Deciding to Switch to Reliant Energy in Houston?

When considering switching to a new Houston electricity company we would like to suggest avoiding signing up with Reliant or TXU Energy. These two companies are advertising much higher electricity prices then some other more competitive electric companies in Houston. On the state run energy site right now it shows that Reliant Energy is not even offering a fixed electricity product. Most electric providers in Houston offer some type of electricity price that is fixed so you can lock in the price while rates are low and continue to pay that price 1, 2, or 3 years long before you have to renegotiate a new electricity price. This last year according to the Houston Chronicle it was said that Reliant had to stop taking on certain new customers because of a credit facility issue. Reliant Energy in Houston was not able to meet the financial requirements necessary for signing up new commercial and industrial customers and so for a time they had to stop taking on new customers. Since then this large Houston area electric company has been bought out and their credit issue is supposed to be resolved. For some reason Reliant still only shows a variable electricity rate being advertised and nothing else in the Houston area. Generally this is because it does not make fiscal sense to offer a fixed electric rate because of interest rates and credit facility issues with hedging a long term electricity contract. We don’t know if this is why Reliant Houston is only showing a variable electricity price and no fixed electricity prices like many of the other providers.

Comparing Reliant Houston to Other Electric Companies

In comparison with Reliant Energy we can recommend a few other Houston energy companies that offer some of the cheapest available fixed electric rates in the market. The providers we recommend are sound ethically run companies that do not cram in additional charges in your electricity bill through clever legal jargon in the fine details of their energy contract. Some Houston electric companies have been known to add in a fuel adjustment surcharge or leave off the TDSP charges in their advertisement only to add them in to your bill later on. Don’t fall for the too good to be true electricity offers and as well don’t sign up on an uncompetitive variable electricity rate that is subject to change after the first month.

When Does a Variable Electricity Rate Make Sense?

The only time a variable electricity rate like what Reliant Houston is offering is when you will only being staying at your place short term or you just don’t want to be locked in to a long term energy contract. In this case a variable electricity rate makes sense. There are much more competitive variable electricity rates in Houston that compete with Reliant that we would recommend over their current variable electricity prce they are advertising. If you would like a variable rate to compare with Reliants flex plan that is currently showing 16.1 cents a kWh then we recommend visiting Startex Power (their variable rate is 9.99 cents) and while your their take a look at some of their fixed electricity rates. All charges and fees are disclosed. No tricks or gimmicks. You can learn more about Startex by visiting their website and searching for customer complaints and reviews on Google.

No Deposit Guaranteed Houston Electricity

You may just need to move in to your new home or apartment very fast and avoid the need to pay a deposit. If you find yourself being a no credit or low credit score customer then we used to have a unique electricity plan in Houston that had no deposit but the plan is now discontinued. This plan was perfect for those that needed a  second chance at proving their credit worthiness and reestablishing themselves as a good paying Houston electric service customer. The plan was called the “Start Plan” and was with a company called Boing Energy. The Start Plan is no longer available but you can check out other great plans with Boing and others by using our compare chart or call at 1-800-971-4020.

Is it Worth it to Use TXU or Reliant Energy in Houston?

If you are considering turning on electric service in your name to TXU Energy or Reliant Energy we would like to encourage you to consider other choices. Right now TXU Energy and Reliant Energy are not offering very competitive fixed electric service rates for residential electricity customers. Reliant Energy is currently offering only a variable electricity rate for the Houston area according to the state website and it is for 10.4 cents a kWh. Most providers offer a fixed electric rate that is locked in for a year or longer. A variable electricity rate is subject to change after the first month. Energy prices adjust on a variable electricity rate based on what natural gas prices do. In Houston energy prices are at a historical low for the year. If you lock in with Reliant Energy at 10.4 cents a kWh on a variable electric rate you can expect it to go up rather soon as the summer is closing in and many analysts predict a rise in Houston energy prices. Also a variable rate is an indication that an electric company is not able to hedge energy prices to even offer a fixed electric rate. In summary, a variable electricity price like what Reliant in Houston is offering is not the ideal electricity plan.

Moving to Houston and Need Electric Service Turned on Fast?

If you are moving to Houston or living there now but are about to switch electric companies to TXU Energy there is also an issue with making a switch over to them as well. They are offering a 14.9 cent fixed rate but they only offer a 24 month term. They are a large company but they were recently sold to a private equity group. The TXU rate of 14.9 is just not competitive with several other offers out there. There are 24 month fixed rates right now in the Houston area that are as low as 12.3 cents a kwh and this includes all fees and charges. That is over 2 cents a kWh difference in price. Going with TXU Energy or Reliant Energy who was also recently bought by a different company just doesn’t make sense anymore with their uncompetitive electricity prices and their new and different ownership.

Alternative to TXU and Reliant Energy for Electric Service

If you need a competitive electricity rate in Houston with an established reputable and ethical energy provider then we recommend giving Startex Power a try. This Houston electric company competes quite well against both Reliant and TXU Energy and they have no gimmicks and weird legal jargon to make their electricity rate look better. What you see is what you get when choosing Startex Power as your electricity provider in Texas. You can learn more about Startex by clicking here.

Bad or No Credit but Need a Switch Fast?

If you have bad credit, no credit or just need to move in or switch electricity providers extremely fast then there is really only one option in this circumstance. They have the best electricity plan for bad credit customers that basically gives you a second chance and allows you to avoid paying a deposit. This no deposit electricity plan is called the “Fresh Start Plan”. You can learn more about this electricity plan by visiting Bounce Energy. When you call be sure to ask for the “Fresh Start Plan”

Visit Bounce Energy and learn more – click here or call 1-866-945-8937