Electric Company (Plano: how much, month-to-month, attorney)

[yvette4me45]

Hi,
I really need some advice on an electric compnay. We are moving to Plano and have looked into Reliant, but they are not offering any 12mo plans right now, only 6. I see that would put us in a bad place come summer if they decide to go high on rates. So, please any thoughts, help or advice would be welcome!!

[lpepping]

Originally Posted by yvette4me45

Hi,
I really need some advice on an electric compnay. We are moving to Plano and have looked into Reliant, but they are not offering any 12mo plans right now, only 6. I see that would put us in a bad place come summer if they decide to go high on rates. So, please any thoughts, help or advice would be welcome!!

I switched to GEXA. Once I got my auto payment working it hasn't been a problem and the rates are cheap. Go to Texas Electric Choice | Home to see rates for all companies.

[toribennett]

RELIANT SUCKS! I live by myself in a 729 sf new well-insulated apt in Plano, TX and my first bill was $154! I only turned the heater on one day for 3 hrs in the entire billing period! My apt is so well-insulated that it stayed warm even though we had so really cold days! I can't imagine what it would have been if I had to used the heater like normal! I called them and they were jerks and told me if I cancelled and went to someone else I would have to pay a cancellation fee! I filed a complaint with the TX Attorney General's office. This is insane.

[Kootr]

Originally Posted by yvette4me45

Hi,
I really need some advice on an electric compnay. We are moving to Plano and have looked into Reliant, but they are not offering any 12mo plans right now, only 6. I see that would put us in a bad place come summer if they decide to go high on rates. So, please any thoughts, help or advice would be welcome!!

I use Startex Power and their customer service and billing is topnotch. I think you'll find that Startex Power will have the lowest rates, whether month-to-month or fixed. They have 6, 12, 24 and 36 month fixed rates.

I suggest you look at Power to Choose and review all the choices. And here you will find Startex Power's website.

I also highly suggest Verizon FIOS for Internet, television and telephone services.

Welcome to Plano! You'll love it here...

[caligurltotx]

I just got my first cold weather bill and almost went into shock!! In all my years in CA I have never even seen an electric bill that touched the hundred $$ mark. My bill for Dec was $178!!! Now, I admit I run my heat quite a bit but for a one bdrm 700 sq ft apt, come on...I would hate to imagine if I had a 1500 sq ft home or bigger, Goodness!!

For those of you coming from CA be prepared and be energy smart. Use blankets, light the fire place, use a space heater in the room you're using.

[Kootr]

Originally Posted by caligurltotx

I just got my first cold weather bill and almost went into shock!! In all my years in CA I have never even seen an electric bill that touched the hundred $$ mark. My bill for Dec was $178!!! Now, I admit I run my heat quite a bit but for a one bdrm 700 sq ft apt, come on...I would hate to imagine if I had a 1500 sq ft home or bigger, Goodness!!

For those of you coming from CA be prepared and be energy smart. Use blankets, light the fire place, use a space heater in the room you're using.

You didn't say who your provider is, or how much you pay per KWH. The price can range from near 20 cents down to 10 cents per KWH depending on your provider and the plan you have. You also didn't say if you heat with electricity or by some other means. Until these factors are known, no one can determine anything about your bill.

[loves2read]

read your bill--there is a minimum charge--you could use 0 kwh and still pay a min charge if you had your electric on...
there is also a surcharge based on the price of electricity when you used yours off the grid--some times are more than others because there is more demand

this is not like going into the store and buying a can of coke that stays the same price basically all the time---some stores are more expensive than others but if you pull a can off the back of the shelf vs off the front of the shelf it is still the same price---not true for electric kwh...
different providers have different base rates
they might also charge different surcharge fees and have different pricing structure for use-time
it is like juggling knives, flaming batons, and light bulbs all at the same time...

[caligurltotx]

I have Star Tex Power and it says I pay 0.11900, I locked in that rate for 9 mos. I understand how the rates work out here but since we only have one company in southern CA only options U have is them. Guess I was spoiled for all them yrs, I never even had to think about the bill being a shocker. Well I am paying attention now!

[loves2read]

it was not the fact that there was only one company you dealt with--it was the fact that energy was cheap and maybe controlled by the state as to the max rate a company could charge

the state legislatures threw consumers to the wolves when they deregulated energy
welcome to the world of Enron...
even through prices have dropped--companies locked in some of their needs at higher prices than market price right now--but wait until March--bet the rates do not come down then either--there will be some justification...

think Madoff ran a Ponzi scheme???--there is no way that anyone can figure out exactly what the rate should be for kwh used by different people on different parts of the grid---too complex--
and even if they found out companies were over charging -- nothing significant would be done to make them stop doing it
too much money to be made...