Where do I start?
Pick the situation that sounds like yours. Each list starts with the first question to answer.
My electric bill jumped
I’m choosing a plan
I just moved to Texas
Storm season
I’m thinking about solar
My roof or AC needs work
How does electricity work in Texas?
Three groups shape every Texas power bill: the grid operator, the company that owns your wires, and in most of Texas, a provider you pick. Knowing which is which tells you who sets each charge and who to call.
Power plantsGenerate the electricity
ERCOT gridMoves power across most of Texas
Your wires companyDelivers it to your street and meterSet by your address
Your homeUses it, measured by the meter
Your retail provider buys the power, sends one bill and passes the wires company’s delivery charges through to you.
The wires company
Owns the poles, wires and meters, restores outages and charges delivery rates set by the state. Your address decides which one you have.
The retail provider
Sells you electricity, sets your plan’s price and sends your bill. In competitive areas, you pick it and can switch.
The grid operator
ERCOT balances supply and demand and asks Texans to conserve when supply runs tight. It doesn’t send bills or fix neighborhood outages.
Can’t pick a provider? Homes served by a city utility such as Austin Energy or CPS Energy, by an electric co-op, or by a utility outside ERCOT, like El Paso Electric or Entergy Texas, buy power straight from that utility.
17 guides
Bills & Rates
What’s on your bill, who sets each charge, and how to shop for a plan without getting caught by the fine print.
Your utility and the grid
- What is CenterPoint Energy, and why is it on my bill?NewDelivery is $70.23 a month at 1,000 kWh. Every charge decoded, the outage line, and how all 10 providers compare for Houston homes.
- What is Oncor, and why is it on my bill?Delivery rose October 4 to $72.73 a month at 1,000 kWh. Every charge explained, the outage line, and how all 10 providers compare for DFW.
- AEP Texas, explainedNewThe lowest delivery charge of Texas’s big utilities: $60.14 a month at 1,000 kWh in the Central area.
- CPS Energy bills, explainedNewSan Antonio’s city utility: you can’t switch, but at 13.0¢ per kWh you pay about $29 a month less than the Texas average.
- Austin Energy bills, explainedNewFour price tiers, so every kWh past 2,000 costs about 56% more than your first. Plus the discount worth about $560 a year.
- ERCOT grid alerts, explainedNewTexas just used more power than ever, with no emergency. What each alert level means, and whether an outage is the grid or your street.
- TNMP: why delivery charges are the highest in TexasNew$85.27 just for delivery at 1,000 kWh, outages and the Blackstone deal.
- El Paso Electric: rates, outages and why you can’t switchNewThe 2026 increase of about $13 a month, outage numbers and solar rules.
- Entergy Texas: your bill, decodedNewA $157.65 bill, line by line, plus outages and the storm plan.
- Houston electricity ratesNewReal plan prices, the bill credit trap and CenterPoint outages.
- Dallas electricity ratesNewPlan prices, Oncor’s October increase and bill credit traps.
- Fort Worth electricity: the co-op catchNewOncor or co-op? How to tell, plus prices and outage numbers.
Your bill
- Why is my electric bill so high?NewThe 5 causes, ranked: Oncor delivery is up 20% since May, plus the bill-credit cliff and a free bill checker.
- What’s the average electric bill in Texas?NewTexas homes averaged $163.72 a month for 1,096 kWh in 2024 (EIA). Why bills run high on a low price, plus a free bill benchmark.
- How to get help paying your electric billNewStop a shutoff, get a payment plan and apply for CEAP, which can pay up to $1,800 a year toward your bills.
- Power out? What to do in TexasNewEvery utility’s outage number, how long your food stays safe and the 20-foot generator rule.
Shopping for a plan
- Texas electricity rates, explainedNewTexas homes averaged 15.88¢ per kWh in July 2026, below the U.S. average. A fair-price test and a free rate grader.
- Power to Choose, explainedNewThe 1,000 kWh trick that makes plans look cheap, and a free checker to test any plan.
- How to read an Electricity Facts LabelNewThe 6 lines that decide your real bill, shown on a real Texas label, line by line.
- Fixed or variable rate: which plan is safer?NewHow each plan type behaves when prices spike, and the Winter Storm Uri bills that got wholesale plans banned.
- Are free nights and weekends plans worth it?NewOnly the energy charge is free at night. Find your break-even point with our calculator.
- No-deposit and prepaid electricity, explainedNewSix ways to skip a deposit, how prepaid plans work and a quick cost check.
- How to set up electricity in TexasNewFour steps to power on by move-in day, and six ways to skip the deposit.
6 guides
Solar & Batteries
Does solar with a battery pay off in Texas? Your provider decides what your extra power earns.
- Is solar worth it in Texas?NewThe honest 2026 math without the 30% credit, a payback calculator, and the new 5-day right to cancel any solar deal.
- How much do solar panels cost in Texas?NewAbout $2.20 to $2.85 a watt in 2026, and the 30% federal credit ended for systems installed after 2025. Real costs and a 2026 estimator.
- Solar buyback plans: how Texas pays for your extra powerNewWhat the 10 companies we’ve scored pay for extra solar power, side by side, with a calculator. Only TXU’s System Flex credits 1:1.
- Texas solar incentives in 2026NewEvery Texas solar perk left in 2026: a tax break, buyback plans and local rebates up to $4,000.
- Is a home battery worth it in Texas?NewWhat one battery runs in an outage, 2026 costs with no federal credit, and when it saves real money.
- Free solar panels in Texas: what’s the catch?NewNo Texas program gives away solar. See what free deals really cost over 25 years and your 5-day right to cancel.
Have solar panels? Of the 10 electricity companies we’ve scored, only TXU’s System Flex credits your extra power 1:1. Most pay a flat 3¢ to 6.3¢ per kWh, and Constellation pays nothing. Compare all 10 with our calculator.
4 guides
Rebates & Efficiency
Programs that pay you to save energy, which ones are open today, and which are still on the way.
- When will Texas home energy rebates open?NewTexas's $690M HOMES and HEAR rebates aren't open yet. What they'll cover, the scam warning and help open now.
- Utility energy-saving rebates in TexasNewRebates on AC units, heat pumps, insulation and thermostats from your wires company, and how to get them.
- Free home weatherization in TexasNewFree insulation, air sealing and AC repairs for homes at or below 200% of the poverty level, and how to apply.
- Get paid to use less power in TexasNewCredits for letting your thermostat ease up on hot afternoons, like Austin Energy's $85. How to join by utility.
12 guides
Company Rankings & Reviews
Power companies and solar installers, scored with one formula built on public records. No company pays to be listed or ranked.
Every score comes from the same public records: complaints, contract terms and company history. See how we review companies.
Champion
96
TXU
80
Gexa
74
Rhythm
73
Reliant
62
Frontier
62
Cirro
58
Tap a company for its full review. Scores come from public records only; solar buyback isn’t part of them. See the full ranking and our picks.
- Best electricity companies in TexasNewAll 10 major providers scored on public records: Champion leads at 96/100, Frontier and Gexa are cheapest. Re-rank them by what matters to you.
- Champion Energy reviewNewScored 96 out of 100, the best of 10: a perfect complaint rating, an A+ at the BBB and no state penalties.
- TXU Energy reviewScored 80 out of 100: the best complaint rating and the only 1:1 solar buyback plan of the 10, but forced arbitration.
- Constellation reviewNewScored 77 out of 100: a perfect complaint rating and an A+ at the BBB, but a $160,000 state penalty.
- Gexa Energy reviewNewScored 74 out of 100: one of the two lowest plain-plan prices we’ve scored and 100% renewable, but forced arbitration.
- Rhythm Energy reviewNewScored 73 out of 100: 12.5¢ plans, 100% renewable and 30 days to cancel free, but a 3-of-5 complaint rating.
- Direct Energy reviewNewScored 70 out of 100: a below-average price and no arbitration clause, but an F at the BBB.
- Green Mountain Energy reviewNewScored 70 out of 100: 100% renewable on every plan and no arbitration clause, but a 3-of-5 complaint rating.
- Reliant Energy reviewScored 62 out of 100: below-average prices and no arbitration clause, but a BBB D+ and 4 state fines since 2016.
- Frontier Utilities reviewNewScored 62 out of 100: cheap 12.2¢ plans, but forced arbitration, 6 extra fees and two state penalties.
- Cirro Energy reviewNewScored 58 out of 100, last of 10: a 2-of-5 complaint rating and a $255,462 state penalty in 2024.
- Best solar companies in TexasNewFour big solar names went bankrupt or quit since 2024. Who's still standing in Texas, their records, and an installer scorer.
4 guides
Roof & HVAC
What new roofs and air conditioners cost in Texas, and how to handle hail and summer heat.
- How much does a new roof cost in Texas?NewAbout $5,000 to $25,000 by material, how hail claims and deductibles work, and why a roofer can’t legally waive yours.
- Hail damage on your roof: the Texas claim processNewEight steps from storm to payment, the deadlines insurers must meet, and how to spot scams.
- How much does a new AC cost in Texas?NewAbout $5,500 to $10,500 installed, why the 2025 refrigerant change raised prices, and when to repair instead.
- Heat pump or AC for a Texas home?NewWhen a heat pump saves money in Texas, what it costs over an AC, and how it handles a hard freeze.
29 tools
Free Texas energy tools
Run your own numbers. Every tool works in your browser, and nothing you type is saved.
CenterPoint delivery cost calculatorSee your monthly CenterPoint delivery charge at any usage.
Oncor delivery cost calculatorSee your monthly Oncor delivery charge at any usage, plus your yearly cost.
Plan cost calculatorCompare up to 3 plans at your real usage, with bill credits and delivery charges built in.
Who’s my electric utility?Type the first 7 digits of the ESI ID on your bill, or pick your city.
Bill-credit trap checkerType a plan’s 3 fact-label prices and see if it hides a bill-credit trap.
Free nights break-even calculatorSee how much of your use must happen at night before a free nights plan saves money.
Grid or your street? Outage checkThree taps tell you if an outage is the grid or just your street, and who to call.
Food safety timerEnter how long your power has been out and see what food is still safe.
Bill checkerType two numbers from your bill to see your price per kWh and how much is delivery.
Rate graderGrade your price per kWh against the Texas average and see your yearly gap.
Bill benchmarkSee if your monthly use is normal for a Texas home and the season.
Deposit or prepaid? Cost checkCompare a refundable deposit with a prepaid plan’s yearly cost.
Company rankerRe-rank five scored companies by price, complaints, contract or fines.
2026 solar cost estimatorSee a system’s 2026 cost with no federal credit, plus a rough payback.
Roof cost estimatorEstimate a new roof by size and material, plus your wind and hail deductible.
AC replacement estimatorEstimate the AC size your home needs and its installed cost.
Hail claim deductible checkSee if a repair estimate is worth a claim after your deductible.
Heat pump payback checkEstimate heating savings and payback from switching to a heat pump.
Solar payback calculatorSee how long solar takes to pay off in 2026, with no federal credit.
Buyback plan comparerCompare two solar buyback plans at your usage and exports.
Solar credit calculator: all 10 companiesSee what your extra solar power would earn with each company we’ve scored.
Battery backup time calculatorSee how many hours a home battery can run what you need.
Solar lease total costAdd up a lease or PPA over its full term, raises included.
Solar incentive finderSee which Texas solar incentives apply in your utility area.
Weatherization qualify checkSee if your household may qualify for free home energy repairs.
Utility rebate finderSee your delivery utility's energy rebate program and how to use it.
Demand response finderSee how to join a peak-time program where you live.
Which home energy help fits youSee which programs to use now and which to watch for.
Solar installer scorerScore any Texas solar instaler on our 100-point formula.
How does The Day Company make money?
No company we write about pays us. We take no referral fees, commissions or payments for rankings. Ads will help fund our Texas guides once they’re approved. They won’t appear on this page, and advertisers have no say in what we write or how we score.
Sources and updates
Sources (3)
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: delivery utility rates and Power to Choose, the state’s official plan comparison site.
- ERCOT: how the Texas grid is run.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: electricity prices and use.
- Each guide lists its own primary sources and the date we checked them.
Changelog · last updated October 6, 2026 · 18 updates
- October 6, 2026: Added guides to TNMP, El Paso Electric and Entergy Texas, plus city guides for Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. Linked them from the utility map and the library.
- October 5, 2026 (late evening): Added the 5 newest company reviews (Champion, Constellation, Rhythm, Frontier and Cirro), so all 10 are listed in score order with current scores and a score chart. Added the Oncor calculator, an all-10 solar credit calculator and the food safety timer to the tools.
- October 5, 2026 (evening): Added the best solar companies guide, completing all 38 Texas guides, plus a solar installer scorer.
- October 5, 2026 (afternoon): Corrected the solar panel cost summary to about $2.20 to $2.85 a watt, matching 2026 price data.
- October 5, 2026 (midday): Added the home energy rebates guide, completing the rebates section, plus a which-help-fits-you tool.
- October 5, 2026 (morning): Added the utility energy rebates and demand response guides, plus a utility rebate finder and a demand response program finder.
- October 5, 2026 (night): Added the free weatherization guide, the first rebates and assistance guide, plus a weatherization qualify check.
- October 5, 2026 (late): Added the Texas solar incentives guide, completing the solar section, plus a solar incentive finder.
- October 5, 2026 (update): Added the home battery and free solar panels guides, plus a battery backup time calculator and a solar lease total cost calculator.
- October 5, 2026: Added the is solar worth it and solar buyback plans guides, plus a solar payback calculator and a buyback plan comparer.
- October 4, 2026 (latest): Added the hail damage claim and heat pump vs. AC guides, completing the roof and HVAC section, plus a hail claim check and a heat pump payback check.
- October 4, 2026 (late): Added the roof replacement and AC replacement cost guides, plus a roof cost estimator and an AC replacement estimator.
- October 4, 2026 (night): Added the best electricity companies ranking and the 2026 solar panel cost guide, plus a company ranker and a solar cost estimator.
- October 4, 2026 (evening): Added the average Texas electric bill and no-deposit electricity guides, completing Bills & Rates, plus a bill benchmark and a deposit-or-prepaid cost check.
- October 4, 2026 (later): Added 3 guides, ERCOT grid alerts, why bills are so high and Texas electricity rates, plus 3 free tools: an outage check, a bill checker and a rate grader.
- October 4, 2026: 17 guides and 5 free tools are now live, with key numbers on each guide card and New tags on this week’s launches. Guides still being written are marked Coming soon.
- October 3, 2026: Moved to a shorter address, theday.company/tx.
- October 3, 2026: Page published, with every planned Texas guide listed by topic.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, “Texas Electricity & Energy Guides,” updated October 5, 2026, https://theday.company/tx.
The Day Company is not affiliated with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, ERCOT, Power to Choose, any utility or any retail electric provider, and no company pays for placement on this page. Guides marked Coming soon are being written now.