Houston electricity providers: how choosing one works
In most of Greater Houston you pick your electricity company. Here is how that works and what to read first.
When: About two weeks before move-in
How it works here
Most of Greater Houston has electricity choice. One delivery company owns the poles, wires and meter for your address. You choose the company that sells you the power and sends the bill.
A few areas at the edges of the metro do not have a choice. There, one utility or co-op serves everyone. We check your exact address, not the ZIP.
What to expect
- Have your new address and move-in date ready. The meter number for the address is called an ESI ID. The company can look it up for you.
- You pick a plan and a start date. Set the start date to your move-in day.
- Tell the company it is a move-in, not a switch. A move-in starts service at a new address.
- Some companies ask for a deposit. It depends on your credit and the company.
- Renting? Many leasing offices ask for proof of electricity before they hand over keys.
Three things to read before you pick
- The price at your usage. Every plan has a fact sheet called an Electricity Facts Label. It shows the price at three usage levels. A plan can look cheap at one level and cost much more at the others.
- Bill credits. Some plans take money off only in months you use a set amount of power. Use a little less and the credit disappears. Houston homes use far more in August than in April.
- The contract. Look for the length, the fee to leave early, and what the price becomes when the contract ends.
If something goes wrong
The Public Utility Commission of Texas takes complaints about electricity companies. Its Power to Choose site is the state’s official place to compare plans.
Want this done for your address?
Tell us your new address and move-in date. Your plan shows who handles each of these at your home, with links. No cost to you.
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