Compare Friendswood Electricity Rates and Companies

Friendswood is part of the Texas deregulated electricity market, but the city falls between two utility service areas with varying electricity costs. If your Friendswood address is in Harris County, your transmission and distribution utility (TDU) is most likely CenterPoint Energy. In this case, the average electricity rate is 14.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), based on 144 energy plans listed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).

If your Friendswood address is in Galveston County, your utility is likely Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP), which has higher distribution costs than CenterPoint. The average electricity rate for TNMP areas is 16.2 cents per kWh, based on 130 electricity plans listed by the PUCT.

In comparison, the average electricity rate in Texas is 15.32 cents per kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). CenterPoint Energy areas in Friendswood have below-average rates, while TNMP areas have above-average rates.

By comparing electricity rates and plans in Friendswood, you may be able to secure cheap rates that reduce your total monthly energy costs. However, comparing plans can be overwhelming due to the wide number of providers and plans in the area. We recommend starting by comparing the best fixed-rate plans below.

Best Friendswood Electricity Plans and Rates

Regardless of the plan options and rates available in your area, we recommend fixed-rate plans for predictable monthly power bills.

When shopping for electricity plans in Friendswood, you will find options with lower advertised rates than fixed-rate plans, but these depend on usage-based bill credits or time-of-use rates that vary by the hour. Electricity plans with “pricing gimmicks” may sometimes offer savings, but they can also work against you, hitting you with hidden fees and tiered rates.

Below, we compare the best energy providers that offer fixed electricity rates in Friendswood. All the plans below have 12-month contract terms, allowing you to switch or renew your plan once per year without cancellation fees.

The rates in the above table are updated daily for the CenterPoint Energy service area. Monthly bill estimates are for 1,000 kWh usage.

Note that if you live in the Texas-New Mexico service area, your rates will differ from those above.

Cheapest Electricity Rates in Friendswood

Bill credit plans usually offer the lowest electricity rates in Friendswood, but there is a catch:

• These plans provide bill credits if your consumption stays within a specified range or exceeds a minimum threshold, such as 1,000 kWh or 2,000 kWh.
• If you qualify for the bill credits, which typically range from $30 to $150 per month, your effective rate can drop to around 10 to 13 cents per kWh.
• However, if you miss the bill credit in a given month, your electricity rate can spike to around 20 to 25 cents per kWh for that billing period.

Home energy usage varies with the seasons, making it difficult for Friendswood residents to earn bill credits consistently. We recommend fixed-rate plans as the primary option for Texas homes, but here are some bill credit plans in Friendswood in case you want to review them. You may risk higher bills in months when you miss the bill credit.

The rates in the above table are updated daily for the CenterPoint Energy service area. Monthly bill estimates are for 1,000 kWh usage.

Note that if you live in the Texas-New Mexico service area, your rates will differ from those above.

How To Choose an Electricity Plan in Friendswood

Since Friendswood falls between two different TDU service areas, you can shop over 300 electricity plans available locally. Finding the right plan for your home can be a challenge with so many options, but the process becomes easier if you decide which plan features are important for your home. We recommend focusing on fixed-rate plans, but you can take advantage of features such as solar buyback rates or 100% green energy, which are often available along with fixed rates.

Following the steps below will help you compare electricity providers and select an energy plan in Friendswood more easily.

Step 1: Identify Your Transmission and Distribution Utility

Friendswood is in a unique situation, with different electricity rates and distribution fees varying by address. While you can choose among electricity providers like TriEagle Energy and Frontier Utilities, your TDU is assigned based on location. In general, CenterPoint Energy areas have lower rates than TNMP areas since CenterPoint has lower distribution fees. If you’re not sure which TDU serves your home, you can find its name on your monthly power bills.

Step 2: Before Comparing Electricity Rates, Know Your Monthly Usage

Texas electricity companies display their electricity rates at three consumption levels:

• 500 kWh: Typical for an apartment or a very small home
• 1,000 kWh: Typical for a medium-sized home between 1,000 and 2,000 sq. ft.
• 2,000 kWh: Typical for larger properties over 2,000 sq. ft.

However, your electricity usage can also vary depending on the efficiency of your appliances and consumption habits. Before comparing electricity plans, check your monthly power bills from the past 12 months to get a clear picture of your consumption range. Alternatively, you can check your usage data at the Smart Meter Texas website.

Step 3: Compare Energy Plans with Your Preferred Features

All energy plans in Texas include an electricity facts label (EFL), which provides a detailed breakdown of charges and features. When evaluating electricity plans, you might want to consider the following factors:

• Contract length, which usually ranges from 12 to 36 months
• Renewable energy content
• Payment options such as autopay or paperless billing
• Additional benefits such as solar buyback or discounted EV charging schedules, in case you own any of these technologies

Step 4: Sign Up for Your Chosen Electricity Plan

At Home Energy Club, you can request an electricity plan switch or enroll with a new provider in less than five minutes. We only need your contact information and service address in Friendswood. After that, your new provider get your lights turned on. Note that if you’re canceling a current fixed-rate energy plan, you may owe an ETF. Check your plan’s EFL before canceling to determine if you’ll owe any fees.

Plan Types Available in Friendswood

There are over 300 electricity plans in Friendswood, but most can fall into six broad types. You may find some plans that don’t fit into the categories below, but they are very rare:

• Fixed-rate plans
• Green energy plans
• No-deposit plans
• Bill credit plans
• Time-of-use plans
• Variable-rate plans

Top Friendswood Energy Companies

Comparing electricity providers and plans in Friendswood comes with an extra challenge since the city is at the boundary of two utility territories. However, there are three electricity that offer affordable fixed rates in both CenterPoint and TNMP addresses while earning high scores in our ranking methodology:

• TriEagle Energy (4.8 out of 5 stars)
• Frontier Utilities (4.5 out of 5 stars)
• Rhythm Energy (4.5 out of 5 stars)

Veteran Energy and Express Energy are also viable options if your address falls within the CenterPoint TDU territory. However, Veteran Energy charges significantly higher rates in TNMP locations, while Express Energy only offers bill credit plans.

Compare the best electricity companies in Friendswood in the table below.

What To Know About Electricity In Friendswood

Comparing electricity plans in Texas is already a challenge, with dozens of energy providers and over 1,500 unique electricity plans statewide. Friendswood residents must deal with the additional challenge of having two TDU companies in their city, with notable differences in their power distribution costs. However, here are some recommendations to help you analyze electricity plans more effectively:

1) Read the EFL for a Detailed Breakdown of Any Electricity Plan

Choosing an electricity plan based on advertised rates can be a major mistake since you could be exposing yourself to hidden fees or complex pricing structures. Instead of choosing plans based on their advertised features, take the time to read the plan’s EFL. The PUCT requires all electricity providers to publish an EFL for each of their plans, detailing critical information such as:

• Breakdown of all energy charges and base charges
• Any relevant discounts and qualifications for savings
• Name of the local TDU and its delivery charges
• Contract length
• Early termination fee (ETF)
• Renewable energy content
• Additional fees for late payments, disconnection, phone payments, etc.

By reviewing the EFLs, you can better understand the pros and cons of all electricity plans.

2) Consider the Early Termination Fee (ETF) if You Switch Or Cancel

Electricity plans with a specified contract term usually have an early termination fee (ETF). Some providers have a flexible ETF, such as TriEagle Energy, which charges $20 per remaining month in your contract. Other providers are more rigid with their ETF, such as Frontier Utilities, which charges flat fees from $150 to $295 regardless of the time left in your contract.

3) Beware Free Nights, Free Weekends, Bill Credits and Other “Gimmicks”

Plan features that seem too good to be true often come with downsides. For example, “free nights and free weekends” plans often charge rates above 25 cents per kWh during their paid schedules. Similarly, bill credit plans can charge you over 20 cents per kWh if your monthly consumption falls outside the eligible range for their credits. In other words, these plans usually advertise their “best case” scenario while downplaying their limitations.

4) Secure a Fixed Rate When Market Prices Are Low

The Texas electricity market is deregulated and competitive, meaning that supply and demand strongly influence energy rates. If you shop for electricity plans in summer, when air conditioners are running at full capacity, you can expect to find hefty rates. Space heating systems have a similar impact during winter, although price spikes are usually less drastic because only about six in 10 homes use electricity-powered heaters, according to the EIA.

Friendswood residents can usually find the lowest electricity rates in spring and fall when HVAC power usage is minimal, thanks to the mild weather. If you secure a fixed rate during these seasons, it remains constant during your entire contract term — even in summer and winter.

How Does Deregulated Energy Work in Friendswood?

If you live in Friendswood or any other Texas city with deregulated electricity, your power bill includes charges from two companies: your retail electricity provider (REP) and the local transmission and distribution utility (TDU).

You can choose your REP, which supplies your electricity, but your TDU is determined by geographic location.

There are also energy companies dedicated exclusively to power generation, which sell their electricity in bulk through a wholesale market. REPs like TriEagle Energy and Rhythm Energy purchase electricity from generators and resell it to homes and businesses in the retail market.

In addition to these three types of companies, you may have heard about the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The PUCT regulates the power sector, while ERCOT coordinates the flow of electricity between generators, utility companies and consumers. As its name suggests, ERCOT is also responsible for ensuring a reliable power supply in Texas.

Which TDU serves Friendswood?

Friendswood is in a unique situation since CenterPoint Energy serves some areas of the city while TNMP serves others. Generally, Harris County addresses are within the CenterPoint territory, while Galveston County addresses tend to fall within the TNMP territory. Regardless of your chosen electricity plan, you must pay the following delivery charges to your corresponding TDU:

Frequently Asked Questions About Friendswood Electricity Rates

What company is the cheapest electricity provider in Friendswood?

Comparing electricity rates in Friendswood can be challenging due to the presence of two utility companies that charge different delivery fees. However, three electricity providers consistently offer the lowest fixed rates in both CenterPoint and TNMP areas:

• TriEagle Energy
• Rhythm Energy
• Frontier Utilities

How to choose a power company in Friendswood?

You can use Home Energy Club to compare electricity plans specifically for your address, ranking them by rates and based on your consumption level. You can also search for plans from specific electricity providers, or based on features like green energy content and contract length. 

What is a good electricity rate in Friendswood?

The lowest fixed rates in CenterPoint Energy service areas usually range from around 14 to 16 cents per kWh. In TNMP service areas, the lowest fixed rates usually range from 16 to 18 cents per kWh. You may be able to find lower electricity rates through bill credit plans. However, we generally don’t recommend this plan type, as they can lead to unpredictable energy bills. In months when you qualify for the discounted rate, you may save. But in months when your usage falls below or rises above the required kilowatt-hour level, your energy rate can skyrocket.

What company maintains power lines in Friendswood?

Depending on your location, the utility company responsible for grid maintenance is either CenterPoint Energy or TNMP. If you’re unsure which TDU to call for grid-related issues, you can find its name on your monthly power bills.

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%)