Houston Best Electricity Rates, Plans and Providers

Electricity Companies in Houston: Enter your zip code to compare Houston electric companies, and shop electricity plans from trusted providers offering cheap fixed energy rates for your home, including renewable energy options.

Reviews of Houston Electric Companies: It’s important to read objective information about  electricity providers before you make the switch. Check out our Electric Companies reviews page to find reviews and ratings.

Houston Energy Plans & Rates

Average Houston Electricity Rates

The average residential energy rate in Texas is about 14 ¢/kWh. The national average is about 16 ¢/kWh. Houston rates are generally a bit less than rates in Dallas.

Centerpoint’s Move-in, Move-out, and Transfer

Centerpoint serves as the transmission and distribution utility (TDU) for the Houston area. Although you have the power to choose your preferred electricity provider, Centerpoint is responsible for managing Houston power outages and ensuring power delivery to your property.

Residential Electricity in Houston

When you choose a Houston electric company and plan in Houston (online or with operator help), during the enrollment process you will request Centerpoint to begin delivering electricity on your chosen start date.

Move-in, Move-out, and Transfer Service

Whether you’re moving into or out of Houston, you have options to manage your electricity service. You can request your current electricity provider to terminate your plan if you’re moving out of the area, and there normally won’t be an Early Termination Fee (ETF). If your current provider also serves your new city, you have the option to transfer your service.

Switching Electricity Providers

In deregulated areas like Houston, when you decide to switch energy suppliers, your new electricity company will automatically assist you in transitioning to your their service during the enrollment process. You don’t need to call the provider you’re leaving.

The Electricity Facts Label (EFL) associated with each plan will disclose the ETF fee you’ll need to pay if you decide to cancel early.  Waiting until 14 days before your current contract expires allows you to avoid the early termination fee. Additionally, you can often enroll in a plan weeks or months before the start date to secure the plan at the advertised rate at that time.

For more helpful information on moving to Texas or switching providers see our Electricity Shopping Guide.

Rates and Reviews for Electric Companies in Houston

Ratings and Reviews of Houston Energy Companies

Home Energy Club compiles comprehensive reviews of various electric companies serving Texas, enabling you to make well-informed comparisons.

Our data comes from customer satisfaction assessments conducted by independent review sites, the Better Business Bureau, and the State of Texas Public Utility Commission Complaints Stats. Also see the government scorecard at PowerToChoose.

These evaluations contribute to our Home Energy Club customer rating for Texas electric companies.

No-Deposit Houston Electricity Plans

No-deposit electricity plans are prepaid energy options that offer accessible electricity without requiring upfront deposits, credit checks, or long-term contracts. Here are some key facts about prepaid plans:

• They operate on a pay-as-you-go basis.
• Rates may vary from month to month.
• You can typically cancel them anytime without incurring termination fees.
• Due to credit risks, they often have higher rates compared to traditional plans.
• Some prepaid plans on certain websites may have gimmicks that lead to electricity bill surprises.

You’ll find vetted no-deposit prepaid plans from reputable energy providers servicing Houston such as Payless Power on Home Energy Club.

Houston Business Electricity Plans

Whether you operate a small business or a large corporation, Home Energy Club is here to assist you in finding an energy plan that perfectly suits your needs. We negotiate custom commercial electricity rates for your business by leveraging our significant bargaining power with top Houston providers.

For a rate quote tailored to your business’s requirements, visit our Texas Business Electricity info page.

Centerpoint Power Outages

For Houston electric service interruptions, call Centerpoint Energy’s reporting number at 800-332-7143. Also, the Centerpoint Tracker Map provides a local map and the status of service problems at the street level.

Centerpoint Energy Outage Map and Tracker

As the transmission and distribution utility company (TDU, or TDSP) in the deregulated Houston area, Centerpoint corrects service problems, checks meters, and maintains the wires, poles and electric infrastructure. The company serves more than 2 million customers and its Centerpoint Electric Info Center provides a range of information.

The Centerpoint Tracking Map allows you to:

• Enter your street and intersection for a more granular view of power outages
• Sign up for alerts to receive alerts by text, phone call and email
• View the number of unplanned and planned Centerpoint outages in your vicinity by city, county and zip code
• View the number of customers without power in each area

About Houston

Website for the City of Houston, Texas

Google Map to Houston City Hall

Local Houston Businesses that Can Help You Reduce Your Energy Bill

Local A/C service providers that sell and install smart thermostats and energy-efficient A/C systems in Houston:

• John Moore (BBB Rated “A+): (713) 597-7200
• Airtron Air (BBB Rated “A”): (832) 460-5771

Local attic insulation companies in Houston with thermal insulation to help you cut energy costs:

• Payless Insulation (BBB Rated “A+”): (713)868-1021
• Lapolla Industries Inc. (BBB Rated “A+”): (713) 273-2016

Window installation companies in Houston that sell energy-efficient windows:

• Cambridge Doors & Windows (BBB Rated “A+”): (281) 530-8100
• Guardian Windows (BBB Rated “A+”): (281) 955-8994

Electricians in Houston that repair special energy-efficient lights and appliances (such as Google Nest):

• John Moore (BBB Rated “A+”): (713) 597-7200
• Bradbury Brothers (BBB Rated “A+”): (281) 651-5484 or (936) 271-2030

View Electricity Prices for Cities Near Houston

Looking for a cheap energy rate in another city near Houston? Find your city below and click to for area-specific electricity rate information or simply enter your zip code on this page.

Abilene	Alice	Baytown
Beeville	Bellaire	Deer Park
Dickinson	El Campo	Galveston
Humble	Katy	Kingsville
Lake Jackson	La Marque	La Porte
Laredo	League City	Longview

Houston Standby Generator Guide: Safely Power your Home during blackouts

Read our standby generator info to learn why natural gas and propane generators can provide reliable electricity to your home during power grid failures in the Houston metropolitan area.  They are a safe alternative to portable gasoline generators and can power your entire home while Centerpoint corrects your electricity service.

Standby generators automatically activate when the loss of power begins, thus keeping your heating and cooling units, refrigerator, and appliances and devices running. The generators also help prevent costly buildups of mold and mildew, as well as plumbing problems that can occur, helping to justify the investment.

It’s critical to select a certified dealer who can size your standby generator, and has factory-trained technicians to install the unit and provide service after the sale. Our guide includes the six questions you’ll need to answer to receive a price quote.

Houston Electricity Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the cheapest electricity rates in Houston?

The energy suppliers offering the cheapest Houston electricity rates and plans are featured on HomeEnergyClub.com, which vets each plan to help you avoid bill surprises. The top four with the cheapest rates in Houston are currently:

• Gexa Energy (866-868-3580): Low rates plus bill credit and 100% renewable energy
• 4Change Energy (855-784-2426): low rates, trusted brand, TXU affiliate
• Cirro Energy (833-392-9778): Low no-gimmick rates, Reliant Energy affiliate
• TriEagle Energy (888-380-4813): Low no-gimmick rates, TXU Energy affiliate

Why is my Houston energy bill so high?

Here are some reasons you may receive surprisingly high electric bills in Houston:

• Expiration of a fixed-price plan. You’ve been on a fixed price energy plan but didn’t realize it had expired. A common process is to bill customers at their highest rate when they fail to renew their current plan or don’t switch to a new plan with the provider before the date of their plan’s expiration.
• The energy supplier has increased their rates. If you are on a variable rate plan, your electricity rates can be raised by the energy company at any time. Beware of plans offering “wholesale prices” because this terminology often accompanies variable rate plans, which are associated with staggering bill surprises.
• Your energy use does not match the energy plan you chose. A common reason for awful electric bill surprises is when consumers using about 500 kWh in an apartment sign up for a plan intended for a large home that uses 2,000 kWh or more. Make certain that the Houston electricity plan you choose is a correct match for your home’s energy usage by reviewing the Electricity Facts Label.
• Other factors that can increase your energy costs include triple-digit temperatures in summer and a lack of energy efficiency of the home.

Who is the largest energy provider in Houston?

Reliant Energy is Houston’s largest energy supplier, with over one million homes and businesses serviced across the state of Texas. They are headquartered in downtown Houston, and are a subsidiary of NRG, a Fortune 500 company.