How does TXU Energy score?
TXU earns 80 out of 100, which we rate "very good." It gets full marks for complaints, its BBB rating and time in business. It loses points for its contract, its prices and one state fine in 2024.
- October 2, 2026: 80 at launch.
Nothing is scheduled to change: TXU’s one penalty in our window (October 2024) won’t age out until 2034. We re-check prices every month and re-score when the state posts new complaint data or a penalty order, or the BBB grade changes.
90–100 Excellent80–89 Very good70–79 Good60–69 FairUnder 60 Poor
That puts TXU third of the 25 Texas companies we've scored, behind Champion Energy at 96 and BKV Energy at 82.
Scores out of 100, from public records only, with the same formula for every company, as of October 13 to 16, 2026. See all 25 ranked side by side.
See the evidence behind every point
| Category | Points | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints to the state | 25 / 25 | 5 of 5 on the PUCT complaint scorecard ("Lowest Complaint Rate"), March 1 to August 31, 2026 |
| BBB rating | 5 / 5 | A+, BBB accredited since October 15, 2007 |
| Fines and penalties | 16 / 20 | One PUCT penalty in 10 years, under $100,000: $91,500 in 2024 (Docket 56560). No Texas Attorney General action found. |
| Contract fairness | 12 / 20 | $150 cancel fee on 12-month plans (5 of 5); 60-day satisfaction guarantee (3 of 3); a plain fixed plan (4 of 4); mandatory arbitration and class-action waiver (0 of 4); five extra fees (0 of 4) |
| Price | 12 / 20 | Simple Rate 12 averages 16.9¢ at 1,000 kWh across Dallas and Houston, 106% of EIA's 15.88¢ Texas average for July 2026 |
| Time in business | 10 / 10 | Licensed January 2, 2001; runs the TXU Energy Aid bill-help program; parent Vistra publishes audited financials |
Every company we review is scored with the same formula, using public records only. Full method: how we score.
TXU Energy quick facts
What is TXU Energy's phone number?
Call 1-800-242-9113. TXU's terms of service say it's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Outages are your utility’s job, not TXU’s: TXU sells the power but doesn’t own the poles or wires.
Power out? Call the company that owns your lines
These outage numbers come from TXU's own terms. Save $3.95: pay online, by mail, by the automated phone line or at a payment location. TXU can charge that fee when a live agent takes your card payment.
How many complaints does TXU Energy get?
Texans filed 287 complaints about TXU with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) from April through September 2026. That sounds like a lot, but TXU is huge. For its size, it gets the state's best rating: 5 of 5.
The PUCT's names: billing, provision of service, discontinuance, slamming (switching your provider without permission), all other and cramming (unauthorized charges). Source: PUCT Customer Complaint Statistics, pulled October 2, 2026.
The state ranks every provider by complaints per 1,000 customers over six months, then sorts them into five equal groups. TXU is in the best group, labeled "Lowest Complaint Rate."
354 complaints in three years and no BBB alerts on file. Customer reviews average 2.93 out of 5 across 123 reviews. Reviews don't count toward the BBB's letter grade.
What does TXU Energy charge in 2026?
TXU offers 15 home plans in Dallas and Houston. At 1,000 kWh a month they cost 10.5¢ to 20.3¢ per kWh, delivery included. Its simplest plan, Simple Rate 12, works out to about $166 a month in Dallas and $172 in Houston, before taxes.
Averages come from TXU’s October 2, 2026 fact labels for ZIP 75201 (Dallas) and 77002 (Houston), with delivery in and taxes out. Green shows the cheapest plain fixed plan.
Which TXU plan is cheapest for my usage?
Choose a city and your usual monthly kWh, and the finder sorts all 15 TXU plans by what you’d likely pay. To see other companies too, check our Houston or Dallas rates, or see each Dallas seller’s state complaint rating in our list of Dallas electric companies.
Partner toolWe may earn a fee if you sign up. It never changes our scores.
Why can TXU's cheapest plan cost the most?
Smart 1000 Select is TXU's cheapest plan at 1,000 kWh, thanks to a $100 bill credit. But you only get the credit if you use at least 1,000 kWh. At 500 kWh, the same plan costs about $113 a month, about $22 more than Simple Rate 12.
Source: TXU Electricity Facts Labels for ZIP 75201, October 2, 2026.
Rule of thumb: a bill-credit plan only pays off if you clear its usage line every month, even in mild spring and fall months. Value Edge, Smart 2000 Select, Saver's Choice and Smart 500 Start work the same way. If your usage swings, a plain plan like Simple Rate 12 is safer.
What fees does TXU charge, and how do I cancel?
TXU charges $150 to cancel a 12-month plan early and $295 for a 24-month plan; month-to-month plans have no fee. TXU waives the fee if you cancel within 60 days of signing up, if you move, or within 14 days of your contract's end date.
- Cancel within 60 days of sign-up and the cancellation fee is waived
- Three expiration notices before a fixed plan ends, the last at least 30 days out
- No deposit with good credit, a clean payment history, or age 62+ and current
- Credit history isn't used to price contracts of 12 months or less
- Disputes go to binding arbitration, with no class actions; small claims court is allowed
- When a contract ends, you roll onto TXU's month-to-month default plan until you choose another
- Five extra fees beyond the late and returned-payment charges
- Deposits can reach the greater of one-fifth of a year's bills or two months of bills
Changed your mind? If you switched to TXU from another provider, you can cancel within three business days of getting the terms, with no fee. Behind on a bill? Ask TXU abuot a payment plan or TXU Energy Aid, or call 211 for local help.
Keep readingBill still too high? Find out why, step by step Keep readingSee where TXU ranks among 25 Texas companiesHas TXU Energy been fined?
Yes, once in the last 10 years. In 2024, TXU paid a $91,500 state penalty. It had ordered power shutoffs for 113 customers during extreme heat in summer 2023, which state rules forbid. The utilities carried out none of them.
- TXU is licensed as a retail electric provider, per the PUCT's scorecard listing (certificate 10004).
- TXU becomes BBB accredited; it holds an A+ today.
- TXU orders shutoffs for 113 customers during extreme heat, which state rules forbid. None are carried out.
- The PUCT approves a settlement: a $91,500 administrative penalty (Docket 56560), which TXU paid in November 2024.
- The PUCT's complaint scorecard rates TXU 5 of 5 for March to August 2026.
How we checked: we searched the PUCT's case files for TXU (70 cases) and the Texas Attorney General's news releases. We found no Attorney General lawsuit. Cases older than 10 years don't count toward the score.
What do TXU's records actually say?
TXU's terms of service, its fact labels and its one state penalty order hold the details that matter most. We pulled the key terms into the tables below, with a link to each document.
Terms of service: residential agreement
| Topic | What it says |
|---|---|
| Late payment | A one-time 5% penalty on the past-due balance |
| Returned payment | Up to $30 for each payment that bounces or is rejected |
| Disconnect notice | Up to $20 each time TXU sends a disconnection notice |
| Disconnect recovery | Up to $30 if you don't pay by the disconnection date |
| Payment fees | Up to $3.95 when a live agent takes a card or e-check payment, and up to $4.95 for the sixth and later payments in a month |
| Document copies | $2 for extra bill copies or letters beyond one free yearly history |
| Deposit limit | No more than the greater of one-fifth of a year's bills or two months of bills |
| Avoiding a deposit | Good credit, a clean payment history, or age 62+ with no past-due balance |
| Credit and price | Credit history isn't used to price contracts of 12 months or less |
| Changing your mind | If you switched from another provider, you can cancel within three business days of getting the terms, with no fee |
| Contract end | Three expiration notices on fixed plans; on terms over four months, the last comes at least 30 days before the end date. Then you move to the month-to-month default plan |
| Disputes | Binding arbitration with a class-action waiver; small claims court is allowed |
| Contact | 1-800-242-9113, 24 hours a day; TTY 1-800-735-2989 |
Source: TXU Terms of Service Agreement, residential (PDF). The 60-day guarantee is on TXU's Why TXU Energy page, and cancel fees are on each plan's fact label.
PUCT enforcement order: one case, 2024
| Docket | What the order found | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 56560 Oct 2024 | From June to September 2023, TXU ordered shutoffs for 113 customers during extreme heat, which state rules forbid. The utilities carried out none of them. | $91,500 administrative penalty, approved in October 2024 and paid in November 2024. |
We searched TXU's 70 PUCT cases. This was the only enforcement case in the last 10 years, and we found no Texas Attorney General lawsuit.
Fact labels: October 2, 2026
| Item | Dallas (Oncor) | Houston (CenterPoint) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Rate 12 at 1,000 kWh | 16.6¢/kWh, about $166/mo | 17.2¢/kWh, about $172/mo |
| All 15 plans at 1,000 kWh | 10.5¢ to 19.6¢ | 10.9¢ to 20.3¢ |
| Cancel fees | $150 on 12-month plans, $295 on 24-month plans, $0 month to month | |
| Renewable content | 3% on most plans; 25% on Texas Choice 12 and 24 | |
| Solar, batteries and EVs | Free Nights & Cool Summer plans don't allow homes with them | |
Example labels: Simple Rate 12, Dallas · Simple Rate 12, Houston. Prices include delivery but not taxes.
Thinking about Reliant instead?
TXU outscores Reliant 80 to 62 on our scorecard. It leads on complaints, its BBB grade and penalties, while Reliant leads on price and has no arbitration clause. Our TXU vs. Reliant comparison lines the two up side by side. TXU’s owner, Vistra, also owns TriEagle Energy and Ambit Energy, which we score 74 and 41.
Keep readingRead our full Reliant Energy reviewDoes TXU buy back solar power?
Yes. TXU has three solar buyback plans. Only System Flex credits your extra power at the same rate you pay for power. The other two credit less than half of what you pay.
From TXU’s fact labels dated October 5, 2026. TXU’s average prices assume you send back 580 kWh a month. Credits change, so confirm them on the fact label before you sign.
Energy charge only, from each plan’s fact label. In Houston, Plus charges 12.2¢ and Saver 11.8¢; the credits are the same. Delivery and base charges are extra.
Each result is your extra kWh multiplied by that plan’s credit. TXU caps credits at your monthly energy charges, and extra credits bank for later bills, up to $1,000.
Partner toolWe may earn a fee if you sign up. It never changes our scores.
- Credits can cover up to 100% of your energy charges each month, but not delivery or base charges.
- Unused credits bank for future bills, up to $1,000. They have no cash value.
- You must own your home and have a signed interconnection agreement with your utility.
- TXU can lower the buyback rate or end your eligibility, with 45 days’ notice on Plus and Saver.
TXU Energy questions, answered
Is TXU Energy a good electricity provider?
Mostly, yes. TXU scores 80 out of 100 on our public-records scorecard, which we rate very good. It gets full marks for complaints, its BBB A+ and time in business. It loses points for forced arbitration, five extra fees, a 2024 state fine and slightly high prices.
What is TXU Energy's customer service phone number?
Call 1-800-242-9113. TXU's terms of service say the line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The TTY line is 1-800-735-2989. For outages, call your utility instead, such as Oncor at 1-888-313-4747 or CenterPoint at 713-207-2222.
Who owns TXU Energy?
Vistra Corp., a publicly traded power company, owns TXU Energy. Vistra says it serves about 2.6 million retail electricity customers in Texas across its brands. The TXU Energy brand has sold electricity in Texas for more than 20 years.
How much does TXU charge to cancel?
$150 on 12-month plans and $295 on 24-month plans. Month-to-month plans have no fee. TXU waives the fee if you cancel within 60 days of signing up. It also waives it if you move and show proof, or if you cancel within 14 days of your contract's end.
What is TXU's cheapest plan?
At 1,000 kWh, Smart 1000 Select 12 is cheapest: 10.5¢ per kWh in Dallas and 10.9¢ in Houston. But that price depends on a $100 credit you only get by using 1,000 kWh or more each month. The cheapest plain plan is Simple Rate 12, at 16.6¢ and 17.2¢.
How many complaints does TXU Energy get?
The PUCT logged 287 complaints about TXU from April through September 2026. Billing was the top issue, with 125. For its size, TXU still earns the state's best complaint rating, 5 of 5. The BBB shows 354 complaints over three years.
Has TXU Energy been fined?
Yes, once in the last 10 years. In 2024, TXU paid a $91,500 state penalty (PUCT Docket 56560). It had ordered shutoffs for 113 customers during extreme heat in summer 2023. The utilities carried out none of them.
Can I get TXU Free Nights with solar or an EV?
No. TXU's Free Nights & Cool Summer fact labels say homes with electric vehicles, batteries or solar aren't eligible. Those homes can still pick other TXU plans, like Simple Rate 12. It has one energy rate and no time-of-day rules.
What happens when my TXU contract ends?
You move to TXU's default month-to-month plan unless you pick a new one. On fixed-rate plans, TXU sends three expiration notices near the end. On terms over four months, the last one comes at least 30 days before the end date. Compare prices before then; our contract-ending guide shows how.
What extra fees does TXU charge?
Beyond the late fee (5%) and returned payments (up to $30), TXU’s terms list five more: up to $20 for a disconnect notice, up to $30 for disconnect recovery, up to $3.95 to pay through a live agent, up to $4.95 for a sixth or later payment in a month, and $2 for extra document copies. Paying without a live agent avoids that fee.
How does TXU compare with other Texas electricity companies?
TXU scores 80, third of the 25 Texas companies we've scored. Champion Energy leads at 96, BKV Energy is second at 82, and Constellation is fourth at 77. TXU's 5-of-5 complaint rating and A+ from the BBB put it near the top, but its plain plan costs about 6% more than the Texas average.
Does TXU have a solar buyback plan?
Yes, three. System Flex, a month-to-month plan, credits extra solar power at the same rate you pay, 15.3¢ per kWh as of October 5, 2026. Solar Buyback Plus 12 pays 6.0¢ and Saver 12 pays 3.5¢. Unused credits bank up to $1,000 but have no cash value. This isn’t part of our score.
What do you want to do next?
Browse every guide on the Texas hub. Or see every state's average price on our price map.
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Sources and updates
Sources (16)
- TXU Energy, residential plans and Electricity Facts Labels for ZIP 75201 and 77002, dated October 2, 2026 (for example, Simple Rate 12, Dallas and Simple Rate 12, Houston).
- TXU Energy, Terms of Service Agreement, residential: fees, deposits, cancellation, renewal, arbitration and contact numbers.
- TXU Energy, Why TXU Energy: 60-day Total Satisfaction Guarantee.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas, Customer Complaint Statistics, April 1 to September 30, 2026.
- Power to Choose (PUCT), Retail Electric Provider Complaint Scorecard, September 2026 (March 1 to August 31, 2026).
- Better Business Bureau, TXU Energy Retail Company profile, checked October 2, 2026.
- Better Business Bureau, Reliant Energy profile, checked October 2, 2026.
- PUCT Docket 56560, settlement and order, TXU Energy Retail Company, 2024.
- PUCT, TXU Energy semi-annual report: certificate 10004 and parent Vistra Corp.
- Vistra Corp., 2025 annual report (Form 10-K): Texas customer count and the TXU Energy brand.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: Texas average residential price, July 2026.
- PUCT, Transmission and Distribution Utility Rates: CenterPoint delivery charges, September 1 and October 1, 2026.
- TXU Energy, Home solar buyback plans.
- TXU Energy, Solar Buyback System Flex fact label, Dallas, October 5, 2026.
- TXU Energy, Solar Buyback Plus 12 fact label, Dallas, October 5, 2026.
- TXU Energy, Solar Buyback Saver 12 fact label, Dallas, October 5, 2026.
Changelog · last updated October 16, 2026 · 7 updates
- October 16, 2026: Linked our new reviews of TriEagle Energy and Ambit Energy, two more Vistra brands, and our Dallas electric companies list. We now score 25 companies, so the chart shows all 25 and TXU is third of 25, behind Champion and BKV Energy; the solar note now covers the 10 companies whose solar plans we compared on October 5. TXU’s score and figures are unchanged. We also pointed an old menu link straight at its current page. We also added our new city guides, four new company reviews and the Smart Meter Texas guide to the guide map.
- October 13, 2026: Added a quick decision box, a date alert, yearly money-at-stake lines in the tools and next-step links. Added a score history box. Moved the full TXU vs. Reliant table to our dedicated comparison page and kept a short summary here. Rewrote parts of the review in our own words, reworded our trust note so it stays true if we add partner links, and linked our city rate and contract-ending guides plus a full list of Texas guides. No figures or scores changed.
- October 12, 2026: Moved to theday.company/tx/txu-energy-reviews; the old address forwards here. Updated links to our renamed Texas guides. No figures or scores changed.
- October 5, 2026 (solar update): Added a solar buyback section: every TXU 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. Added a note on Oncor’s October 4 delivery-charge increase. TXU’s score is unchanged.
- October 5, 2026: Added a chart comparing TXU with all 10 Texas companies we've scored (TXU is second, behind Champion), a documents section with TXU's key terms, fact labels and penalty order, links to the full ranking and a new answer on how TXU compares. TXU's score is unchanged.
- October 3, 2026: Added Reliant's score (62 out of 100), prices, penalties and contract terms to the TXU vs. Reliant comparison.
- October 2, 2026: Review published. Score: 80 out of 100. Prices from TXU's October 2, 2026 fact labels.
How to cite this page: The Day Company, "Is TXU Energy a good electric company? Our 2026 review", updated October 16, 2026, https://theday.company/tx/txu-energy-reviews.
Scores use public records only and the same formula for every company; see how we score. Prices are TXU's own fact-label averages for the ZIP codes shown, dated October 2, 2026, and change often; your price depends on your address and plan. The Day Company is not affiliated with TXU Energy, Vistra or any retail electric provider. No company can pay for placement or a better score.