First Choice Power is Now Reliant

First Choice Power, a Texas-based electricity provider, had a history of serving customers in the state for over 50 years before being acquired by Reliant Energy’s parent company and having its name retired. 

First Choice is no longer operational and will not be accepting any new customers. Former First Choice customers can contact Reliant at 866-735-1218 for details on their usage, billing, payment history and other historical information. You can find our full review of Reliant Energy here. 

First Choice Power Plans and Rates in Texas

Reliant Energy, the company that took over existing First Choice customer accounts, offers both prepaid and traditional electricity plans. Below, we will provide a quick reference for Reliant Energy’s plan offerings, contact information and overall ratings. 

Reliant Energy Types Plans and Guarantees

Reliant Energy has a catalog of electricity plans with several unique structures and some of the best rates for billing predictability. Plans offered to Texas residents include:

• Fixed-rate plans: Lock in rates for up to 36 months and produce more predictable monthly energy bills
• Time-of-use plans: Discounted electricity rates during off-peak hours
• Prepaid plans: Also called no-deposit plans, these allow you to pay upfront for your energy and often do not require a credit check or initial deposit. 

No matter which Reliant Energy plan you choose, you can expect fair rates and predictable billing. Overall, we recommend fixed-rate plans because our research indicates that they are the most straightforward, offering low-cost, predictable monthly energy bills.

Our Take on Reliant Energy

Reliant Energy is one of the largest electric companies, with over one million residential customers in Texas. During our testing, we found Reliant to be a top-notch energy provider, offering straightforward rates and award-winning customer service. 

Pros and Cons

While Reliant Energy scored high in our review, it may not be right for everyone. Below, we break down what we like the most and the least about the energy company. 

Where Is Reliant Energy Available?

Reliant Energy is available across Texas, serving many major cities, including:

• Fort Worth
• Houston
• Irving
• Laredo
• Lubbock
• McAllen

How To Get Started with Reliant Energy

You compare Reliant Energy rates and sign up for a new plan right here at Home Energy Club. We make signing up for your new Reliant Energy plan swift, secure, and simple. After you compare its offerings and choose the best one for your needs, we just need some basic information, and we can get your lights turned on with Reliant.

Contacting Reliant Energy

You can use the following methods to get in touch with a Reliant Energy customer service representative to get answers to the most commonly asked questions about billing, payments, services and more.

• Phone number: Call 866-735-1218.
• Website: https://www.reliant.com/ 
• Outage reporting: If you experience a power outage, contact your transmission and distribution utility (TDU) directly.

Moving or Transferring Reliant Service

If you’re moving to a new residence in Texas before your plan expires, you don’t have to cancel your plan. Reliant Energy can transfer it to your new address with a quick phone call. It’s best practice to give them at least a month’s notice so you can be certain there’s no lapse in your service. When moving, you’re exempt from cancellation charges, so you can switch to another provider for your new home if you’d like.

Alternatives To First Choice Power and Reliant Energy

If you are interested in pursuing an electric company other than Reliant, you can consider other top-rated companies, such as TriEagle Energy or TXU Energy. 

NRG is the parent company of Reliant Energy. You could consider another company under the NRG umbrella, including Green Mountain Energy, Cirro Energy, Discount Power, Xoom Energy, Stream Energy and Direct Energy.

Check out some of the other top light companies in Texas below.

Frequently Asked Questions About First Choice Power

What happened to First Choice Power?

NRG Energy purchased First Choice Power and retired the First Choice Power company name. Reliant Energy now services existing customers.

Who do I contact now if I was a First Choice Power customer? 

If you were a First Choice Power customer, you can reach out to Reliant Energy directly. If you want to sign up for a Reliant energy plan, you can sign up online or over the phone right here with Home Energy Club.

When was First Choice Power retired?

In 2021, NRG acquired Direct Energy and its other subsidiaries, including First Choice Power. In October of that year, NRG announced it was retiring First Choice Power and moved existing customers to other NRG brands.

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%)