How to choose an electric company (Allen, Little Elm: renting, co-op, neighborhood)

[lakerseven]

I'm moving to Allen at the end of this month and am trying to figure out how electric service works down there. I went to the powertochoose web site, and it appears I have the option of Coserv potentially or a variety of other providers utilizing Oncor. I hear Oncor is bad, but I may not have a choice. I hear Coserv may be good, but there rates are around 12 cents per kwh according to their website.

So the question is, how do I choose? Should I just get a fixed rate plan for 12 months? Those run around 9.3 cents to 10 cents per kwh with the Oncor carriers. Seems like a decent rate to lock in. I am renting for 12 months only, so don't really care after that as I will probably move. Any suggestions on how to choose? Bounce, StarTex, Champion and Texas Power are my possibilities.

Thx

[eversonsc]

I used a website called whitefence.com and compared electricity providers there. Ended up going with TXU. Hope that helps.

[DaveG99]

StarTex Power

these guys have some of the best rates

[kreeyax]

If you are in a CoServ area you may not have the power to choose. When I lived in Little Elm I was in a CoServ neighborhood. They opted out of deregulation, Co-op power companies have this option. CoServ was the only power company available.

[loves2read]

true about the co-serve

lots of factors to take into consideration--and one that most people/sites don't tell you

when power grid prices are very high--the rate you have contracted for with your provider may be bumped for excess charges--nothing you can do about it--part of the rules the providers operate under...so even though you get say a 9 cents rate--you can't count on all of your hours being billed at that price...
one reason why so many peopler are ballistic over some of their past bills when we had snow and stuff--power grid was off the chart for usage--really bumped the price up to providers--and they (at certain points) get to pass that bump along to their customers despite their rate plans

[JDinTX]

I may be mistaken but I thought Allen (at least some of it) was under Coserv. I have Coserv right now (not by choice) and the rate isn't too bad. Before we moved into a Coserv area we had Bounce and were very happy with them. They have added benefits if you stay with them.

This site is helpful: vaultelectricity.com

Good luck.