Pulse Power — established in 2018 in The Woodlands, Texas — was a Texas electricity provider that specialized in renewable energy plans with various features and customer perks. Shell Energy acquired Pulse Power in 2021.
Thanks to its affordable green energy plans, Pulse Power quickly became popular among Texas homeowners. The company also offered plans with other features, including solar buyback rates and time-of-use energy plans, such as its free nights and free weekends offerings.
Unfortunately, Pulse Power stopped accepting new customers in October 2024. It has removed its electricity plans from its website, Power To Choose, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) comparison website, and Home Energy Club.
While you can no longer sign up for the Pulse Power Free Energy Nights Plan, we’ll explore great alternatives from other top light companies in Texas.
Pulse Power Free Energy Nights Plan Rates by City
Since Pulse Power removed its electricity plans from all websites, pricing information for the Free Energy Nights Plan is no longer available. In the tables below, you can compare free nights plans from three other providers: Reliant Energy, Green Mountain Energy and TXU Energy.
At Home Energy Club, we recommend fixed-rate plans as the first option for Texas residents because our research indicates that they offer the most predictable monthly bills. Electricity plans with free nights may be viable for households that use most of their energy at night, but they have a major drawback: daytime rates can exceed 25 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). In comparison, the Texas average rate is 15.32 cents per kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Free Nights Electricity Plans in Houston (CenterPoint Area)
| Electricity Provider | Reliant | Green Mountain | TXU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Name | Truly Free Nights 100% Solar 12 | Pollution Free All Nighter 12 | Free Nights and Solar Days 12 |
| Base Charge | $0.00 per month | $0.00 per month | $9.95 per month |
| Delivery Charges | $4.39 per month, 5.3509 cents/kWh | $4.39 per month, 5.3509 cents/kWh | $4.39 per month, 5.3509 cents/kWh |
| Free Nights Schedule | 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. – 4:59 a.m. |
| Daytime Energy Charge | 26.2533 cents/kWh | 25.2187 cents/kWh | 24.90 cents/kWh |
| Contract Term | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Early Termination Fee (ETF) | $150 | $150 | $150 |
| Green Energy Content | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Note: Prices are accurate for Houston ZIP code 77084 as of February 2025.
Free Nights Electricity Plans in Dallas-Fort Worth (Oncor Area)
| Electricity Provider | Reliant | Green Mountain | TXU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Name | Truly Free Nights 100% Solar 12 | Pollution Free All Nighter 12 | Free Nights and Solar Days 12 |
| Base Charge | $0.00 per month | $0.00 per month | $9.95 per month |
| Delivery Charges | $4.23 per month 5.2974 cents/kWh | $4.23 per month, 5.2974 cents/kWh | $4.23 per month, 5.2974 cents/kWh |
| Free Nights Schedule | 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. – 4:59 a.m. |
| Daytime Energy Charge | 26.3205 cents/kWh | 25.286 cents/kWh | 24.70 cents/kWh |
| Contract Term | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months |
| Early Termination Fee (ETF) | $150 | $150 | $150 |
| Green Energy Content | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Note: Prices are accurate for Dallas ZIP code 75217 as of February 2025.
Pulse Power Free Energy Nights Plan Features
The Pulse Free Energy Nights Plan is currently unavailable. However, based on the latest available version of its electricity facts label (EFL), the plan included the following features:
- Free schedule: 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
- Early termination fee (ETF): $20 per each remaining month in the contract
- Renewable energy content: 21.4%
Pulse Power provided more flexibility than its main competitors, with a variable cancellation fee based on the remaining contract term. However, the Pulse Free Energy Nights plan only included 21.4% green energy, while all three competing plans offer 100% green energy. Pulse had several plans with 100% renewable energy, but the free nights plan was not among them.
Is a Free Energy Nights Plan Right For You?
At Home Energy Club, we don’t usually recommend “free nights plans.” These plans offer free electricity at night but often charge rates above 24 cents per kWh during daytime hours. When you factor in delivery fees from the local transmission and distribution utility (TDU), your total daytime rate can exceed 30 cents per kWh.
You may be able to save on power bills with a free nights plan, but only if most of your electricity usage occurs at night. Keep in mind that some home appliances, such as refrigerators, operate all day long. Additionally, your air conditioner unit is liable to run during the daytime — especially during the warm summer months. Even if you can shift most of your consumption to the free nights schedule, you can still expect to use some electricity during the day — at a very high rate.
“Free nights” plans often advertise rates of around 18 cents per kWh. However, there is a catch: this is an average rate that considers an assumed combination of paid and free hours, not the daytime rate. For example, if your daytime rate is 30 cents per kWh, and 60% of your consumption falls within the free hours, the plan may advertise an average rate of 18 cents per kWh (60% of 30 cents per kWh).
Other types of energy plans may offer more predictable monthly energy bills with rates that stay fixed regardless of when you consume your energy.
How To Sign Up for a Free Nights Plan
Signing up for an electricity plan is simple with Home Energy Club. Just follow the steps below:
- Input your ZIP code to compare electricity plans in your area.
- Filter energy plans based on “free energy” or features such as contract length and renewable energy. You can also sort by price or energy provider.
- Review the electricity facts label (EFL) for your plan options to understand all fees and conditions.
- Once you choose an electricity plan, all we need is your contact information and service address, and your new provider will handle setting up your new service.
Home Energy Club does not charge a fee for switching your electricity plan. However, if your current energy plan is still under contract, your provider will usually charge an early termination fee (ETF). You can avoid the ETF if you switch plans or providers while moving to another address or if you have less than two weeks remaining in your contract.
Compare Pulse Power Plan Alternatives
Pulse Power formerly offered a wide variety of electricity plans in Texas. When Pulse Power was still active in the residential energy market, we historically recommended its 100% renewable fixed-rate plans due to their predictable monthly bills. Below are some similar plans from other providers, which are still available for new customers. All plans in the table include 100% green energy and a 12-month contract term:
| Provider and Plan | Electricity Rate | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythm Energy Digital Discount 12 | 16.1 cents/kWh | Rhythm offers a $5.00/month discount if you enroll in autopay and paperless billing. ETF: $20 per remaining month |
| TriEagle Energy Simple Green 12 | 15.2 cents/kWh | TriEagle Energy also offers a 9% renewable option with a lower rate. ETF: $20 per remaining month |
| Direct Energy Green Texas 12 Auto Pay | 17.4 cents/kWh | Direct Energy offers a discount of 0.50 cents per kWh if you enroll in autopay. ETF: $150 flat fee |
| Green Mountain Energy Pollution Free e-Plus 12 | 17.2 cents/kWh | Green Mountain Energy also offers solar buyback plans with high compensation rates for excess solar energy. ETF: $150 flat fee |
Note: The electricity prices above are accurate as of February 2025, based on Houston ZIP code 77084 and a monthly consumption of 1,000 kWh.
How We Rate and Review Texas Electricity Companies
With dozens of providers and hundreds of plans available in the deregulated Texas market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We created a comprehensive rating methodology to help you cut through the complexity and find the best electricity plan for your needs, whether you’re moving to Texas or looking to switch providers.
We’ve researched dozens of Texas electricity providers and scored them out of 5 stars based on results from our 2025 energy survey of 1,600 Texans, scoring providers on customer satisfaction, experience and retention. Here’s how these core factors weighed into our ratings:
- Customer satisfaction (30%)
- Customer retention (30%)
- Online experience (20%)
- Customer experience (20%)
