Lock in household savings
Single-Family Homes
A single-family home typically has its own electric meter, and in a deregulated state like Texas, that gives you full control over your energy usage and provider choice! Because these homes tend to have more space and often higher energy demands for heating, cooling, and appliances, choosing a fixed-rate plan can help keep your monthly bills predictable.
Top Electricity Plan Strategies for Single-Family Homes
- Fixed-Rate Plans: The “safety first” option. These lock in a set price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the duration of your contract, protecting you from seasonal price hikes and market volatility.
- Time-of-Use (TOU) Plans: Ideal if you have a flexible schedule. These offer lower rates during “off-peak” hours (like late at night) or some new plans offer lower rates during the day. This is a game-changer if you can run the dishwasher or charge an EV overnight.
- Green Energy Plans: Because you have full control over your provider, you can opt for 100% renewable sources (like wind or solar) to offset the larger carbon footprint of a standalone house.
- Bill/Usage Credit Plans: The “high-usage reward” strategy. These plans give you a discount once you hit a specific usage milestone, such as 1,000 or 2,000 kWh. They are excellent for larger families with consistent energy habits, but be careful: if your usage falls even slightly below the target, you lose the credit and your “effective” rate per kWh can skyrocket.
Note: Always check your Electricity Facts Label (EFL) before choosing any plan to understand pricing and fees.
Flexible plans for easy living
Apartment or Condo
Urban living in cities like Dallas, Houston, or Austin often means smaller footprints and shared walls, which helps with insulation. Some units have individual meters, meaning you can shop for your own plan; if not, focusing on energy-efficient habits is the best way to save!
Best Electricity Strategies for Condos & Apartments
- Fixed-Rate Plans: Don’t let a short lease scare you into a risky variable-rate plan. In deregulated electricity areas, early termination fees (ETFs) are waived if you move. This allows you to lock in a low, stable rate for 12 months or more, even if you plan to move in six.
- Time-of-Use (TOU) Plans: Perfect for the urban lifestyle. If you are out of the house during the day and do your laundry, dishwashing, or EV charging after 9 PM, these plans can drastically drop your average rate.
Finding the Right Electricity Plan for Your Home Type
Looking for the best electricity rates in your area? See if you have the power to choose your provider and plan, which means you could save significantly on your monthly bill!
Customize Your Energy rates
Mobile / Manufactured Home
Manufactured homes, often found in managed communities or parks, may use master-metering, meaning your electricity is billed through the park operator. If you have an individual meter, you can choose your own energy plan and benefit from fixed-rate stability. Regardless of setup, improving insulation and using energy-efficient appliances can make a big impact.
Top Electricity Strategies for Manufactured/Mobile Homes
- Fixed-Rate Plans: For mobile homes, the most reliable strategy is a “no-gimmicks” fixed-rate plan. Many manufactured homes use between 500 and 1,000 kWh per month; avoid “Bill Credit” or “Tiered” plans that require you to hit 1,000+ kWh to see a low rate. In a smaller home, if you use only 900 kWh, you could miss the credit and end up paying double the advertised price.
- Low-Usage Plans: Since your total usage is often lower than a large site-built house, a high monthly “base fee” or “customer charge” can significantly inflate your price per kWh. Look for plans with a low (or $0) monthly base fee to keep your costs aligned with your actual usage.
- Prepaid Plans: This is a “no-strings-attached” option that requires no credit check or deposit. You pay for electricity upfront and “top up” as needed, receiving daily alerts that show exactly how much you’ve spent. While this offers total flexibility and zero early termination fees, the price per kWh is typically higher, and service can be automatically disconnected if your account balance hits zero.
Power your home from day one
New Home Build
Building your dream home in a new Texas subdivision? Setting up electricity for a new build requires a different approach than a standard “switch.” You’ll need to coordinate with the Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU), like Oncor, CenterPoint, or TNMP, to ensure your meter is energized and assigned an ESIID (Electric Service Identifier).
Best Electricity Strategies for New Builds
- Green Energy Plans: If your new build includes rooftop solar, look for “Solar Buyback” plans. These allow you to sell excess Texas sunshine back to the grid for bill credits.
- Low-Usage Plans: Since your total usage is often lower than a large site-built house, a high monthly “base fee” or “customer charge” can significantly inflate your price per kWh. Look for plans with a low (or $0) monthly base fee to keep your costs aligned with your actual usage.
- Prepaid Plans: This is a “no-strings-attached” option that requires no credit check or deposit. You pay for electricity upfront and “top up” as needed, receiving daily alerts that show exactly how much you’ve spent. While this offers total flexibility and zero early termination fees, the price per kWh is typically higher, and service can be automatically disconnected if your account balance hits zero.
