Choosing an electric provider (Houston, Katy: power lines, how much, house)

[3boysandacat]

I'm looking on the powertochoose website but honestly completely confused as to what may be the company or plan to go with in Katy (Centerpoint area). I am currently in a 5 year fixed rate at about 12 cents kwh as I have been told rates are likely to increase by 2 cents each year. Is this BS? Would I be better off in a 12 month plan. Any input appreciated!

[Schumacher713]

12 cents is really high. I rarely pay above 9. I do 3-6 month plans and put the renew in my iphone calender. If I can lock in a rate below 9 for 12 months I will. I have paid as low as 6 cents. I would say my normal is about 7.5. I liked it better before the deregulation. It was cheaper and easier. Capitalism at work!

[piyf]

5 yr fixed rate, were you born last night?


I'm sure it's only a few hundred to break that contract. If it is you need to divorce that marriage.


I'll look for you. Who services your power lines? There is (I think) 2 for the Houston area. Centerpoint or Texas-New Mexico. What is your lowest usage (not $ but usage, IE kWh) for a billing cycle in 12 months?

[piyf]

Who's we? Do you not work for one yourself?

[kel7]

Sorry for the confusion. Spouse and I.

[3boysandacat]

Thanks pivf --- and LOL I was not born yesterday but I sure feel like it looking at these fact sheets ; ) We will be served by Centerpoint and will be closing on a house early next week. This is brand new service for us after moving here from Chicago area so I do not have past usage to work from. I am assuming we will be at least 1k wkh but really have no idea.

[Schumacher713]

Centerpoint serves all of Houston. All picking a company means is who gives you a bill.

[semisweetchick]

Thanks for asking this question, 3boysandacat. We also are moving to Houston from out of state and have never lived anyplace that had multiple providers/rate plans for electric service. It's very confusing -- like trying to choose a cell phone plan.

We also have no usage history. Where we currently live, we have no refrigerated air. No idea how many kwh we'll use. How do you go about choosing a plan? Does it really matter? I see a lot of strange "incentives" on various plans that make me think you wind up paying the same rate, regardless of the plan you choose.

[bronstew]

Do y'all think it's worth it to switch from a 12c/kw to a 9c/kw plan if I have to pay a $150 cancellation fee? How do you guys deal with the cancellation fees? Seems to me I might save about $150 in the next year by switching to 9c/kw, so what's the point? We were on a reduced rate with Reliant of 9c/kw and it just went up to 12.

[trbstang]

We were with Reliant at about 12.4c and had the option to change to another provider at 9c several years ago. It was a no brainer as I would save the cancellation fee in about 3-4 months since we use at least 1,100 KWh per month. You just have to run the numbers for the full year, which is easy with the smart meters as you can just go to the meter website and download your prior year monthly usage into a spreadsheet and calculate how much your bills would be for this year at both rates.