Looking for an electricity plan that doesn't rely on a usage credit. Recommendations?

[-]

DigitalDemon75038@reddit

North Dallas with $135 fixed rate after delivery - I have a secret, shop for electric in the boonies and find a no-name company. Then see if they’ll service your zip, then boom. Locked in the best rate for a long time doing this every few years.

If you strike out, find another, and if that area is bad luck try somewhere else. Don’t be scared to window shop far away, some regions are significantly cheaper and the business models change.

[-]

Business-Biscotti-79@reddit

Hi Digitaldemon75038 Can you elaborate on how you found best long term rate? Thanks

[-]

DigitalDemon75038@reddit

Shop for plans in an area with high poverty and low income, then change the service zipcode to your own for final price check.

Try this about 10 times in a different area each time and then see who came out lowest.

[-]

LazloLikes@reddit

I currently use Champion Energy. I have used Ogre, Rhythm, and other services. However, they increase each renewal period or require a minimum usage. In the summer, I can reach the minimum usage, but in winter, it can drop to 500 kw. Most energy companies charge significantly more for less usage. Champion is actually reasonable.

Look into it. They do have a referral program, so if you enroll, I would really appreciate it if you used my code, ACAMPO012. We both get a $50 credit after you pay your first bill.

[-]

Think_Run612@reddit

We'll both be getting a $50 credit! Thank you

[-]

LazloLikes@reddit

Thank you!

[-]

nickgomez@reddit

Does champion increase pricing very often?

[-]

LazloLikes@reddit

Electricity pricing fluctuates based on time of year, supply & demand, and other factors. I am currently in a 2-year locked in rate, but the rate is based on kw usage. Champion has a very small rate change compared to other companies. An example is 8.9 cents for 2000kw, 9.4 cents per kw for 1000, and 9.9 cents for 500kw. Other companies will offer 9 cents for 2000kw, 10 cents for 1000kw, and 11 cents for 500kw. The Oncor charge is the only rate that can increase while in the contract.

All electric companies will increase rates at the same time but some offer better deals than others.

[-]

zoolak@reddit

Don’t know how you saw those rates. I just looked and they started at 15.3c

My plan is up in January, hopefully electricity rates go down significantly in the winter

[-]

LazloLikes@reddit

The 15.3 is with the Oncor charge. They charge 5.6 cents per kw. So, 9.7 for the electricity rate plus 5.6 Oncor charge, you've got 15.3. Always read the electricity fact label for each plan. This is where you'll find the breakdown down of all the charges. The charge for different kw usage, Oncor charge, additional charges, etc. Ogre and Rhythm charge 10 per month in addition to the rate, Oncor charge, and month delivery fee.

When searching for plans, always edit the kw usage to reflect your usage, so you are being quoted the correct fee. I would also make sure you have a full year of monthly usage to reference. I mentioned in the summer I can use almost 2000 kw, but other months are less than 1000 kw. If 7 or 8 months out of the year, I'm using less than 1000 kw, I want to make sure I like the rate for 500kw. When I was searching earlier this year, some plans showed a reasonable rate for 1000kw or 2000kw, but then it increased to 18 to 21 cents for 500kw.

Electricity rates have increased in the past 5-6 years. I remember renewing at 9 or 10 cents for both charges together. Good luck!

[-]

Rude-Athlete-8149@reddit

Check out powertochoose.org instead of shopping straight from Champion, you'll find lower rates. Just be sure to set the filters to exclude plans with minimum usage fees, bill credits, time-of-use, and prepaid. Then you'll want to click on the "Facts Sheet" links to check out the plan terms before signing up. Watch out for plans that include setup/bundle fees, base charges, or charge you extra if autopay lapses for any reason. Look for the lowest Energy Charge.

[-]

SheffboiRD06@reddit

Not an ad, but as much as I am annoyed at paying a 3rd party service $10 a month just to interact with the annoying “open” market…I’ve actually been satisfied with Energy Ogre. It’s a 3rd party service that basically switches you around plans to chase best/introductory offers etc. My provider changes about every 3-4 months but I don’t have to do anything, they handle all the background paperwork.

[-]

nomadschomad@reddit

It's $120/yr for something that takes 15 minutes/year.

[-]

bengtc@reddit

Not an ad

Definitely an ad, same thing gets posted anytime there is an energy question.

[-]

Treactor@reddit

I had a bad experience with them. They always set my renewal to be when electricity rates were the most expensive. I tried them for almost 2 years before I had enough paying 20%-30% more per kw. Why pay $10 a month when you can do this easily yourself with 5 minutes of work per year with power to choose?

[-]

TexasBookNerd@reddit

I also had a bad experience with energy ogre. They kept signing me up for yearlong contracts. What’s the point of paying for monitoring when they keep you in yearlong contracts? Felt like a ripoff

[-]

nickgomez@reddit

I might have to try that for a year

[-]

nomadschomad@reddit

This is the ONLY state-sanctioned website. ALL the others are affiliated with power companies and do not show the lowest rates.

https://www.powertochoose.org/

Most plans do not include usage credits and it's a specific filter you can turn on. Lowest rates right now are $10c/kwh for short-term contracts and 13.5c for long-term. In 6 years of me tracking prices, they pretty much always go up. Go long-term and switch later if they get a bunch cheaper.

[-]

LTOTR@reddit

Power to choose, preferably on your computer Fixed rate No repay No time of use

Check special terms

[-]

hobobirdtx@reddit (OP)

Thank you! That's the site I was looking for and couldn't find. Used them every other year, but they weren't popping up. Bookmarking it this time.

[-]

LTOTR@reddit

Make sure it’s https://www.powertochoose.org/

There’s a bunch that sound similar and look similar

[-]

gt0163c@reddit

And check the EFL (Energy Facts Label). It's a PDF that's shows exactly how the plan charges. The format is the same for every plan, so it's easy to compare between plans. And all the different ways the companies try to make it look like you're paying less when you'll actually likely pay more are laid out in that document.

[-]

truth-4-sale@reddit

COMPARING PLAN PRICING at PowerToChoose.org

Per the "Electricity Facts Label" for a Plan:

"ENERGY CHARGE" is --ONLY-- what your REP is charging you for the kWh used.

"REP BASE CHARGE" -- CAN BE $0.00 - $10.00/mo.

"TDU DELIVERY CHARGE" is the ONCOR pass thru charge for kWh used, which can vary each month.

"TDU BASE CHARGE" -- This ONCOR charge can vary. Has been between $2.00-$4.00 for me.

Then, you have the TOTAL CHARGE for your Bill. It's the TOTAL CHARGE amount that you want to compare Plans with.......

For Example, my 36 month Plan with RHYTHM ENERGY in 2023 was:

$0 REP (RHYTHM ENERGY) BASE CHARGE

$7.391¢/kWh RHYTHM ENERGY CHARGE

$3.589¢/kWh TDU ONCOR ENERGY CHARGE

$3.91 TDU ONCOR BASE CHARGE

So, I paid ----OVERALL---- $11.4¢/kWh for my electricity for a month's usage. My Rhythm Plan is "Simply Choose 36" which began in Jan. of 2023.

You generally get the best prices when you are signing up as a New Customer vs when you are re-newing your service after the term of your plan ends.

If you want to get a $100 Credit from Rhythm, you can use my Rhythm Referral Code as you sign up online: https://www.gotrhythm.com/raf?referralCode=fZuGPBiQ3p&utm_source=raf&utm_medium=my-account

[-]