Decoding PowerToChoose.org: Your Texas Electricity Guide
Shopping for electricity in Texas? PowerToChoose.org is marketed as a one-stop shop for comparing plans—but it’s not as simple as it sounds. We’ve broken down how it works, the hidden risks, and what savvy shoppers need to know to avoid costly traps and actually save money.
What Is PowerToChoose.org?
PowerToChoose.org is the official electricity comparison website managed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).
Created shortly after Texas deregulated its electricity market in 1999, the site was designed to offer an unbiased, centralized platform where consumers could shop for and compare electricity plans.
It’s a great idea in theory — and it can still serve a valuable purpose — but there are important things every Texan should know before choosing a plan through the site.
PowerToChoose.org’s Wild West: Unregulated Plans
First things first: we know and respect the team behind Power to Choose. They’re good people providing a valuable public service.
But at the end of the day, the website is just a tool. It has no authority to regulate, vet, or endorse the plans listed. Any registered Retail Electricity Provider (REP) can publish plans — and many take advantage of that by posting plans with misleading rates, confusing terms, or short contract lengths designed to game the system and rise to the top of search results.
This creates an unregulated, Wild West-style marketplace where the burden falls entirely on the consumer to figure out what’s real and what’s risky.
It Takes Time–Do Your Homework.
If you’re looking for something quick and simple, PowerToChoose.org may not be for you. It’s a site for those willing to sift through dozens of plans, research providers, and understand the fine print. You can find a deal — but only if you know how to play the game. Otherwise, you’re easy bait for bad plans and high rates.
It really comes down to what your time and peace of mind are worth. In most cases, the price difference between a straightforward plan from a quality provider and the so-called “best deal” on Power to Choose is fractions of a penny — often just $0.002 to $0.006 per kWh. That’s only $2 to $6 a month on a 1,000 kWh bill.
It’s the old $29.99 vs. $30.00 trick. A trustworthy provider might offer a 12-month fixed-rate plan at 14.1¢/kWh, while a new, lesser-known provider posts a plan at 13.7¢ to climb to the top of the list. That’s only four-tenths of a penny less — or $4/month at 1,000 kWh.
Electricity providers have to manage the risks of fluctuating energy prices, especially when offering long-term fixed-rate plans. Many small or brand-new providers struggle to stay afloat — and when they can’t, they either shut down or sell their customers off to larger companies, often leading to rate hikes and headaches.
For most people, paying a few dollars more each month is worth the stability and service of a proven provider — and avoiding the stress of dealing with new or unstable companies.
PowerToChoose.org Risks: Traps for Shoppers
Plans on PowerToChoose.org shift frequently — sometimes even hourly — and the cheapest options often come with fine print or hidden traps.
While providers are required to submit plan details, there’s no standard format. Each provider presents information differently, making it nearly impossible to compare plans apples-to-apples.
A few important facts every shopper should know:
Plans are not vetted by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).
The PUCT cannot offer guidance or recommendations — doing so could be seen as favoritism.
There’s a false sense of trust because the site is official, but the plans themselves are not regulated or endorsed.
- The PUCT connection gives providers an unearned boost of credibility simply by being listed.
Bottom line: just because a plan is listed on Power to Choose doesn’t mean it’s a good one — or even a fair one.
What to Watch Out for Right Now (Updated Q2 2025)
Short-Term Plans
Right now, the biggest issue on PowerToChoose.org is the flood of short-term plans dominating the top of the search results. As of this update, nearly the entire first page is made up of 3-month plans, and 14% of all listed plans fall into this short-term category.
These 3–6 month plans appear attractive because they offer very low rates — but that’s only because we’re in a low-consumption season (spring). When they expire, it will be the middle of summer, when electricity usage — and rates — are at their highest. You’ll be forced to renew during peak pricing.
To put it in perspective: current fixed-rate electricity plans in the Oncor service area are averaging 14¢–17¢ per kWh. If you see a plan on PowerToChoose.org that’s more than 1¢ cheaper, there’s a good chance it’s a short-term plan designed to hook shoppers with unsustainable rates.
Many of the plans on the first page are showing rates up to 3.5¢ lower than the market average — and that’s your red flag. In nearly every case, the catch is the 3-month contract term.
More PowerToChoose.org Risks to Dodge
Electricity providers constantly update their plans in an effort to appear at the top of PowerToChoose.org’s listings. While competition can be good, it also opens the door to confusion and manipulation. Here are a few common risks to watch out for:
Time-of-Use Plans
PowerToChoose.org now filters out plans with Minimum Usage Fees and Bill Credits by default — which is a great improvement. These were some of the original “gimmick” plans, designed to lure in shoppers with artificially low advertised rates. While the plans still exist, they no longer dominate the listings.
But now, Time-of-Use (TOU) and EV Plans are the new gimmicks. These plans advertise low rates, but they split your pricing into “peak” and “off-peak” hours. The catch? These are highly niche plans, and most people won’t benefit from them.
Providers often overestimate off-peak usage to create an attractive average rate. For example, they might assume you’ll use 35% of your electricity at night, but in reality, most households only hit closer to 25%. The result? You pay more than the advertised rate.
💡 Did You Know?
The cheapest plans on Power to Choose often look great — until you read the fine print. That “12¢ fixed-rate plan” might only apply if you use exactly 1,000 kWh… any more or less and the rate jumps significantly.
Odd Term Contracts
Plans with odd lengths — like 9, 10, or 14 months — might not raise immediate red flags, but they’re often designed to time your renewal during high-rate seasons, like summer or winter.
Providers know that most people stay with their current provider when it’s time to renew, even if the rate increases. That’s why renewal rates are usually higher than rates for new customers.
Don’t fall into that trap. Be intentional with your contract length and renewal timing.
💡 Pro Tip: Time your renewal for spring or fall, when rates are typically lowest.
Unknown Providers
Always take a moment to research the provider behind a low-priced plan. It’s easy to be tempted by a rock-bottom rate, but if the company doesn’t have a solid reputation or track record, it could cost you in the long run.
New or unknown providers like True Power and Budget Power have entered the market with low rates, but many didn’t stick around. These smaller companies often operate with lower overhead, but that can mean poor customer service, unstable pricing, and in some cases, going out of business entirely.
When that happens, your account is usually sold off to a larger provider — often at a much higher rate.
A Final Word on Power to Choose
PowerToChoose.org isn’t inherently bad — in fact, it can be a useful tool. But just like any search engine, providers know how to game the system to climb to the top of the list. That means the best plan for you probably isn’t the first one you see.
Don’t get burned. If you’re going to use Power to Choose, here’s how to shop smart:
Look beyond the headline rate: The advertised price may only apply at exactly 1,000 kWh — and can spike above or below that usage.
Filter by term length (12-24 months): Avoid short-term bait-and-switch plans designed to expire during high-rate seasons.
Download and compare the EFLs (Electricity Facts Labels) – The fine print reveals the truth—compare energy charges, not just averages.
Know Your Usage: Time-of-Use plans are only beneficial for people who use the majority of their electricity at night. (Most people don’t.)
Research the provider: Rock-bottom rates from unknown REPs are a red flag. Stick with established names or do your homework on new ones.
- Time It: Ending your plan in spring or fall gives you the best chance of locking in low renewal rates. Avoid summer expirations when prices spike.
And don’t forget — plans on Power to Choose can change multiple times a day. What looks like a deal this morning might be gone by this afternoon.
A Smarter, Simpler Way to Shop
We started TexasElectricityFinder.com because we were tired of the same frustrations you’re probably dealing with now — digging through confusing plan details, second-guessing providers, and falling for gimmicky rates that looked great on paper but didn’t deliver in real life.
We knew there had to be a better way — so we built one.
✅ We keep it simple – We highlight the best, straightforward plans available right now — no bill credits, time-of-use tricks, or misleading teaser rates.
✅ We only promote what we’d use ourselves– We partner with trusted providers that we’ve personally used, vetted, and believe in. If we wouldn’t sign up for it, we won’t recommend it.
✅ We remove the guesswork – Our site is built to make electricity shopping easy. You don’t need to be an energy expert — we’ll point you to the right plan based on what works best today.
✅ We give honest opinions – We’re not here to show every plan from every provider. We curate only the plans we believe offer real value — no noise, no gimmicks.
✅ We get it — it’s gotten complicated – We’ve been there too. Electricity shopping used to be easier. Now it feels like a game you need to outsmart. We decided to make it simple again.
Let Us Help You Find the Right Plan
Skip the guesswork.
Stop sorting through dozens of plans with fine print and confusing pricing.
👉 Enter your zip code to see our Best Simple plan now!
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