How does 4Change Energy score?
As of October 14, 2026, 4Change scores 52 out of 100 on our public-records formula. That puts it in our “Poor” band, under 60. It earns full marks for its BBB grade and its time in business. It loses the most points on its contract, two 2024 state penalties and the price of its one plain plan.
- October 14, 2026: 52 at launch.
We look at 4Change’s prices again every month. The score changes only when a record does. That means a new state complaint scorecard, a penalty order, a new BBB grade or new contract terms.
90–100 Excellent80–89 Very good70–79 Good60–69 FairUnder 60 Poor
Scores out of 100, built only from public records, with one formula for every company. The 10 older scores are as of October 13, 2026. The 3 others added with 4Change are as of October 14, 2026, and the 7 we added October 16 are as of October 15, 2026. 4Change ties Just Energy for 22nd of 25. See every scored company ranked.
See the evidence behind every point
| Category | Points | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints to the state | 15 / 25 | 3 of 5 (average) on the PUCT complaint scorecard for March 1 to August 31, 2026 (September 2026 release). The row is for its licensed company, printed there as “Valued Based Brands LLC.” Read October 14, 2026. |
| BBB rating | 5 / 5 | A+ on the BBB profile for 4Change Energy (other name: Value Based Brands LLC) in Irving, Texas. BBB accredited since June 12, 2012. Checked October 13, 2026. |
| Fines and penalties | 8 / 20 | Two PUCT penalties in the last 10 years: $93,007 in May 2024 (Docket 56248, contract-end notices not sent on time), minus 4; and $111,200 in September 2024 (Docket 56561, shutoffs authorized during extreme-weather emergencies, none carried out), minus 8. No Texas Attorney General case found. |
| Contract fairness | 5 / 20 | Cancel fee of $20 for each month left, up to $240 on the 12-month One Rate 12 (1 of 5); an arbitration agreement plus a class-action and jury waiver (0 of 4); 12 extra fees (0 of 4); a simple fixed plan, One Rate 12, with one energy rate, a $4.95 base charge and no credit (4 of 4); no free-cancel window past the 3 business days the law allows in its terms or fact labels (0 of 3). Its website’s 60-day guarantee isn’t in either document, so it doesn’t count. |
| Price | 9 / 20 | One Rate 12, its simplest 12-month plan, averages 17.85¢ per kWh at 1,000 kWh: 18.7¢ in Dallas and 17.0¢ in Houston on its October 14, 2026 fact labels. That is 112% of EIA’s 15.88¢ Texas average for July 2026. |
| Time in business | 10 / 10 | PUCT license date December 5, 2001, more than 20 years ago (6); its terms describe the Value Based Brands Energy Aid fund, paid for in part by the company (2); parent Vistra Corp. publishes audited financial statements (2) |
Our “simple fixed” test asks for one flat energy rate, with no bill credits, usage tiers or time-of-day pricing. Full method: how we score.
4Change Energy quick facts
How much does 4Change Energy cost?
On October 14, 2026, 4Change’s 10 home plans cost 7.3¢ to 19.2¢ per kWh at 1,000 kWh. That’s from their fact labels for Dallas and Houston. The cheapest lean on bill credits. Maxx Saver Value 12 takes $125 off any month you use 1,000 kWh or more. At 500 kWh, the same plan costs 20.3¢.
Prices are the averages on each plan’s fact label, issued October 14, 2026. We took them from 4Change’s own plan pages for ZIP 75201 (Dallas) and 77002 (Houston). They include delivery but not taxes. The green row, One Rate 12, is the plan behind our Price score. Is 17–19¢ a fair price? See what a good Texas rate is today.
Average price per kWh, bars start at zero. Same plan, same contract. The only change is how much power the home uses. The $125 credit kicks in at 1,000 kWh, then gets spread over twice the use at 2,000 kWh.
That’s $126.14 for energy at 12.6267¢ a kWh, plus $72.66 for Oncor delivery. No credit, because the month fell 1 kWh short.
One more kWh, and the $125 credit applies: $126.27 for energy plus $72.73 for delivery, minus $125. Taxes are extra in both cases.
That’s the bill credit “cliff.” Using 1 kWh less can raise your bill by about $125. A 2,000 kWh summer month clears the line easily. A mild spring month in a small home may not. Its Power Maxx plans work the same way, but their $100 and $150 credits need 2,000 kWh. Perfect Fit 12’s $50 credit starts at 500 kWh.
Keep readingWill you hit the credit every month? Test a bill credit planWhich 4Change plan is cheapest for my usage?
On October 14, 2026 labels, Maxx Saver Value 12 is 4Change’s cheapest plan at 1,000 kWh in Dallas: about $74. At 500 kWh, Perfect Fit 12 wins instead. Pick your city and set the usage from a recent bill. The finder prices all 10 plans at that usage, credits and all, and ranks the cheapest three.
Pick One Rate 12, the cheapest no-credit plan, and at 1,000 kWh you’d pay about $1,361 more a year. That’s the price of never having to hit a usage line.
Each bill uses the plan’s fact-label charges from October 14, 2026. It adds the Oncor or CenterPoint delivery charges 4Change posted on October 4, 2026. Its FAQ says those pass through without markup. Taxes aren’t included. Not sure which utility serves you? Look it up here.
Partner toolWe may earn a fee if you sign up. It never changes our scores.
Who is 4Change best for?
- Use 1,000 kWh or more every month, all year
- Pay by auto-pay and keep a working email on file
- Plan to stay for the whole contract
- Like that 4% of its profit goes to four charities
- Use less than 1,000 kWh in some months
- Often pay by phone or with cash
- Might switch companies before the term ends
- Want the right to take a dispute to a jury
Living in an apartment or a small home? Low-use homes often miss credit lines. See plans that fit apartments and what a normal Texas bill looks like.
What fees does 4Change Energy charge?
4Change’s terms of service (version TOSA11052024) list 12 fees beyond late and returned payments, from $3.95 to $29.95. Most only hit if you fall behind, pay outside auto-pay when your plan needs it, or ask for extra service. Leaving early costs $20 for each month left.
$20 times the months left, the rule on all 20 fact labels issued October 14, 2026. On its 24- and 36-month plans, the same rule can reach $480 or $720. Bars start at zero.
- No cancel fee if you move and send proof plus a forwarding address
- Three notices before a fixed plan ends, the last at least 30 days out on terms over four months
- A 60-day satisfaction guarantee for new customers on a first plan, by phone (website only)
- Deposit waived at 65+ with no past-due balance, or with a family-violence certification letter
- Disputes go to binding arbitration or small claims court, with no jury and no class actions
- The contract itself only gives the 3-business-day cancel window the law requires
- 12 fees beyond late and returned payments
- All 10 current plans are paperless: lose a working email and a fee of up to $19.95 can apply
- Do nothing at the end and you roll onto a month-to-month plan
What forced arbitration means: a private arbitrator, not a judge or jury, decides a dispute. 4Change’s terms let you pick arbitration or small claims court. You can still take a problem to a state agency like the PUCT. It can seek relief for you.
Want to skip a deposit? Here are the free ways to avoid one. Contract almost up? Read what to do before it ends, and learn how a month-to-month variable rate works.
Behind on a bill? Ask 4Change about its Energy Aid fund or a deferred payment plan at 1-855-784-2426, or dial 211. More options are in our bill-help guide.
Does 4Change Energy get a lot of complaints?
4Change draws about an average share of complaints for its size: 3 of 5 on the PUCT’s September 2026 scorecard. That rating, for March to August 2026, is for its licensed company, Value Based Brands LLC. From April through September 2026, the PUCT logged 79 complaints against that company. The count includes its Express Energy and Veteran Energy brands.
79 in all, from the PUCT’s Customer Complaint Statistics, read October 14, 2026. The count covers all three brands on the license. Bars start at zero. Two in three were about billing. Across all Texas electricity companies, about half of the 2,253 complaints were.
The BBB shows 187 complaints in three years, 50 of them closed in the last 12 months. Labels are the BBB’s own. Bars start at zero. From 4Change’s BBB profile, checked October 13, 2026. BBB counts don’t change our score; the state’s size-adjusted rating does.
The state counts complaints per 1,000 customers over six months. Then it sorts companies into five groups of about the same size. Five means the fewest complaints, and three is about average.
The BBB has accredited 4Change since June 12, 2012. Its 91 customer reviews there average 1.18 out of 5. Reviews don’t count in our score; the letter grade does.
Has 4Change Energy been fined?
Yes: as of October 14, 2026, PUCT records show two penalties against Value Based Brands LLC, 4Change’s company, totaling $204,207. Both were approved in 2024. One was for contract-end notices not sent on time. The other was for shutoffs it authorized during extreme-weather emergencies in summer 2023, which the utilities never carried out.
From May 14 to August 11, 2022, it didn’t send 10,942 contract expiration notices on time, the order says. These notices tell you when you can switch with no cancel fee. Without one, you may roll onto a pricier month-to-month rate.
From June 19 to September 5, 2023, it authorized 139 shutoffs for unpaid bills, the order says. Each was in a county under an extreme-weather emergency. The utilities completed none of them. The settlement says no customer was actually disconnected.
- The license date the PUCT lists for this company on its complaint scorecard.
- The business start date on 4Change’s BBB file.
- A PUCT filing names the company 4Change Energy Company, formerly TXU SESCO Energy Services Company. It reported no customers for the first three months of 2012.
- 4Change reports to the PUCT that it serves home customers, under retail certificate No. 10041.
- The company becomes 4Change Energy Company LLC, a PUCT order in Docket 46447 notes.
- As Value Based Brands LLC, it names Vistra Corp. as its parent in a PUCT report.
- The PUCT approves a settlement over contract expiration notices not sent on time (Docket 56248).
- The PUCT approves a settlement over shutoffs authorized in weather emergencies, none carried out (Docket 56561).
- Deloitte & Touche dates its audit reports on Vistra’s 2025 financial statements.
- The PUCT’s complaint scorecard rates it 3 of 5 for March to August 2026.
How we checked: on October 14, 2026, we searched PUCT cases filed since October 2016. We looked up every name on 4Change’s license: Value Based Brands, 4Change, Express Energy and Veteran Energy. We found these two penalties and no others. A search of the Texas Attorney General’s site found no case either. A penalty against Vistra’s power plants or trading arms wouldn’t count here, since it doesn’t involve home customers.
What it does to the score: the $93,007 penalty costs 4 points, and the $111,200 one costs 8. That leaves Fines at 8 of 20. Both stay in our 10-year window until 2034.
One license, three brands: Vistra’s 2025 annual report lists three names for Value Based Brands LLC. They are 4Change Energy, Express Energy and Veteran Energy. So a state record against that company covers all three.
What is 4Change Energy’s phone number?
Call 1-855-784-2426, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central. If your lights go out, call your utility instead. 4Change sells you the power, but the utility owns the lines.
Power out? Call the company that owns your lines
How to cancel 4Change without a fee
Ready to switch? Our guide shows how to change companies without a gap in service. Then compare this week’s cheapest plans or use Power to Choose, the state’s plan list. Delivery charges don’t change when you switch: see Oncor’s and CenterPoint’s current rates.
Is 4Change Energy part of TXU?
4Change Energy isn’t part of TXU, but Vistra Corp. owns both companies. Each has its own license and contract. On our scorecard, TXU scores 80 (Very good) and 4Change scores 52 (Poor).
TXU figures come from our TXU review, checked October 5, 2026, and Power to Choose on October 14, 2026. Both licensed companies are listed in Vistra’s 2025 annual report.
Same owner doesn’t mean the same deal. TXU’s contract documents give you at least 30 days to change your mind. 4Change promises 60 days on its website, but not in its terms or fact labels. So our formula can’t count it. Read the full TXU review, or see how the two biggest names compare in TXU vs. Reliant. Vistra also owns two more brands we score: see our Ambit Energy review (41 out of 100) and TriEagle Energy review (74 out of 100).
4Change Energy questions, answered
Is 4Change Energy legit?
Yes. 4Change is a brand of Value Based Brands LLC, which holds Texas retail electric provider certificate No. 10041 and is owned by Vistra Corp. It scores 52 out of 100 (Poor) on our public-records scorecard. It has an A+ BBB grade, but a strict contract and two state penalties in 2024.
Who owns 4Change Energy?
Vistra Corp., the company that also owns TXU Energy. Vistra’s 2025 annual report lists Value Based Brands LLC as an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary. That company does business as 4Change Energy, Express Energy and Veteran Energy.
What is the catch with 4Change Maxx Saver Value 12?
Its low price at 1,000 kWh depends on a $125 bill credit. You only get it in months you use 1,000 kWh or more. Its October 14, 2026 Dallas label shows 7.4¢ per kWh at 1,000 kWh but 20.3¢ at 500 kWh.
Is 4Change Energy on Power to Choose?
No. On October 14, 2026, 4Change listed no plans on Power to Choose, the state’s shopping site. You shop on its own website or by phone. The same licensed company does list plans there under its Express Energy and Veteran Energy names. Learn how to use Power to Choose.
Does 4Change Energy really give to charity?
Its website says 4% of its profits go to four causes. They are Feeding Texas, Heroes for Children, the American Cancer Society and the American Red Cross. The money comes out of its profits, not your bill. So you can’t deduct it on your taxes.
How do I cancel 4Change Energy without a fee?
New customers on a first plan can call within 60 days under the satisfaction guarantee on its website. You can also leave fee-free if you move and send proof, or once your contract ends. Otherwise the fee is $20 for each month left.
What is 4Change Energy’s phone number?
Call 1-855-784-2426, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central. For an outage, call your utility instead, such as Oncor at 1-888-313-4747.
Can I sue 4Change Energy?
Only in small claims court. Its terms say every dispute goes either there or to binding arbitration, and they waive jury trials and class actions. You can still file a complaint with the PUCT, which can seek relief for you.
What fees does 4Change charge?
Besides a 5% late fee and up to $29.95 for a returned payment, its terms list 12 more fees. Examples: up to $19.95 per disconnect notice and $29.95 to reconnect. A payment taken by a rep can cost $3.95, and paying outside required auto-pay can cost $5.95.
How many complaints does 4Change Energy get?
The PUCT logged 79 complaints against its licensed company from April through September 2026, 53 of them about billing. That count also covers Express Energy and Veteran Energy. Adjusted for size, the state rates it 3 of 5, about average. The BBB shows 187 complaints over three years.
Does 4Change Energy help with bills?
Yes. Its terms describe the Value Based Brands Energy Aid fund, which the company pays into, for customers facing severe hardship. You can also ask for a deferred payment plan at 1-855-784-2426.
Has 4Change Energy been fined?
Yes, twice. In May 2024, the PUCT approved $93,007 (Docket 56248) over 10,942 contract expiration notices not sent on time. In September 2024 it approved $111,200 (Docket 56561) because the company authorized 139 shutoffs during 2023 extreme-weather emergencies. The utilities carried out none of them.
What do you want to do next?
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Sources and updates
Sources (28)
- 4Change Energy, Terms of service (version TOSA11052024), read October 13, 2026: fees, arbitration, cancel and moving rules, the Energy Aid fund, contract-end notices, deposits and phone hours.
- 4Change Energy, One Rate 12 fact labels for Oncor and CenterPoint, issued and read October 14, 2026: 18.7¢ and 17.0¢ at 1,000 kWh, the 10.9700¢ and 9.5020¢ energy charges, the $4.95 base charge, the paperless rule and the $20-a-month cancel fee.
- 4Change Energy, Maxx Saver Value 12 fact labels for Oncor and CenterPoint, issued and read October 14, 2026: the $125 credit above 999 kWh, the 12.6267¢ Oncor energy charge, and the 20.3¢, 7.4¢ and 13.4¢ Dallas averages behind the cliff example.
- 4Change Energy, plan pages for ZIP 75201 and ZIP 77002, captured October 14, 2026: the 10 plans in each city, the $100 Visa gift card offer, same-day service before 6:30 p.m. and the 60-day guarantee note. Each plan’s own fact label (20 in all, issued October 14, 2026) is linked from its row in the plan tables.
- 4Change Energy, TDU delivery charges, updated October 4, 2026: the Oncor and CenterPoint rates used in the plan finder and the cliff example.
- 4Change Energy, Satisfaction guarantee, read October 13, 2026: the 60-day promise for new customers.
- 4Change Energy, Support page, read October 13, 2026: phone, hours, email and mailing addresses.
- 4Change Energy, Charitable causes and charity FAQ, read October 13, 2026: 4% of profits, the four causes and the tax note.
- 4Change Energy, Electricity plan FAQ, read October 13, 2026: the $6.95 renewable upgrade and pass-through delivery charges.
- 4Change Energy, Bill payment assistance, read October 13, 2026: deferred payment plans and county help agencies.
- Power to Choose (PUCT), the state’s plan list, all listings exported October 14, 2026: no 4Change Energy plans; Express Energy Speedy 12 and Veteran Energy Basic 12 at 12.2¢ per kWh at 1,000 kWh for Oncor; TXU Energy plans listed.
- Power to Choose (PUCT), Retail Electric Provider Complaint Scorecard, September 2026 release covering March 1 to August 31, 2026, read October 14, 2026: 3 of 5 for Value Based Brands LLC (printed “Valued Based Brands LLC”) and its December 5, 2001 license date.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Customer Complaint Statistics, April 1 to September 30, 2026, read October 14, 2026: 79 complaints against Value Based Brands LLC by type, and 2,253 against all retail electric providers.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 56248 order (May 2024), read October 14, 2026: the $93,007 penalty for 9,947 and 995 contract expiration notices not sent on time, May 14 to August 11, 2022.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 56561 order (September 2024), read October 14, 2026: the $111,200 penalty for shutoffs authorized for 139 customers in counties under extreme-weather emergencies, June 19 to September 5, 2023, none completed, and the 16 TAC §25.483(j) rule it applies.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 56561 settlement agreement (filed May 7, 2024), read October 14, 2026: “no customer was actually disconnected.”
- Texas Attorney General, website, searched October 14, 2026: no case naming 4Change Energy or Value Based Brands found.
- Vistra Corp., 2025 annual report on Form 10-K: Value Based Brands LLC and TXU Energy Retail Company LLC as indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries.
- Vistra Corp., Exhibit 21.1 (Value Based Brands LLC, Texas) and Exhibit 23.1: Deloitte & Touche’s consent, citing audit reports dated February 26, 2026.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Project 36141 filing (May 15, 2012): 4Change Energy Company, formerly TXU SESCO Energy Services Company, with no customers yet.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Project 36141 filing (November 13, 2012): 4Change Energy, certificate No. 10041, serving home customers.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 46447, Order No. 1 (October 2016): the name change to 4Change Energy Company LLC, effective October 1, 2016.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Project 51761 filing (August 2021): Value Based Brands LLC, doing business as 4Change Energy, Express Energy and Veteran Energy.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Project 54443 filing (August 14, 2023): Vistra Corp. named as parent.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, complaint process and Office of Consumer Assistance, checked October 14, 2026: the free complaint line, 1-888-782-8477, and consumer@puc.texas.gov.
- Better Business Bureau, 4Change Energy profile, checked October 13, 2026: the A+ grade, accreditation since June 12, 2012 and the April 30, 2012 start date.
- Better Business Bureau, 4Change complaints and customer reviews, checked October 13, 2026: 187 complaints by type, 50 closed in 12 months, and 91 reviews averaging 1.18.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: the Texas average home price of 15.88¢ per kWh, July 2026 data released September 24, 2026.
Changelog · last updated October 16, 2026 · 2 updates
- October 16, 2026: Linked our new reviews of Ambit Energy (41/100) and TriEagle Energy (74/100), two more Vistra brands, and our Dallas electric companies list. The score chart now shows all 25 companies we score, and 4Change ties Just Energy for 22nd of 25. 4Change’s score and figures are unchanged. We also added our new city guides, four new company reviews and the Smart Meter Texas guide to the guide map.
- October 14, 2026: Published.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "Is 4Change Energy legit? Our 2026 public-records review", updated October 16, 2026, https://theday.company/tx/4change-energy-reviews.
Scores come from public records only, with one formula for every company; see how we score. Prices are 4Change’s own fact-label figures for the ZIP codes shown and change often; your price depends on your address, plan and usage. The Day Company is not affiliated with 4Change Energy, Value Based Brands LLC, Vistra Corp. or any retail electric provider. No company can pay for its score. Ads and any partner referral fees help fund the site, but neither has any say in our scores or picks.