Tara Energy has 23 years of experience serving the Texas deregulated energy market. Texans can choose from a variety of fixed-rate plans, including bill credits, time-of-use rates and 100% renewable options. The company offers plan lengths of up to five years to lock in your rate and a renewable upgrade option to offset your usage with 100% green energy.
Tara Energy earned 4.2 out of 5 stars in our review of nearly 100 Texas light companies. Tara’s 4.2 is about 7% below the average of all providers rated in our review. While the company scored a 3.6 out of 5 for customer service, it scored above average for its fee transparency and online experience based on our February 2025 survey of more than 1,000 Texans.
Tara Energy Plans and Rates in Texas
Tara offers a range of plan types, including fixed rate, time-of-use and green energy plans. While many include marketing tactics that can lead to confusing bills, some are straightforward plans that may provide predictable monthly energy costs.
Energy companies change rates frequently based on the market, so shopping around for electricity can help you find the best rate for your home. As a marketplace website, we at Home Energy Club can help you compare multiple providers and plans in one place. The Tara Energy rates on this page show what to expect by city. You can also find today’s electricity rates from major energy providers by entering your ZIP code on this page.
Tara Energy Plans and Rates in Houston
Our recommended Tara Energy plan in Houston lands slightly above the statewide average electricity rate.
| Plan Name | Term Length | Plan Type | Rate (Cents per kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value Wise 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 12.6 |
| Balanced Nights Free Bundle 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 14.7 |
| Balanced Household Bundle 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 14.8 |
| Simple Choice 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 15.8 |
| Simple Choice 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 16.1 |
| Basics 60 | 60 months | Fixed-rate | 16.1 |
| Basics 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 16.3 |
| Weekends Free 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 16.7 |
| Tara Days Free 36 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 17.1 |
| Nights Free 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 17.2 |
| Tara Days Free 12 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 17.2 |
| Weekends Free 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 17.3 |
| Nights Free 36 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 18.0 |
| Mega Saver 36 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 18.1 |
| Mega Saver 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 18.2 |
| 100% Green Nights Free 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 18.3 |
| 100% Green Nights Free 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 18.5 |
Electricity plans and rates are accurate as of March 2025 for the 1,000 kWh usage level.
Tara Energy Plans and Rates in Dallas
Tara Energy electricity rates in Dallas range above and below the state’s average, depending on your plan choice.
| Plan Name | Term Length | Plan Type | Rate (Cents per kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value Wise 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 13.6 |
| Balanced Nights Free Bundle 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 15.0 |
| Balanced Household Bundle 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 15.3 |
| Simple Choice 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 16.2 |
| Simple Choice 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 16.4 |
| Basics 60 | 60 months | Fixed-rate | 16.6 |
| Basics 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 16.7 |
| Weekends Free 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 16.8 |
| Weekends Free 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 17.1 |
| Nights Free 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 17.4 |
| Tara Days Free 36 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 17.6 |
| Tara Days Free 12 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 17.7 |
| Nights Free 36 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 18.3 |
| 100% Green Nights Free 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 18.5 |
| 100% Green Nights Free 12 | 12 months | Fixed-rate | 18.6 |
| Mega Saver 36 | 36 months | Fixed-rate | 20.9 |
| Mega Saver 24 | 24 months | Fixed-rate | 21.0 |
Electricity plans and rates are accurate as of March 2025 for the 1,000 kWh usage level.
Tara Energy Plan Types and Guarantees
You can choose from several energy plan types with lengths up to 60 months. We recommend a straightforward 12-month plan without gimmicks like bill credits or time-of-use rates for more predictable bills. Tara offers a handful of plan types, including those listed below.
- Fixed-rate: You can lock in your energy price for the length of the contract, so what you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) stays the same. Tara Energy offers contract lengths of 12, 24, 36 and 60 months.
- 100% renewable: These plans offset 100% of your usage with green energy. Tara Energy only offers this option with a “free nights” plan unless you upgrade another plan to 100% renewable for $9.99 per month.
- Free energy: Tara Energy also offers multiple time-of-use plans with “free energy” during select periods of time. These offerings include free nights, free weekends and free days. While its “free days” plan is a unique offering, we generally don’t recommend energy plans offering “free” electricity, as these plans typically charge a very high rate during paid periods to offset the loss of money during the discounted hours. High rates charged during paid periods can lead to unexpected bill surprises and higher-than-average total prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Our Take on Tara Energy
We rated Tara Energy a 4.2 out of 5 overall, which is slightly below the 4.5 out of 5 Texas average. The provider scored well for customer satisfaction, fee transparency and online experience based on our customer survey of 1,000-plus Texans.
Responses to our survey indicated Tara Energy customers pay more expensive bills than average, with 38% paying between $200 and $250 per month and 13% paying over $300. The average electricity bill in Texas is $179, based on U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data.
The higher bills likely come from gimmicky energy plans, but Tara Energy offers simple energy plans, too. Plans with free nights or time-of-use rates might sound good, but they only save you money if your energy use consistently meets the requirements for the rate discounts. Most Texans use more electricity in summer and winter, so these plans don’t usually lead to real savings. We recommend signing up for the Simple Choice energy plan instead. This straightforward offering with no confusing discounts should lead to more predictable monthly energy costs.
| Tara Energy | Average for Electricity Providers in Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Satisfaction | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Online Experience | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Customer Experience | 3.6 | 4.6 |
| Customer Retention | 4.4 | 4.5 |
Tara Energy Pros and Cons
Consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of enrolling with Tara Energy.
Pros
- 23 years of experience in Texas
- Long-term plan offerings
- 50% of survey respondents would recommend Tara to a friend
- 100% of respondents find its bill pay process easy
Cons
- 51% of respondents pay a monthly bill above the Texas average
- Offers several plans with confusing rates
- Extra charge for a 100% renewable energy plan
Tara Energy Reviews and Ratings
We asked real customers about their experience as Tara Energy customers, and a majority of respondents said they likely wouldn’t switch providers when their contract ends. Overall, customers like Tara Energy for its competitive prices, plan length and communication.
Customer reviews on Google show slightly lower satisfaction, with a 3.6 out of 5-star rating. Some reviewers mention feeling taken advantage of and overpaying, while others mention positive customer service experiences.
What Customers Like
“Tiffany was very friendly and explained services very well. I appreciate the time she took to help me with enrolling energy to my new home. Great customer service. Thank you for all the help. Looking forward to doing business with your company. Have a Beautiful day.” Ana J.
“Kate M. was such a big help! Everything was smooth and she helped me get a great rate for energy in my apartment! It was a super easy process and delightful to work with a very knowledgeable, attentive, clear-spoken person. I work in sales too, she really did awesome.” Trinity P.
“The woman I spoke with was excellent, informative and thorough. She truly went above & beyond helping me. She was patient & kind but very professional in processing my request for a new service, she even helped me with a request to waive my deposit. She is what a customer service representative should be for Tara Energy or any company, for that matter. Thank you & thank you, Tara Energy. I will tell everyone I can how affordable your plans are & about the excellent customer service I experienced. I definitely recommend your company to everyone!” Cynthia P.
What Customers Don’t Like
“This is a scam. I made a deposit of $109, but when I closed my account, I never got that amount back. I have been calling for 6 months. Every time they say we are checking, they hold you on the phone for an hour and then say I will contact you in 24 hours. It’s my promise. They never call back. This is a scam company. Please be aware before you join this company. Thank you.” Bipin K.
“Didn’t send bills & still charged late fees. Didn’t inform me as I approached my lease’s end that I had the option to transfer to my new address, so I allowed my landlord to use their preferred provider. The company refused to let me out of the contract even though it was their lack of sending bills & communication that caused the issue. Impossible to use their website for most of the two years I was with them. Would not recommend it. Many other well-administered options out there.” Kristen K.
Tara Energy vs. Other Energy Companies
Tara Energy scores below popular providers like TXU Energy and Gexa Energy in our overall ratings. While Tara Energy offers competitive energy plan options to fit your needs, its low score in customer service brings down its total point count in our review. That said, it scores well for its online experience and customer retention.
| Factor | Tara Energy | TXU Energy | Gexa Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our overall rating (out of 5) | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| Number of plans available | 10 | 8 | 17 |
| Top 12-month plan | Simple Choice 12 | Simple Rate 12 | Energy Saver 12 |
| Best feature | Online experience | Brand reputation | Cheap prices |
Tara Energy Overview
Tara Energy, headquartered in Houston, offers residential and business electricity plans in deregulated cities throughout Texas. Owned by Just Energy Group Inc., the company also operates in Illinois.
The company has a few unique offerings, such as its free days plan, GoodBundle and other rewards programs. The free days plan offers electricity for $0 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and charges a set rate for all other hours. While this plan may suit remote workers, we still recommend reviewing the electricity facts label (EFL) to fully understand the details. The EFL document explains how Tara Energy estimates the cost and what to expect for additional charges that may increase your total cost.
Signing up for GoodBundle allows you to offset your usage with green power and receive discounts. The program requires a set-up fee and offers a 1-cent discount on your energy plan, 10% off a HomeWater filtration system, up to 2,400 pounds of carbon credits and a waiver of late fees. Any Tara Energy customer can sign up for GoodBundle or choose the Balanced Nights Free Bundle option, which includes the program for a $29.99 set-up fee.
Tara Energy offers additional ways to earn rewards through the refer-a-friend program and the Stats Rewards program. You can share a referral link with friends and earn a $75 bill credit after your referral signs up and makes their first bill payment. The Stats Rewards program offers a half-cent discount per kilowatt-hour on your energy bill and a one-time $50 bill credit when you participate in energy savings events with an eligible smart thermostat.
Where Is Tara Energy Available?
You will find Tara Energy electricity plans throughout all six main transmission and distribution utility (TDU) territories, including:
- AEP Texas Central: Corpus Christi, McAllen, Victoria, Laredo, Harlingen
- AEP Texas North: Abilene, San Angelo, Vernon
- CenterPoint Energy: Houston, Katy, Beaumont
- Lubbock Power & Light: Lubbock
- Oncor Electric Delivery: Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Waco, Arlington, Temple, Round Rock, Midland, Odessa
- Texas-New Mexico Power: League City, Glen Rose, Pecos, Angleton
Who Should Pick Tara Energy?
Tara Energy offers a range of plans that may suit your energy usage needs. However, several energy plan options include gimmicks that could lead to higher bills. We recommend reviewing the EFL and understanding your actual energy usage before choosing a plan.
- Night owls: The free nights plan may offer benefits if you’re away during the day and use most of your electricity at night. But daytime rates are high, so it only works if you use very little electricity during the day, even on weekends.
- Remote workers: The free days plan might be a good fit if you work from home and complete high-energy-usage activities like laundry and dishwashing during the day. Check your typical usage during the paid hours to estimate your bill before signing up.
- Historically high usage: Some energy plans offer bill credits or discounts when you use over 1000 kWh or 2000 kWh. These plans might help you save if your usage stays within the specified discount range every month of the year. Since most Texas households use different amounts of energy throughout the year, the savings may not always add up.
- Weekend homebodies: If you’re home most weekends and use little energy on weekdays, a “free weekends” plan may help you save. Check the EFL to ensure the plan aligns with how you use energy before signing up.
How To Get Started with Tara Energy
Check out Tara Energy’s website and enter your ZIP code to explore plan options. You can use the filter features to narrow plans by your typical usage level and the term length. Review the details and EFL to compare plans. You can sign up online for most plans, but some require calling the company for enrollment.
You’ll answer a few questions to set up your account and confirm service. The company performs a credit check and, depending on your credit history, may require a deposit. After signing a contract, Tara Energy handles the transition, and you can monitor your usage through its mobile app.
Contacting Tara Energy
Whether you need to pay your bill, sign up for an energy plan or chat with customer service, you can get in touch with Tara Energy by phone or email.
- Customer service: Call 866-438-8272
- Pay by phone: Call 866-205-1545
- Email: CustomerSupport@TaraEnergy.com
If there’s a power outage or emergency, you should contact your utility company. Tara Energy provides TDU contact information on its website.
Moving or Transferring Service with Tara Energy
The simplest way to transfer service or let Tara Energy know you’re moving is to call or email customer support. Tara Energy agents will help you explore options for your new address if you move within its service area. You will provide an updated address, choose a service start date and when you want to end service for your current home. You can schedule your switch in advance to ensure power on move-in day.
Is Tara Energy Right For You?
The best energy company for you depends on your usage and current electricity costs. We recommend shopping around and signing up for a 12-month fixed-rate plan without gimmicks. Tara Energy’s Simple Choice 12 or 24 plans offer rates slightly above the Texas average, which could still help you save money on energy bills if they are lower than what you currently pay.
You can also upgrade any plan for $9.99 per month and offset your usage with green power. While this is a helpful benefit for eco-conscious Texans, you might find a better price for 100% renewable plans with other providers, such as the Gexa Energy Saver 12. You can use the Home Energy Club marketplace to enter your ZIP code and compare electricity prices in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tara Energy
How long has Tara Energy been in business?
Tara Energy began in 2002 and offers residential and commercial energy plans in Texas. The company is based in Houston but also serves the deregulated market in Illinois.
Are Tara Energy and Just Energy the same company?
Just Energy is the parent company of Tara Energy. Through its subsidiary companies, Just Energy serves 1.8 million customers in North America. It also owns Amigo Energy in Texas.
Which Tara Energy plan is cheapest?
The cheapest Tara Energy plans are the Mega Saver 24 or 36 and the Balanced Household Bundle. The exact price may vary by location, but it will likely cost below or near the Texas average rate.
Why is my bill so high with Tara Energy?
Your bill may increase when you use more energy in a month, but the exact cause may vary. Market fluctuations, extreme weather and changes in your rate plan can impact your bill. Some plans with bill credits and time-of-use rates have a confusing structure and cost more when you don’t meet certain criteria. Review usage reports and past bills to compare your usage and plan information.
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%)
