Comments on: Charge me up, just don't charge me a lot

Question: Charge me up, just don't charge me a lot

arcticseal — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:47:32 -0800

Does anyone have any recommendations on the best power companies to use in Houston, TX?

So we took everyone's advice when we moved to Houston and we're loving it here in the inner loop despite having got here just in time for Gustav (a non-event) and Ike (ha, what's all the fuss about we thought...oh how we laughed).

So after initially signing up on a variable rate plan with Gexa when we first arrived, I was a little shocked to see the kWh price going up to 21.04 cents this month and I'm planning on moving to fixed rates (preferably renewal sources).

I've done a comparison on the Public Utility Commission of Texas and Spark Energy comes up cheapest at 13.9c/kWh for 100% renewable sources.

Can anyone make any recommendations on a provider and their customer service? Gexa has been OK, but the customer service isn't the greatest.

By: Robert Angelo

Robert Angelo — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:31:10 -0800

Whoever you choose, I'd suggest not using a variable rate plan again. The spikes in electric prices from month to month can be (pardon the pun) shocking. I remember reading somewhere (maybe the Chronicle?) that prices tend to go down in the Fall and Winter, then rise in the Spring to peak in the Summer. They are also affected by swings in the price of natural gas, which can be hard for mere mortals such as you and I to anticipate.

I had signed up for a 12-month fixed renewable plan from Amigo last year, but I was always dissatisfied because they did not have account and energy usage information online (much different from Reliant or other typical big utilities). I switched to a Green Mountain 3-month fixed rate plan last summer, planning to re-evaluate my choices when my rate expires again (which should be about now). I'll be watching this thread with interest. When I checked the state web site a few weeks ago, they weren't as competitive on price although their service is fine.

By: Robert Angelo

Robert Angelo — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:41:45 -0800

Let me hedge on what I said about natural gas prices affecting this... The Chronicle said they affected the price of electricity overall, but we're talking about wind power, which has a bunch of special market factors.

By: arcticseal

arcticseal — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:07:55 -0800

Thanks Robert, ended up switching to Yep energy, they had quite a good green 12 month fixed rate.