Graham Griffin
Any product or company names, marks, or logos shown on this page are the property of their respective owners. ComparePower is an unaffiliated, independent marketplace.
Get Electricity Set Up for Your Move
If you are moving into a new home in Texas, here’s what you need to know to quickly set up electricity service.
You have to choose an electricity provider. You cannot get service to your new home until you enroll in a plan on ComparePower.
Texas has over 60 providers and hundreds of electricity plans with different features, options, and prices.
Finding the right plan can be difficult if you do not know what to look for. It’s okay if you don’t know.
Shopping for electricity requires a bit of knowledge to get it right. We will help you with that.
Electricity companies don’t make it easy to shop. Providers have been known to game the system with gimmicky prices and plans that seem like a good deal when they’re not.
We aim to help all Texans take on the giants of electricity and beat them at their own game.
So if you’re not confident, don’t worry. We’ll break down the details so you can make the best decision and move into your new home with one less thing to worry about.
We help millions of Texans power their homes every year. We’ll help you avoid the most common traps, find the best plan, and get your lights on in time for your big move.
💡 Did you know: The average retail price for residential electricity in Texas is 13.15 cents/kWh per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Texas electricity rates at a glance:
- The average retail price of electricity is 13.15 cents/kWh
- The average energy usage in Texas is 1,132 kWh/month
- The average electricity bill in Texas is $148.90
Source: eia.gov
“Easy, simple, best rates, just a click away.”
~ Stephen H. (TX, United States)
Last updated: September 2022
Buying a new house and remembered at the last minute I didn’t have an electric company. Enrolled and was able to get power the next day which was my closing date! Fantastic!
Ronda H. (TX, United States)
Any product or company names, marks, or logos shown on this page are the property of their respective owners. ComparePower is an independent marketplace offering free electricity pricing comparisons for consumers.
How to Start New Electricity Service in Texas
Ready to get started? Answer five questions about your home and energy habits and find the right energy in minutes.
Get started with your zip code on ComparePower.com
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Enter Your Zip Code
Enter your zip code to find energy plans and rates in your area.
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Compare Energy Plans and Rates
Compare energy plans and electricity rates by filtering the search results for desired features.
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Enroll Online Instantly
Enroll online in 5 minutes, confident you made the right choice.
Supply:
- Service Address
- Drivers License #
- Social Security #
Tools:
- An internet connection and ComparePower.com is all you need to cross electricity off your moving checklist.
Materials: A computer, tablet, or mobile device with internet access.
Help Me Choose
Tell us about your energy needs, and we’ll guide you to the right plan.
Choosing the Right Energy Plan
Electricity rates in Texas are priced according to your monthly energy consumption.
Finding the best plan for your home requires that you know your home’s kWh usage month-by-month for an entire year.
If you are moving into a new home, you likely don’t have any usage history. That’s okay.
We will guide you to the right plan by estimating your kWh usage with your home’s square footage.
If you are moving into an older home, you may be able to get information about the home’s historical usage from the previous owner. If this is the case, you can shop with your home’s historical usage to get the best electricity price.
Month-by-month historical usage can help tremendously in finding your best-priced plan but don’t worry if you don’t have any historical usage.
The fastest way to schedule power for your move-in is to choose a plan based on your expected average monthly usage.
The following home sizes can be used for reference when choosing which usage to sort energy plans by.
| Home Size | Square Footage | Suggested Usage |
| Small Home | 500 – 1200 sqft | 500 kWh |
| Medium Home | 1200 – 2000 sqft | 1000 kWh |
| Large Home | 2000 – 3000 sqft | 1500 kWh |
| X-Large Home | 3000+ sqft | 2000 kWh |
Not sure which to pick? Estimate your usage using this tool.
Let’s quickly find your best energy plan.
1. Size of home:
2. Number of residents:
3. Your energy habits:
Approximate average monthly usage: 690 kWh
Disclaimer: This tool is for approximation purposes only. Accuracy is not guaranteed or implied.
The approximated monthly usage is based on an average over 12 months. Air conditioning and heating costs can vary and often account for up to 50 percent of your home’s energy use during different seasons.
Factors such as size of your home, weather, construction, heating and cooling equipment type, insulation, and family living habits will influence your actual usage.
Shopping Considerations
Choose a plan with a satisfaction guarantee. Worried about making the wrong choice?
Avoid buyer’s remorse or having to stay with a plan that is not ideal for your home’s usage profile.
If you aren’t satisfied with your choice, you can switch to a plan that is more ideal for you and your home by choosing a plan with a guarantee (see screenshot below for what to look for).
Choose a plan that does not have usage credits. Usage credits are discounts applied to your bill each month depending on whether you meet a certain usage threshold.
Usage credits can be beneficial, but only in combination with your home’s annual historical usage history.
If you do not have a month-by-month history of the historical usage of your home, you’re playing a guessing game.
Plans with usage credits are not necessarily bad. The right usage credit plan can save you a lot of money. It’s just hard to find the right plan without knowing your usage.
We recommend you choose a plan that doesn’t have usage credits until you can establish some usage history.
How can you tell if a plan has usage credits? The information is in the electricity facts label for every plan.
On ComparePower, you will see the usage credits spelled out on the plan card and the plan details.
Fixed-rate energy plans are most popular in Texas. A fixed-rate plan provides stability, especially when you are on a budget.
Fixed rates also protect you from extreme weather conditions.
The trade-off with price certainty is that if market prices fall, you may have to wait for your contract to expire before you can choose a lower-priced electric plan.
Early termination fees may apply to fixed-rate plans with long-term contracts. Make sure you read your contract carefully to understand everything associated with it.
What term length is best? It’s okay if you move out before your contract ends.
An electricity agreement can be canceled in Texas when you move out of a residence therefore pick the term length that best suits your household needs.
Variable-rate plans do not carry early termination fees, so you can switch providers at any time without penalty however, that freedom comes with the uncertainty of market and weather conditions.
Extreme temperatures can have a dramatic impact on wholesale electricity prices, which, in turn, will affect your electricity bill if you are on a variable rate plan.
Concerned about a deposit? We always have a no deposit option for you. Choose a plan that appeals to you and enroll.
You can then check our marketplace for other providers that do not require a deposit from you.
This can save you hours by letting you see the deposit options of multiple providers in a single order.
Avoid a credit check and deposits altogether with a pre-paid energy plan. An upfront charge will apply to these plans, but it will be deducted from your usage.
Learn how to get no deposit lights in Texas.
Moving, but there is a switch hold? A switch hold is a response to an electricity customer who does not pay a past-due bill as a means to block and prevent that customer from switching to another light company before paying their overdue light bill.
As a new tenant, you can request a New Occupant Form directly from the electric company that you want to enroll with.
Learn how to get lights with a switch hold.
Setting up Apartment Electricity
If you are renting or moving into an apartment, the management office will likely need an electricity account number as proof that you have enrolled for service in your name.
We’ll instantly provide you with your new electricity account number when you enroll for a plan on ComparePower.
Provide this number to your apartment’s leasing office, and you’ll have your keys in hand, ready to move in.
Same Day Service
If you need power today, you can schedule a same-day connection until 6 pm with some providers in our marketplace and until 2 pm with all providers.
Place an order before 2 pm, and service can be scheduled to start today during checkout.
Learn how to get same-day service.
What about Saturday? Some Texas electricity providers offer same-day connections on Saturdays.
Find provider cutoff times and available days for same-day electricity service here.
Transferring Service
Transferring electricity service in Texas is not recommended. Electricity is priced according to your monthly usage. The energy plan you have for your current home might not match the usage requirements of your new home.
While it’s possible to transfer a plan, in most cases, you are signing a new contract with the electricity company, which might be more expensive than what you were previously paying.
Canceling Service
Notify your electricity company that you are moving to a new address and cancel your existing service. There are no early termination penalties when moving to a new home in Texas.
You should also expect a final bill from any utilities you shut off. Usage charges should be prorated, meaning that you should only be charged up until the date of cancellation.
Why ComparePower
Convenience
Many of our readers find shopping for electricity confusing and frustrating. Here you can easily compare energy plans and rates in one place and enroll in the right plan in minutes, saving you hours of time and frustration.
Choice
Get the information you need to make an informed decision on your own. Plan prices are listed from the lowest to the highest, so you can quickly find the best deal for your home. Rates on ComparePower are as low or lower than rates you’ll find by going direct to a provider’s website.
Peace of Mind
Compare plans side by side without worrying about hidden fees or other charges, ensuring comparisons. We’ll even send you reminders when it’s time to come back and shop again so you can continue saving.
Starting Electricity Service FAQ
Why are there different prices for different usage levels?
This is perhaps the most important consideration in comparing energy plans and prices. An electricity rate is a total cost divided by energy consumption over a given period. Therefore, the rate accounts for what you pay and the amount you use.
In Texas, you pay for energy based on how much you use. In contrast to gasoline, where the price per gallon remains constant regardless of how many gallons you pump, with electricity, the price can change depending on your monthly energy consumption. This is why it is important to understand your monthly energy consumption when shopping for a new energy plan in Texas.
Why are there so many plans to choose from?
Since 2002, the energy market in Texas has been deregulated. As a result, over 60 electricity companies compete for your business in the state, and hundreds of energy plans are available. If the number of plans available overwhelms you, you’re not alone. Shopping for power in Texas is frustrating for most. ComparePower makes it easy to find your best plan and refine your search with powerful tools and filters to only see the energy plans that meet your needs.
Can I change my mind?
Pick an energy plan with a guarantee of peace of mind and the freedom to switch to a different energy plan.
What if I have to move before the end of my contract term?
You are not subject to a cancellation fee if you legitimately move from your home in Texas, as there are laws protecting you from this. Moving allows you to shop for a better plan, regardless of whether you are on a contract. Texas law does not require you to transfer your service.
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