Which Texas electricity company is best?
By overall score, Champion Energy leads, and it isn’t close: 96 out of 100, 16 points ahead of TXU. But “best” depends on what you care about most. Tap a button to re-rank all 10 companies by price, complaints, contract fairness or fines.
Overall score out of 100. Bands: 90+ Excellent, 80–89 Very good, 70–79 Good, 60–69 Fair, under 60 Poor.
Which Texas electricity company is best for me?
It depends on what you want most. Here are our picks by category, straight from the scores.
Shopping for something specific? See free nights plans, fixed vs. variable rates, no-deposit electricity, and our bill-credit trap checker before you sign.
Which company had the cheapest plan?
Frontier and Gexa, by a hair, with Rhythm close behind. Here’s the simple 12-month plan price we scored for each company at 1,000 kWh, next to the Texas average.
Bars start at zero. Each company’s scored price: its simplest 12-month plan averaged across Dallas and Houston, or the Houston price where that’s what its review scored (Direct Energy and Green Mountain). Constellation has no simple 12-month plan, so its 12-month A/C Protect Plus plan is shown. Texas average from EIA, July 2026. Prices change often; check the current label.
Price is only 20 of the 100 points. Frontier and Gexa have the lowest prices, yet both force arbitration in thier contracts, and a long complaint record can still cost you in headaches. Price any plan at your own usage with our plan cost calculator. Is your price fair? See Texas electricity rates and the average Texas bill.
What are each company's strengths and catches?
The short version of each review. Tap a name for the full evidence behind every point.
Strengths: the state’s best complaint rating (5 of 5), an A+ at the BBB, no state penalties and no arbitration clause. Catches: a $168 non-refundable Fast Track fee to skip a deposit, and only 25% to 26% renewable power.
Strengths: a perfect complaint rating, an A+ at the BBB and 60 days to cancel free. Catches: its simple plan scored 16.9¢, the highest of the 10, plus forced arbitration and one $91,500 state penalty.
Strengths: 5 of 5 on complaints, an A+ at the BBB and no arbitration clause. Catches: a $160,000 state penalty in 2024, four extra fees and no simple 12-month plan.
Strengths: 100% renewable plans, a 12.4¢ simple plan, 30 days to cancel free and no state penalties. Catches: a 3-of-5 complaint rating, no BBB grade and four extra fees.
Strengths: a 12.3¢ simple plan and 100% renewable power. Catches: forced arbitration with a class-action waiver, a C at the BBB and two state penalties.
Strengths: a below-average 14.6¢ simple plan in Houston and no arbitration clause. Catches: two state penalties since 2017, an F at the BBB and four extra fees in its terms.
Strengths: 100% renewable on every plan, an A+ at the BBB and no arbitration clause. Catches: a middle complaint rating (3 of 5) and a 2016 state penalty.
Strengths: a slightly below-average 15.5¢ simple plan and a solid complaint rating (4 of 5). Catches: four state penalties totaling $1.15 million and a D+ at the BBB.
Strengths: the lowest simple-plan price we scored, 12.25¢. Catches: forced arbitration, six extra fees and two state penalties.
Strengths: a 13.9¢ simple plan, an A+ at the BBB and no arbitration clause. Catches: a 2-of-5 complaint rating and two state penalties, including $1.59 million in 2024 refunds.
Bars start at zero. Texas penalties from the last 10 years: each one under $100,000 costs 4 points, $100,000 to $499,999 costs 8, and $500,000 or more costs 12. Evidence for every penalty is in each review.
Are these really different companies?
Not always. Four of these 10 brands, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain and Cirro, belong to NRG Energy. Constellation owns Champion as well as its own brand, and NextEra owns both Gexa and Frontier. TXU belongs to Vistra, and Rhythm is independent.
How do you score electricity companies?
Six categories worth 100 points, all from public records. No customer surveys, no star ratings and no money from the companies.
Prices are scored against the Texas average of 15.88¢ (EIA, July 2026). Full rules on how we review companies.
How should I pick an electricity company?
Use the score to narrow the field, then let the plan decide.
- 1Start with a good record
A higher score means fewer complaints, fewer fines and fairer fine print.
- 2Compare plans at your usage
Find the company’s plans on Power to Choose and check the price closest to your monthly kWh. Moving? See how to set up electricity.
- 3Read the contract terms
Look for arbitration clauses, cancel fees and extra fees. Our fact label guide shows where they hide.
- 4Skip the traps
Avoid bill-credit plans unless your usage is steady, and test any plan with our trap checker.
Best electricity company questions, answered
What is the best electricity company in Texas?
By our public-records score, Champion Energy ranks first at 96 out of 100, with the state’s best complaint rating, an A+ at the BBB, no state penalties and no arbitration clause. TXU Energy (80) and Constellation (77) follow. The best choice for you also depends on price and contract terms.
Which Texas electricity company is cheapest?
Of the 10 we scored, Frontier Utilities and Gexa Energy had the lowest simple 12-month plans, about 12.3 cents per kWh at 1,000 kWh, with Rhythm close behind at 12.4 cents. All three are below the 15.88-cent Texas average, but Frontier and Gexa force arbitration. Prices change often, so compare current plans on Power to Choose.
How do you score electricity companies?
Six categories worth 100 points: complaints to the state (25), fines and penalties (20), contract fairness (20), price (20), time in business (10) and BBB rating (5). Every point comes from public records, and every company gets the same formula.
Do companies pay to be ranked?
No. No company pays to be listed, ranked or scored, and we earn no referral fees from our Texas reviews. Ads help fund the site, but advertisers have no say in our scores.
Is Champion Energy better than TXU?
By our scores, yes: Champion 96, TXU 80. Both have the state’s best complaint rating and an A+ at the BBB, but Champion’s simple plan costs less, 13.3 cents versus 16.6 in Dallas, it has no state penalties and its contract has no arbitration clause. TXU gives you 60 days to cancel free.
Is TXU or Reliant better?
By our scores, TXU Energy (80) ranks well ahead of Reliant (62). TXU has a top complaint score and an A+ at the BBB, while Reliant has four state penalties totaling $1.15 million. Reliant’s simple plan scored a bit cheaper, 15.5 cents versus TXU’s 16.9.
Which electricity companies have the same owner?
NRG Energy owns Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain and Cirro. Constellation owns Champion and its own Constellation brand, and NextEra owns Gexa and Frontier. TXU belongs to Vistra, and Rhythm is independent. We score each brand separately because each has its own plans and record.
What is forced arbitration in an electricity contract?
It’s a clause that makes you settle disputes with a private arbitrator instead of in court, often with a waiver of class-action lawsuits. Of the 10 we scored, TXU, Gexa and Frontier have one. The other seven don’t, which earned them points in our contract score.
Which electricity company has the fewest complaints?
Champion, TXU and Constellation all earn the state’s best complaint rating, 5 of 5, for March to August 2026. Champion also had the fewest complaints filed with the state from April to September 2026, just 19.
Does a high score mean the cheapest bill?
No. TXU scored second overall but had the highest simple-plan price of the 10, and Frontier had the lowest price but scored 62. The score rewards a clean record and fair contracts too. Use it to narrow the field, then pick the best plan at your usage.
Will any scores change soon?
Yes. Cirro’s score rises from 58 to 70 on December 16, 2026, when a 2016 penalty leaves our 10-year window, and Frontier’s rises from 62 to 70 on March 9, 2027. We also re-score whenever new state data comes out.
Can I switch electricity companies anytime?
If you live in a shopping area, yes, but a fixed-rate contract may charge a cancel fee if you leave early. You can switch with no cancel fee in the last 14 days of a contract, and moving usually waives the fee too.
Sources and updates
Sources (16)
- The Day Company, Champion Energy review: 96/100: complaints 25, BBB 5, fines 20, contract 16, price 20 (13.65¢), time in business 10.
- The Day Company, Constellation review: 77/100: complaints 25, BBB 5, fines 12, contract 9, price 16 (15.55¢), time in business 10.
- The Day Company, Rhythm Energy review: 73/100: complaints 15, BBB 2, fines 20, contract 12, price 20 (12.4¢), time in business 4.
- The Day Company, Frontier Utilities review: 62/100: complaints 15, BBB 2, fines 8, contract 9, price 20 (12.25¢), time in business 8.
- The Day Company, Cirro Energy review: 58/100: complaints 10, BBB 5, fines 0, contract 15, price 20 (13.9¢), time in business 8.
- The Day Company, TXU Energy review: 80/100: complaints 25, BBB 5, fines 16, contract 12, price 12 (16.9¢), time in business 10.
- The Day Company, Direct Energy review: 70/100: complaints 20, BBB 0, fines 8, contract 13, price 19 (14.6¢ in Houston), time in business 10.
- The Day Company, Gexa Energy review: 74/100: complaints 20, BBB 2, fines 12, contract 10, price 20 (12.2¢ in Houston), time in business 8.
- The Day Company, Green Mountain Energy review: 70/100: complaints 15, BBB 5, fines 8, contract 15, price 17 (15.1¢ in Houston), time in business 8.
- The Day Company, Reliant Energy review: 62/100: complaints 20, BBB 1, fines 0, contract 15, price 16 (15.5¢), time in business 10.
- The Day Company, How we review companies: the six-category, 100-point public-records formula and score bands.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Power to Choose: the state complaint scorecard and plan fact labels.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Texas average residential price of 15.88¢ per kWh, July 2026.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Electricity FAQs: cancel fees and switching in the last 14 days of a contract.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: the 15.88¢ average Texas residential price used to score price, July 2026.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Docket 51277: the $250,000 Direct Energy settlement, approved December 2020, that lowered its score from 78 to 70.
Changelog · last updated October 5, 2026 · 3 updates
- October 5, 2026 (update): Gexa rose from 72 to 74 and Green Mountain from 68 to 70 after we confirmed each company’s terms describe a bill-help fund. Gexa moves to fourth, ahead of Rhythm, and Green Mountain ties Direct Energy for sixth.
- October 5, 2026 (update): Added five more companies scored with the same formula: Champion (96, now first), Constellation (77), Rhythm (73), Frontier (62) and Cirro (58). Updated the re-ranker, picks, price and penalty charts, and added who owns each brand and the two scores set to rise.
- October 5, 2026: Ranking published: five Texas electricity companies scored with one public-records formula, with a re-ranker by price, complaints, contract and fines.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "Best electricity companies in Texas, ranked by public records", updated October 4, 2026, https://theday.company/tx/best-electricity-companies.
Scores come from The Day Company’s published reviews, each built from public records with the same formula, as of October 2026. Plan prices are point-in-time examples from fact labels, not recommendations. No company pays to be listed or ranked. The Day Company is not affiliated with any electric company named here.