Your home electric service contract

MACKTEXAS

MACKTEXAS

Well-known Member
I signed up on 05/30/25 for a two year electric service contract with my provider (Cirro). Yesterday, when I paid my current bill by phone, the automated service included a statement, "There are new plans available in your area."

I called a representative to ask why it said that when my current contract is still in effect for another year. He told me a lower price plan had become available and it is their policy to notify me, and I'm allowed to switch plans without an early cancellation penalty. At my request, he emailed me the EFL ("Electricity Facts Label") while we were on the phone. I compared it to my current EFL and the new plan (for 3 years) was much lower, so I switched plans.

I'm just mentioning this in case anyone gets a similar message from their provider. Don't ignore it, or you could be passing up saving some money.
 
robin416 said:
This is probably specifically a TX deal. My co-op doesn't offer any type of plan like that but they do raise and lower our rates depending how much buying power costs.
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That Lady in PA said:
Any plan I come across is more expensive after a short trial period.
Good for you on finding a less expensive one!
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Different states and even within my state, rules vary by locations. I get a contract for a certain amount per KWH, and that amount stays the same, but the overall bill can still be influenced by Oncor charges. Oncor is the chief transmission and distribution electric utility in Texas. The best consumers can do is select the lowest per KWH charges offered by the provider contract.
 
evergy offers us the standard plan where we pay the same for energy no matter what.

then they have the summer peak time plan to shift energy usage to off-peak times on weekdays in the summer to get off-peak prices.

then a nights and weekends plan to pay a lower price for energy during off-peak times and on weekends.

i'm on level pay due to income so i just stuck with standard.
 
I didn't know there was such a thing as an electrical plan contract? Our power company is a co-op. Everybody pays the same rates. There is no choice.

The per KWH rates have not changed in years. However, what utilities are doing now is adding fees. The waste company added a fuel service charge back when gas prices went up during the Biden Administration. It stayed in effect even when gas prices went back down. A few months ago, the power company added a fee, also.

I remember years ago, in Texas, the power company raised rates. People cut back on their power usage to the point where the power company complained that their income went down so they raised rates again. Companies have realized since then that raising rates isn't enough so now they add fees instead. Then they brag that they haven't raised rates in ten years. Right.
 
GoodEnuff said:
I didn't know there was such a thing as an electrical plan contract? Our power company is a co-op. Everybody pays the same rates. There is no choice.
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The contracts I posted about are primarily available within incorporated areas. A friend living 12 miles from me is in an unincoporated area and receives power from a co-op, meaning he has to pay the current going rate which fluctuates. The power company I'm contracted with cannot change their "per KWH" charge during the term of the contract, but the total bill can rise if Oncor, the state provider, increases their pass-through charge. To do that, they have to get approval from the Texas Public Utilities Commission.
 
We have to use the provider in our area. What they’d like to do is charge higher rates during peak billing times, maybe 7 - 7. I don’t want to avoid doing the laundry or running the dishwasher that is full until the evening.
 
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