What is Power to Choose?
It's the state's official website for comparing electricity plans. The Public Utility Commission of Texas runs it at powertochoose.org. You type in your ZIP code, and it shows plans from electric companies that serve your area.
Electric companies also sell plans on their own websites. Power to Choose is different because it puts many companies side by side, for free, on one site the state runs. Before you shop, it helps to know what a fair Texas price looks like.
Can I use Power to Choose where I live?
Probably. About 85% of Texans can pick their electric company, including most people in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Corpus Christi. But if your power comes from a city utility, like in Austin or San Antonio, or from an electric co-op, you can't shop.
Share of Texas electricity customers, from ERCOT's 2025 retail market report.
Why the cheapest plan on Power to Choose may not be cheapest for you
Because the site ranks plans by their price at exactly 1,000 kWh unless you change it. Some companies build plans to win that one test with a bill credit. Use a bit less or a bit more, and the same plan can cost more than double.
Illustrative example to show how bill credits work. Real plans vary, so check each plan's Facts Label.
Plan B never ranks first, but it costs less in two of the three months. Most homes swing a lot from month to month, so a credit window is easy to miss. That's why the 1,000 kWh price can mislead you.
Does this plan have a bill-credit trap? Check it in 10 seconds
Every plan's Facts Label lists its average price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. Type those three numbers in. If the 1,000 kWh price dips below the 2,000 kWh price, that's the trap's fingerprint.
About $122 a month at 1,000 kWh, before taxes.
Why this works: on a normal plan, the price per kWh slowly drops as you use more, because fixed monthly charges get spread out. A bill credit breaks that pattern. To price a whole plan at your exact usage, use our plan cost calculator.
How do I read an Electricity Facts Label?
Every plan must have one. State rules make companies publish this one-page price sheet. It shows the price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh, the contract length, the cancel fee, whether the price is fixed or variable, and how much is renewable.
From Gexa Energy's Facts Label, read October 2026. Average prices include delivery but not taxes. We show this plan because it's a clean example with no bill credit, not as a recommendation.
- CenterPoint delivery ($4.90 + 6.5333¢ per kWh)$70.23
- Gexa energy charge (5.22¢ per kWh)$52.20
Before taxes. More than half of this bill is delivery, which you can't shop. See what delivery costs with CenterPoint and Oncor.
That's why two plans can only differ so much: the delivery part is the same for everyone. Our full guide shows how to read every line of a Facts Label. Not sure which rate type fits you? Read fixed vs. variable rates.
How do I compare plans on Power to Choose?
Follow these six steps. Have a recent bill handy so you know your usage.
- Know your usageFind the kWh on your bills. Smart Meter Texas shows your past usage for free.
- Enter your ZIPGo to powertochoose.org and type in your ZIP code.
- Pick your usage rangeChoose the range closest to your home. The list re-sorts by that price.
- Filter the listNarrow it by plan type, like fixed rate, and by contract length.
- Open 3 Facts LabelsCheck the price at your usage, bill credits, base charges and the cancel fee. Or test them in our trap checker.
- Check the companyLook at its complaint rating, then sign up. You get 3 business days to change your mind.
Shopping because your contract is ending? Start a few weeks early, so you don't roll onto a higher month-to-month rate. Moving? See how to set up electricity. Wondering if your bill is normal? Compare it with a typical Texas bill.
What should I watch out for on Power to Choose?
Most plans are fine. These six details are where bills jump.
Need a plan with no deposit? Prepaid plans exist, but read their fees closely. See no-deposit and prepaid plans. To see which companies draw the fewest complaints, read our provider rankings.
What happens after I pick a plan?
Your new company handles the switch. Your power stays on, and your utility doesn't change. You also get 3 business days to cancel for free if you change your mind.
- You agree to the plan online or by phone. Save the Facts Label and your contract.
- If you switched from another company, you can cancel free within 3 federal business days.
- Your new company takes over on your start date or your next meter reading. Your power doesn't go off.
- Your company should warn you before it ends. Shop again, or you'll likely move to a month-to-month rate.
Leaving an old plan early? Its cancel fee may still apply, though many companies waive it if you move, so check your terms. Behind on a bill? See help paying your electric bill. Want to see how specific companies score? Read our TXU, Reliant and Green Mountain reviews.
Power to Choose questions, answered
What is Power to Choose?
Power to Choose (powertochoose.org) is the free, official site for comparing electricity plans in Texas. The Public Utility Commission of Texas runs it. You enter your ZIP code, and it lists plans from electric companies that serve your area.
Is Power to Choose legit?
Yes. The state's utility regulator, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, runs it, and it's free to use. Still, a top-ranked plan isn't always the best deal for you, so read each plan's Facts Label before you sign.
Who can use Power to Choose?
About 85% of Texans can pick their electric company and use the site, including most of Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Corpus Christi. Homes served by city utilities, like Austin Energy and CPS Energy, or by electric co-ops can't shop there.
Why isn't the cheapest plan on Power to Choose really the cheapest?
Because the site ranks plans by their price at exactly 1,000 kWh unless you change it. Some plans use bill credits to look cheapest at that one number. If your use is lower or higher, the same plan can cost much more. Pick the usage range closest to yours, and check the price at your usage.
What is a bill credit plan?
It's a plan that takes money off your bill only if you use a certain amount, like 1,000 to 1,200 kWh. Inside that window, the plan looks cheap. Outside it, you pay the full, higher rate. In our example, the same plan costs $60 at 1,000 kWh but $144 at 900 kWh.
What is an Electricity Facts Label?
It's a one-page price sheet every Texas plan must publish under state rules (PUCT rule 25.475). It shows the average price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh, the contract length, the cancel fee, whether the rate is fixed or variable, and the renewable share.
How do I find my monthly kWh usage?
Look at the kWh on your electric bills. You can also see your past usage for free on Smart Meter Texas. Use your average month, and remember that summer months run higher.
Can I cancel a plan after signing up?
Yes. If you switched from another company, you can cancel within 3 federal business days with no fee. After that, your plan's cancel fee may apply, unless your terms waive it.
What happens when my electricity contract ends?
Your company should send you a notice before it ends. If you don't pick a new plan, you'll likely move to a month-to-month rate, which is often higher. Start shopping a few weeks early.
Does Power to Choose show company ratings?
Yes. It shows each company's complaint rating from the state on a 1-to-5 scale, where 5 means the fewest complaints. Our company reviews also score providers on public records.
Sources and updates
Sources (11)
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Power to Choose: plan listings, Facts Labels and usage-range sorting, read October 2026.
- ERCOT, Grid Insights: Retail Market (November 2025): about 85% of Texas electricity consumers can choose their retail electric provider.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Substantive Rule 25.475: Electricity Facts Label requirements.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Substantive Rule 25.474: the right to cancel within three federal business days after switching.
- Texas Legislature, SB 1219 bill analysis (82nd Legislature, 2011): the Power to Choose website.
- House Research Organization, SB 7 bill analysis (1999): retail electric competition beginning January 1, 2002.
- Michael Giberson, Knowledge Problem, Gaming the Rankings on the Texas Power to Choose Website (July 2015): how bill credits target the 1,000 kWh ranking, and the usage-range re-sort.
- Gexa Energy, Eco Choice 12 Electricity Facts Label, CenterPoint service area, read October 2026: average prices of 12.7¢, 12.2¢ and 12.0¢ per kWh and a 5.22¢ energy charge.
- Reliant Energy, Electricity Facts Label, Secure Advantage 12, Houston: CenterPoint delivery charges passed through ($4.90 a month + 6.5333¢ per kWh) at CenterPoint’s October 1, 2026 rates.
- Power to Choose (PUCT), Retail Electric Provider Complaint Scorecard: the 1-to-5 complaint ratings shown on the site.
- Smart Meter Texas, smartmetertexas.com: free access to your past electricity usage.
Changelog · last updated October 4, 2026 · 1 update
- October 4, 2026: Guide published, with a real Facts Label example (Gexa Eco Choice 12, CenterPoint area), an illustrative bill-credit example and a free bill-credit trap checker.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "What is Power to Choose, and how do I use it the right way?", updated October 4, 2026, https://theday.company/tx/power-to-choose-explained.
Power to Choose is run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The Day Company is not affiliated with the PUCT, Power to Choose or any electric company, and no company pays for placement in this guide. Plan prices change often, so check each plan's current Facts Label before you sign. The Plan A and Plan B bill-credit figures are illustrative. Prices exclude taxes.