How does Cirro Energy score?
Cirro earns 58 out of 100, which we rate "poor." It gets full marks for price and its BBB grade. It loses every penalty point and most of its complaint points.
90–100 Excellent80–89 Very good70–79 Good60–69 FairUnder 60 Poor
Scores out of 100, from public records only, with the same formula for every company. Cirro is last of the 10, though its score rises to 70 when a 2016 penalty ages out on December 16, 2026. See all 10 ranked side by side.
See the evidence behind every point
| Category | Points | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints to the state | 10 / 25 | 2 of 5 on the PUCT complaint scorecard, March 1 to August 31, 2026. The PUCT lists Cirro under its legal name, US Retailers LLC. |
| BBB rating | 5 / 5 | A+, not accredited, checked October 5, 2026 |
| Fines and penalties | 0 / 20 | Two PUCT penalties in 10 years against US Retailers LLC, which does business as Cirro: a shared $900,000 penalty in 2016 (Docket 46597, −12) and $255,462 in 2024 (Docket 56637, −8). The deductions add up to 20. |
| Contract fairness | 15 / 20 | $150 cancel fee on Smart Simple 12 (5 of 5); no arbitration clause or class-action waiver (4 of 4); two extra fees: the disconnect notice fee and disconnect recovery charge (2 of 4); a simple fixed plan (4 of 4); no free-cancel window beyond the 3-day legal minimum (0 of 3) |
| Price | 20 / 20 | Smart Simple 12 averages 13.9¢ at 1,000 kWh across Dallas (14.1¢) and Houston (13.7¢), 88% of EIA's 15.88¢ Texas average for July 2026 |
| Time in business | 8 / 10 | Licensed October 27, 2008 (4); its terms describe a customer-funded energy assistance program (2); parent NRG Energy publishes audited financials (2) |
A simple fixed plan has one energy rate and no bill credits, usage tiers or time-of-use pricing. Every Cirro plan qualifies. Full method: how we score.
Cirro Energy quick facts
What is Cirro's phone number?
Call 1-800-MY-CIRRO (1-800-692-4776). Cirro's terms of service list phone hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central, 7 days a week. For a power outage, call your utility instead. Cirro sells the power, but it doesn't own the lines.
Power out? Call the company that owns your lines
Cirro's plan listings say card payments with Visa, Discover or Mastercard carry no fee. Its terms also list email and fax support around the clock.
How many complaints does Cirro Energy get?
Texans filed 172 complaints about Cirro with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) from April through September 2026. For its size, that earns Cirro the state's second-worst rating: 2 of 5.
The PUCT's names: billing, discontinuance, provision of service, slamming (switching your provider without permission), cramming (unauthorized charges) and all other. Source: PUCT Customer Complaint Statistics, pulled October 5, 2026.
The state ranks every provider by complaints per 1,000 customers over six months, then sorts them into five equal groups. Cirro is in the second-worst group. The PUCT lists it under its legal name, US Retailers LLC.
62 complaints in three years, and no alerts. Reviews average 1.47 out of 5 across 17 reviews, but reviews don't count toward the grade.
What does Cirro Energy charge in 2026?
Cirro offers 5 home plans in Dallas and Houston, all Smart Simple fixed-rate plans. At 1,000 kWh they cost 13.7¢ to 15.1¢ per kWh, delivery included. Its 12-month plan works out to about $141 a month in Dallas and $137 in Houston, before taxes.
Average price per kWh from each plan's fact label as listed on Power to Choose on October 5, 2026, for ZIP 75201 (Dallas) and 77002 (Houston). Prices include delivery but not taxes. Green: the plan we score.
Which Cirro plan is cheapest for my usage?
Pick your city and the usage closest to your bill. The finder ranks every Cirro plan offered in your city and shows about what you'd pay each month.
Which Cirro plan length is the best deal?
Cirro's 10-, 11- and 12-month plans cost the same: 14.1¢ per kWh in Dallas and 13.7¢ in Houston at 1,000 kWh. The longer plans cost more, and their cancel fees climb to $180 and $295.
Source: Cirro fact labels on Power to Choose, October 5, 2026.
Rule of thumb: if you want about a year, the 11-month plan gets you the same price as the 12-month plan with a $95 cancel fee instead of $150. Odly, in Dallas the 18-month plan costs more than the 24-month plan.
What fees does Cirro Energy charge, and how do I cancel?
Cirro charges $150 to cancel its 12-month plan early, $95 on 10- and 11-month plans, $180 on 18-month plans and $295 on 24-month plans. There's no fee if you move and give a forwarding address.
- No arbitration clause or class-action waiver
- No cancel fee if you move and give a forwarding address
- Service isn't denied over a credit score, and there are five ways to skip a deposit
- Low-income customers can split a deposit over $50 into two payments
- Only the legal 3 business days to cancel free after you enroll
- A disconnect notice fee of up to $30 each time
- The last expiration notice can come just 14 days before your contract ends
- After that, you roll onto a variable-price plan
Want to skip the deposit entirely? See six ways to get power with no deposit. Before your contract ends, see what changes on a variable rate.
Behind on a bill? Ask Cirro about its customer-funded energy assistance program, or call 211 for local help.
Keep readingBill still too high? Find out why, step by stepHas Cirro Energy been fined?
Yes, twice since 2016. In 2024 the PUCT approved a $255,462 penalty against US Retailers LLC, Cirro's legal name, plus $1,592,565 in refunds to customers and a $110,515 donation to bill-help groups. In 2016 it shared a $900,000 penalty with three other companies.
- US Retailers LLC, which does business as Cirro Energy, is licensed as a retail electric provider.
- US Retailers, Reliant, Everything Energy and Green Mountain took too long to lift switch-holds after customers finished payment plans. The penalty was shared.
- The PUCT approves a settlement over customer-protection and disclosure rules. US Retailers also refunds customers $1,592,565 and donates $110,515 to bill-help groups.
- The PUCT's complaint scorecard rates Cirro 2 of 5 for March to August 2026.
How we checked: we searched the PUCT's enforcement cases filed since October 2016 for Cirro and its legal name, US Retailers LLC, and checked shared cases from late 2016. Two cases named US Retailers.
Coming up: the 2016 case leaves our 10-year window on December 16, 2026. That adds 12 points, raising Cirro to 70 if nothing else changes.
What do Cirro's records actually say?
We read Cirro's full terms of service and every fact label it lists on Power to Choose. Here are the key figures, with a link to each document.
Terms of service: December 2025, form C1FT002A
| Topic | What it says |
|---|---|
| Returned payment | Up to $30 per returned payment |
| Disconnect notice | Up to $30 each time a disconnection notice is sent |
| Disconnect recovery | $25 if the past-due amount isn't paid by the notice deadline |
| Late payment | 5% of the prior month's past-due amount |
| Collections | Reasonable fees and expenses, including attorney fees, with no amount listed |
| Moving | No cancel fee if you move and give a forwarding address |
| Contract end | Three notices, the last at least 14 days before the end; then a month-to-month variable plan |
| Deposits | No more than the greater of two months of estimated bills or one-fifth of a year's estimated billing; low-income customers can pay a deposit over $50 in two parts |
| Disputes | No arbitration clause or class-action waiver; Texas law governs |
| Contact | 1-800-MY-CIRRO (1-800-692-4776), 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Central, 7 days a week |
Source: Cirro Energy terms of service, December 2025 (PDF). Cancel fee amounts are on each plan's fact label.
PUCT enforcement orders: two cases, 2016 and 2024
| Docket | What the order found | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 46597 Dec 16, 2016 | US Retailers, Reliant, Everything Energy and Green Mountain Energy waited 5 to 10 business days after customers finished payment plans before asking utilities to lift switch-holds. | $900,000 combined penalty, with no per-company split, plus $600,000 to bill-help programs |
| 56637 Oct 24, 2024 | US Retailers broke state customer-protection rules and general disclosure requirements. | $255,462 penalty, $1,592,565 in customer refunds and a $110,515 donation to bill-payment assistance agencies |
Fact labels: every plan, October 2026
| Plan | Dallas, 1,000 kWh | Houston, 1,000 kWh | Term | Cancel fee | Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Simple 10 | 14.1¢ | 13.7¢ | 10 mo | $95 | 22% |
| Smart Simple 18 | 15.1¢ | 14.3¢ | 18 mo | $180 | 22% |
| Smart Simple 24 | 14.7¢ | 14.3¢ | 24 mo | $295 | 22% |
| Smart Simple 12 | 14.1¢ | 13.7¢ | 12 mo | $150 | 22% |
| Smart Simple 11 | 14.1¢ | 13.7¢ | 11 mo | $95 | 22% |
Each price links to that plan's official fact label. Smart Simple 10 and 11 cost the same as Smart Simple 12, but their cancel fee is lower.
Cirro vs. Reliant: which NRG brand is better?
Reliant scores a little higher, 62 to 58, and NRG owns both. Reliant wins on complaints. Cirro has an A+ from the BBB, two fewer state penalties, and a 12-month plan that costs 1 to 2 cents less.
Reliant figures are from our Reliant review, updated October 5, 2026. Both brands share the 2016 $900,000 penalty. Complaint counts aren't adjusted for company size; the PUCT rating is.
Keep readingRead our full Reliant Energy reviewDoes Cirro Energy buy back solar power?
Yes, as an add-on to some plans. Cirro’s Smart Solar Credit pays a fixed rate below the energy charge. But Cirro doesn’t print the rate on its fact labels or in its terms. Call 1-855-829-7826 and ask for it in writing before you sign.
From Cirro’s Smart Solar Credit page, its fact labels dated October 4, 2026 (Dallas) and September 30, 2026 (Houston), and its terms of service. Credits change, so confirm them on the fact label before you sign.
- Cirro’s solar page says there’s no cap, extra credits carry forward, and you get a refund for any balance when you leave.
- Its terms of service only promise the refund.
- Systems under 50 kW, an interconnection agreement and a meter that tracks power in and out.
- Credits can take up to 3 billing cycles to start, and they can’t pay delivery, base charges or taxes.
Cirro Energy questions, answered
Is Cirro Energy a good electricity provider?
Not by our numbers. Cirro scores 58 out of 100 on our public-records scorecard, last of the 10 Texas companies we've rated. Its plans cost less than the Texas average and it has an A+ from the BBB, but it has a 2-of-5 complaint rating and two state penalties.
What is Cirro Energy's phone number?
Call 1-800-MY-CIRRO (1-800-692-4776), 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central, every day, per its terms of service. For outages, call your utility instead, such as Oncor at 1-888-313-4747 or CenterPoint at 713-207-2222.
Who owns Cirro Energy?
Cirro is owned by NRG Energy, which also owns Reliant, Direct Energy and Green Mountain. Its legal name is US Retailers LLC, and that's the name the PUCT uses on its complaint lists and orders.
Has Cirro Energy been fined?
Yes, twice since 2016. In 2024 the PUCT approved a $255,462 penalty plus $1,592,565 in customer refunds and a $110,515 donation. In 2016 Cirro's company shared a $900,000 penalty with Reliant and two others.
How much does Cirro charge to cancel?
$150 on Smart Simple 12, $95 on its 10- and 11-month plans, $180 on 18-month plans and $295 on 24-month plans. There's no fee if you move and give a forwarding address.
What is Cirro's cheapest plan?
At 1,000 kWh, Smart Simple 10, 11 and 12 tie as the cheapest: 14.1¢ in Dallas and 13.7¢ in Houston. The 10- and 11-month plans have the lower $95 cancel fee.
How many complaints does Cirro get?
The PUCT logged 172 complaints about Cirro from April through September 2026, and 108 were about billing. For its size, Cirro earns a 2 of 5 complaint rating, the second-worst group.
Will Cirro's score change soon?
Yes. The 2016 shared penalty leaves our 10-year window on December 16, 2026. If nothing else changes, Cirro's score rises from 58 to 70 that day.
What happens when my Cirro contract ends?
Cirro sends three notices, the last at least 14 days before your contract ends. If you don't pick a new plan, you move to a month-to-month plan with a variable price.
Is Cirro better than Reliant?
On our scorecard, Reliant scores 62 and Cirro 58, and NRG owns both. Cirro's 12-month plan costs less, 14.1¢ versus 15.2¢ in Dallas, and it has an A+ BBB grade, but Reliant has a much better complaint rating.
Sources and updates
Sources (14)
- Cirro Energy, Terms of service (December 2025, form C1FT002A): fees, deposits, moving and contract-end notices.
- Cirro Energy, Smart Simple 12 fact label, Dallas (via Power to Choose, October 5, 2026).
- Cirro Energy, Smart Simple 12 fact label, Houston.
- Power to Choose (PUCT), plan listings and fact labels: every plan for ZIP 75201 and 77002, captured October 5, 2026.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Customer Complaint Statistics: complaint counts, April 1 to September 30, 2026.
- Power to Choose (PUCT), Retail Electric Provider Complaint Scorecard: the September 2026 size-adjusted complaint ratings and license dates.
- Better Business Bureau, Cirro Energy profile, checked October 5, 2026.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 46597 final order (December 16, 2016): the shared $900,000 penalty.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 56637 order (October 24, 2024): the $255,462 penalty, refunds and donation.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: the Texas average residential price of 15.88¢ per kWh, July 2026.
- Cirro Energy, Smart Solar Credit.
- Cirro Energy, Smart Simple 24 fact label, Dallas, October 4, 2026.
- Cirro Energy, Smart Simple 24 fact label, Houston, September 30, 2026.
- Cirro Energy, Residential terms of service: sell-back terms.
Changelog · last updated October 5, 2026 · 3 updates
- October 5, 2026 (solar update): Added a solar buyback section: every Cirro solar plan and its credit in Dallas and Houston, a calculator for what your extra power earns, and a chart comparing credits with what you pay. Each company in the 10-company chart now links to its review. Cirro’s score is unchanged.
- October 5, 2026 (update): Gexa rose from 72 to 74 and Green Mountain from 68 to 70 after we confirmed their terms describe a bill-help fund, so we updated the 10-company chart. Cirro’s score is unchanged.
- October 5, 2026: Review published. Score: 58 out of 100. Prices from Power to Choose fact labels for ZIP 75201 and 77002, captured October 5, 2026.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "Is Cirro Energy any good? Our 2026 review", published October 5, 2026, https://theday.company/tx/cirro-energy-review.
Scores use public records only and the same formula for every company; see how we score. Prices are Cirro's own fact-label averages for the ZIP codes shown and change often; your price depends on your address and plan. The Day Company is not affiliated with Cirro Energy, NRG Energy or any retail electric provider. No company pays for placement or a better score, and we earn no referral fees from this review.
Does Cirro Energy have a solar buyback plan?
Yes, as an add-on called Smart Solar Credit on its Smart Simple and Simple Advantage plans. It pays a fixed rate below the energy charge, but Cirro doesn’t publish the rate in its fact labels or terms, so call 1-855-829-7826 and ask. This isn’t part of our score.