What does a fixed rate plan actually fix?
Your bill has two parts. One is supply, the power itself. The other is delivery, the wires, which your utility runs. A supplier sells only the supply part. So a fixed rate plan fixes only that part.
| Part of your bill | Locked by a fixed plan? | Who sets it |
|---|---|---|
| Supply price per kWh | Yes, for the term | The supplier, in your contract |
| Monthly fee from the supplier | Only if the contract says so | The supplier |
| Delivery charges | No | Your utility, under a tariff the state approves |
| Taxes and government fees | No | Government |
| The price after the term ends | No | The renewal terms in your contract |
Texas puts one more limit in its rule. A fixed rate price may change only for three reasons. They are the wire company's charges, grid-operator or Commission fees, and a new law or order the seller cannot control (PUCT 25.475(b)(5)). The plan's Electricity Facts Label must list what is in the price.
Is a fixed rate cheaper than your utility's price?
Test every fixed offer against the price to compare, which is what your utility charges for supply if you pick no one. Texas has no price to compare, so the table for Texas shows the spread of fixed prices instead.
Pennsylvania
| Utility | Price to compare | Lowest fixed, 12+ months, no fees | Middle fixed, all fees | Offers under the price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PECO | 11.759¢ | 10.49¢ | 12.19¢ | 56 of 145 |
| PPL Electric | 13.079¢ | 12.59¢ | 13.59¢ | 52 of 147 |
| Duquesne Light | 14.140¢ | 12.90¢ | 14.99¢ | 44 of 131 |
| Met-Ed | 13.951¢ | 12.69¢ | 13.97¢ | 73 of 130 |
| Penelec | 13.142¢ | 12.94¢ | 13.99¢ | 34 of 131 |
| Penn Power | 13.477¢ | 13.09¢ | 14.39¢ | 31 of 112 |
| West Penn Power | 12.075¢ | 12.09¢ | 13.28¢ | 23 of 130 |
The "lowest" column leaves out any offer with a monthly or cancellation fee. The "middle" column counts every fixed offer of 12 months or more, fees and all. Both come from PA Power Switch. Our Pennsylvania price to compare guide shows what changes on Dec. 1.
Ohio
| Utility | Price to compare | Lowest fixed, 12+ months, no fees | Middle fixed, all fees | Fixed offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Ohio | 10.19¢ | 10.08¢ | 11.41¢ | 136 |
| AES Ohio | 10.86¢ | 10.09¢ | 11.19¢ | 110 |
| Duke Energy Ohio | 10.49¢ | 9.95¢ | 11.19¢ | 131 |
| The Illuminating Company | 11.24¢ | 10.09¢ | 10.87¢ | 118 |
| Ohio Edison | 11.07¢ | 10.09¢ | 10.89¢ | 135 |
| Toledo Edison | 11.26¢ | 10.09¢ | 10.89¢ | 120 |
Both columns come from the PUCO's Energy Choice Ohio charts. Our Ohio rates guide has the dates each price to compare runs.
Texas
Texas lists plans on Power to Choose, but no utility price to compare exists. These are 12-month fixed plans with no bill-credit or usage-fee flag, at 1,000 kWh, with delivery included. The spread is the point: two plans in one area can differ by several cents.
| Delivery area | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|
| Oncor (Dallas, Fort Worth) | 12.0¢ | 15.5¢ |
| CenterPoint Houston | 11.8¢ | 15.2¢ |
| AEP Texas Central | 11.0¢ | 14.2¢ |
| AEP Texas North | 11.2¢ | 14.9¢ |
| TNMP | 11.6¢ | 17.7¢ |
| Lubbock Power & Light | 11.8¢ | 15.5¢ |
Our Texas fixed vs variable guide covers the Texas choice in depth. The Power to Choose guide shows how a bill credit can hide a high price.
New Jersey and Illinois
New Jersey's state site lists 68 licensed suppliers but no prices, so you compare each seller's price page against the price to beat. Illinois lists offers on Plug In Illinois. The count below shows how many fixed offers beat the price to compare, which is why the test matters.
| Utility | Price to compare | In effect since |
|---|---|---|
| PSE&G | 19.79¢ | October 1, 2026 |
| JCP&L | 17.05¢ | October 1, 2026 |
| Atlantic City Electric | 18.16¢ | October 1, 2026 |
| ComEd (Illinois) | 10.103¢ | October 1, 2026 |
| Ameren Illinois, first 800 kWh | 10.441¢ | October 1, 2026 |
For ComEd, 3 of 41 fixed offers sat below the price to compare on October 25, 2026. See our Illinois price to compare guide and New Jersey rates guide.
Test a fixed offer before you sign
Type one offer, or two to compare. Add the months you expect to stay and your price to compare. The comparer counts the monthly fee and, if you leave early, the exit fee. It shows the average cost a month, so a 12-month and a 24-month plan compare fairly.
- 1Type your kWh.
It is on your bill. 900 is a fair guess.
- 2Type the months you will stay.
Moving soon? Use fewer months.
- 3Type each offer's price, fee, length and exit fee.
Find them on the offer's fact sheet or contract summary.
- 4Add your price to compare.
In Texas, type your current price.
The answer is for supply only. It leaves out delivery, taxes, credits and what the plan costs after the term ends. Treat it as a way to sort offers, not a quote.
Do longer terms cost less?
Ads often say a longer lock means a lower price. Check it, because it is not a rule. NOPEC is a group-buying program in northeast Ohio, and it posts both terms. Read across each row.
| NOPEC area | 12 months | 24 months |
|---|---|---|
| The Illuminating Company area | 10.299¢ | 10.599¢ |
| Ohio Edison area | 10.299¢ | 10.599¢ |
| AEP Ohio area | 10.599¢ | 10.899¢ |
A longer term can still be right. It shields you if the price to compare rises in year two. But it also locks you in if the price falls, and it raises the fee at stake if you move. Use the comparer above with your own months.
What happens when a fixed plan ends?
This is where fixed plans go wrong. A plan ends, and a new price starts unless you act. Each state sets its own notices. Cancel windows are in our switching guide.
| State | Notice before the term ends | If you do nothing | Leaving early |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | At least three written notices in the last third of the term, the last one at least 30 days before the end (terms over four months) | You move to a month-to-month default plan. A month-to-month plan may not carry an exit fee | Any fee is on the Electricity Facts Label. None in the last 14 days before a calendar end date, and none if you move and give a forwarding address |
| Pennsylvania | Two notices: 45 to 60 days and 30 days before | Your rate may change, including to a variable rate | The fee must be stated in dollars in the disclosure. None between the options notice and the end of the term |
| Ohio | The contract must carry a highlighted warning if it can renew without your OK, even at a new price | It renews on the contract's terms. Our Ohio guide has the notice dates | Every fee, including the early-exit fee, must be in the papers in dollars. The state chart shows 165 of 815 offers with one, up to $200 |
| New Jersey | Notice at least 30 days before the end | With no signed renewal, the old contract continues month to month at the same terms and price | Any early-termination fee must be listed. You may leave on 48 hours' notice after a move, a disability that stops you paying, or a death |
| Illinois | The contract must say whether it renews automatically | Read the contract. The supplier must state any variable price in set words | A home customer may end a supplier contract at any time with no termination fee |
The sources and rule numbers are in the list at the bottom. Rules change, so the contract and the notice you receive come first. For more on Ohio, read Ohio contract ending and fees, and for Texas, what to do when a Texas contract ends.
In Illinois, a fixed price is not a lock for you. You may leave at any time with no fee, so the only lock is on the seller. Test the price, then re-test it each year.
Six traps in a fixed rate offer
A low price per kWh is the bait. These are the places a fixed offer can cost more than it looks.
- Compare the all-in price, fee included, with the price to compare.
- Ask for the exit fee in dollars, in writing.
- Ask what the price is after the term.
- A price shown only at 1,000 kWh. A bill credit can make that price low and your real price higher. Check the price at 500 and 2,000 kWh too.
- An introductory price. In Pennsylvania, a seller must say if the price is introductory, how long it lasts and what comes next.
- A monthly fee. A $12 fee on 600 kWh adds 2 cents to every kWh.
- A fixed price that moves. In Texas it may change for wire-company charges and new fees. Read the label.
- A long term with a big exit fee. The fee is in the contract, so read it before you sign.
- A renewal that costs more. Mark the end date and the notice dates on your calendar the day you sign.
When does a fixed rate win?
Think of a fixed plan as a bet on what your utility's price does next. Prices to compare reset on set dates, so you can see the next date.
- December 1, 2026Several Pennsylvania prices to compare reset. Test any offer against the new price.
- December 31, 2026AEP Ohio's current price to compare runs to this date. Ask what replaces it.
- May 31, 2027Ameren Illinois's current price to compare runs to this date.
- You will stay the whole term, and the fixed price with fees beats the price to compare today.
- You value a steady supply price more than a possible saving.
- You will diary the end date and shop again before it.
- You may move before the term ends. The exit fee can wipe out a small saving.
- Your utility's price to compare could fall soon. A lock would then cost you.
- You cannot say how long you will stay. In Texas, month-to-month plans carry no exit fee by rule.
Where to see fixed plans in your state
Our plan finder shows plans only in TX, PA, OH, NJ and IL. Each state page below has the numbers, the rules and the tools for that state.
| State | Start here | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Fixed vs variable in Texas | Power to Choose guide |
| Pennsylvania | Price to compare in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania suppliers, scored |
| Ohio | Ohio electricity rates | Ohio Apples to Apples chart, explained |
| New Jersey | New Jersey electric rates | New Jersey electricity suppliers |
| Illinois | Illinois electricity rates | Illinois price to compare |
Live in another state? Your state regulator's website lists sellers if your state lets homes choose. If it does not, no fixed plan is for sale to you.
Type a fixed offer's price, fee and exit fee into the comparer, with your price to compare. If it wins for the months you will stay, read the renewal terms before you sign.
Compare plans at my ZIPA partner runs the plan finder. If you sign up, it may pay us a fee, and that never moves a rating or a score.
Questions, answered
Is it worth getting a fixed electricity tariff?
Sometimes. A fixed rate plan is worth it when its price, with fees, beats your utility's price to compare and you stay the whole term. It is not worth it if you may move soon or your utility's price is about to fall. Test it with the comparer above.
What is the downside to a fixed billing electricity bill?
The lock covers only the supply price. Delivery and taxes still move, an exit fee can apply if you leave, and the price can change when the term ends. A fixed price can also cost more than your utility if the market falls.
Who is the cheapest fixed rate energy supplier?
It changes by state, utility and day, and the cheapest fixed price is not always the cheapest bill. The tables above show the lowest posted fixed price on each regulator's list on its read date. Check the exit fee and the renewal terms before you pick.
Who has the cheapest electric rates right now?
Your utility's price to compare is the number to beat. In Pennsylvania, 318 of 934 listed offers sat under it on October 24, 2026. In Ohio, 425 of 815 did on October 24, 2026. Find your utility on its state page.
What is a fixed rate electricity plan?
It is a plan where the supply price per kWh stays the same for the contract term. Your bill still changes with how much power you use, and with delivery charges and taxes.
How long is a fixed rate electricity plan?
It depends on the seller. Terms vary. Texas lets a plan call itself fixed rate only if the term is at least 3 months. Check the length on the offer.
What happens when a fixed rate plan ends?
Your seller must warn you first, and the rules differ by state. If you do nothing, you may move to a month-to-month plan or a new price. Mark the end date and shop again before it.
Can I leave a fixed rate plan early?
Yes, but a fee may apply, and the amount is in your contract. Illinois bars a termination fee for home customers. Elsewhere, some plans have none. Ask for the fee in dollars.
Is a fixed rate always cheaper than a variable rate?
No. A fixed price is a price you can count on. A variable price can be lower or higher month to month. For the Texas answer, read our fixed vs variable guide.
Does a fixed rate include delivery charges?
No. Delivery is billed by your utility at a price the state approves, and a seller cannot change it. Some price lists, like Power to Choose, show an average that already includes delivery. Check what each number includes.
What do you want to do next?
Sources and updates
Sources (13)
- Public Utility Commission of Texas (via Cornell Law School LII), 16 Tex. Admin. Code 25.475, General retail electric provider requirements: The definition of a fixed rate product, what may change its price, the renewal notices, the month-to-month default and the exit-fee limits. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- Power to Choose (Public Utility Commission of Texas), Plan list export: The 12-month fixed plan prices at 1,000 kWh by delivery area. Read Oct. 24, 2026.
- Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, 52 Pa. Code 54.5, Disclosure statement and rescission: What a disclosure must show: the introductory price, the cancellation fee in dollars, the two end-of-term notices. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- PAPowerSwitch (Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission), Understanding your electric supplier's contract: end of contract: The 45-to-60-day and 30-day notices, the move to a variable rate if you take no action and no fee in the last 30 days. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- PAPowerSwitch (Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission), Offer list: The fixed offers, prices and fees behind the Pennsylvania table. Read Oct. 24, 2026.
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Rule 4901:1-21-12, Contract disclosure: The itemized price and fee list, the variable-rate formula and the warning for automatic renewal. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- Energy Choice Ohio (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio), Apples to Apples charts: The Ohio prices to compare, fixed offers and fees. Read Oct. 24, 2026.
- NOPEC (Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council), Electric pricing: The 12-month and 24-month fixed prices. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (via Cornell Law School LII), N.J.A.C. 14:4-7.6, Contracts with customers: The contract summary, the early-termination fee list, the 30-day notice and the month-to-month continuation. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- NJ Power Switch (New Jersey Board of Public Utilities), Electric supplier list: The licensed suppliers; the list shows no prices. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- Illinois Commerce Commission (Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules), 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.110, Minimum contract terms and conditions: That a contract must say whether it renews automatically, the required variable-rate statement and the right to end it with no fee. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- Illinois Commerce Commission (Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules), 83 Ill. Adm. Code 412.220, Termination of sales contract: Home customers may end a supplier contract at any time with no termination fee. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
- Plug In Illinois (Illinois Commerce Commission), Offers and price to compare: The ComEd and Ameren prices to compare and the offers behind the Illinois counts. Read Oct. 25, 2026.
Changelog · last updated October 25, 2026 · 1 update
- October 25, 2026: Guide published.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "Fixed rate electricity plans: what the rate locks, what it does not and how to test one", updated October 25, 2026, https://theday.company/switch/fixed-rate-electricity-plans.
The Day Company is not affiliated with any regulator, utility or supplier named here. Prices, counts and rules come from public records on the dates shown and can change at any time. This is general information, not a quote, an offer, legal advice or a promise of savings. The comparer shows an estimate of supply cost only. Our plan finder is Power HQ, operated by Blitz Ventures Inc. (doing business as EnergyBot). It shows plans only in Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and Illinois, where it holds Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission licence A-2018-2647582, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio licence 18-1282E, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities licence EA-0519 and Illinois Commerce Commission licence 17-0994, and is a registered broker with the Public Utility Commission of Texas.