green Mountain Energy specialises in electricity products with an environmental benefit. The company has provided solar- and wind-related energy plans for more than 20 years and currently operates as an NRG Energy brand.
Its Texas products include local solar plans, EV-focused nighttime plans and the Renewable Rewards buyback programme for customers with qualifying home-generation systems. Green Mountain also offers residential and small-business electricity services.
Customers can monitor usage through the Green Mountain mobile app. Qualifying Texas residential customers also receive a one-time opportunity to change plans within 90 days without an early termination fee, according to the programme’s conditions.
Why Green Mountain Energy is included: It provides a clear choice for customers who place greater importance on renewable-energy products and environmental programmes.
- Corporate parent address: 1301 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77010
- Official website: https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/
5. Champion Energy Services
Champion Energy Services is a Houston-based retail electricity provider founded in 2005. It serves residential customers in Texas and provides commercial and industrial energy products in several deregulated markets.
The company offers fixed-price residential plans, online account management, usage information and electricity services for small and large businesses. Its commercial products may include fixed, index-based and customised purchasing structures, depending on the customer’s size and requirements.
Champion can be particularly relevant to customers who prefer straightforward fixed-rate contracts rather than plans based heavily on free periods or complicated usage credits.
Why Champion Energy Services is included: Its Texas roots and experience with both household and commercial electricity accounts make it a practical company to compare.
- Houston office: 1500 Rankin Road, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77073
- Official website: https://www.championenergyservices.com/
What Should Texas Customers Compare?
Always read the Electricity Facts Label before enrolling. Compare the average price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh, along with the base charge, delivery fees, early termination fee and renewable-energy percentage.
Usage-credit and free-night plans are not automatically cheaper. They work well only when a household’s normal consumption matches the plan’s pricing structure. Compare plans using at least 12 months of previous electricity usage whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which power company is cheapest in Texas?
A: No single company is consistently cheapest across Texas. Prices change by ZIP code, utility territory, usage level and contract period.
Q: Does changing electricity providers interrupt power?
A: Normally, no. The same local transmission utility continues delivering electricity through the existing wires.
Q: Who should customers contact during an outage?
A: Contact the local transmission and distribution utility, such as Oncor or CenterPoint, rather than the retail provider that sends the monthly bill.
Q: Are free-night electricity plans really free?
A: Electricity used during the stated hours may have no retail energy charge, but the daytime rate can be higher. The Electricity Facts Label explains exactly which charges are waived.
