Texas was impacted during the month of February by the massive power outages leaving more than 3 million households without electricity. Even as investigations are still happening to determine what caused this crisis, early analysis underlines that the state was not equipped for such a cold weather event. Power generation equipment failed and caused major blackouts in the entire state. Let’s find out the impact of this weather crisis on the data we captured from Power to Choose for the month of February 2021.
Power to Choose is a website created by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) that lists electricity plans offered by certified Retail Energy Providers (REPs). For more information about Power to Choose and its role, please consult this page. If you haven’t decided which kind of plan best fits your needs, please consult our FAQ section for things to consider when shopping for your next electricity plan in Texas.
Our team at energysavings.com has been capturing daily snapshots of the energy plans offered on the Power to Choose site and has put together the following information regarding the energy plans offered during the month of February 2021 for the AEP Central delivery area. Please click here for a map that shows the location of the transmission and distribution utilities in competitive areas. Please note that as rates may change at any time in the day on the Power to Choose site, the following analysis is only based on information captured in our snapshots each month.
1. Fixed Rate Plans
AEP Central – Lowest Reported EFL Price for a Fixed Rate 12-month Plan for an estimated 2000 kWh’s during February 2021*
(lowest to highest rate)
| Energy Providers | Rate for 2000 kWh (¢/kWh) |
| VARSITY ENERGY LLC | 9.0 |
| FRONTIER UTILITIES | 9.1 |
| SOUTHERN FEDERAL POWER LLC | 9.1 |
| VOLT ELECTRICITY PROVIDER LP | 9.1 |
| ENERGY MONGER LLC | 9.2 |
| INFUSE ENERGY LLC | 9.2 |
| RELIANT | 9.4 |
| WINDROSE ENERGY | 9.4 |
| POWERNEXT | 9.5 |
| SOUTHWEST POWER & LIGHT | 9.5 |
| V247 POWER CORPORATION | 9.5 |
| VETERAN ENERGY | 9.7 |
| CIRRO ENERGY | 9.8 |
| DISCOUNT POWER | 9.8 |
| ENTRUST ENERGY INC | 9.8 |
| HERITAGE POWER LLC | 9.8 |
| POWER OF TEXAS HOLDINGS INC | 9.8 |
| SPARK ENERGY LLC | 9.9 |
| SUMMER ENERGY LLC | 10.0 |
| 4CHANGE ENERGY | 10.1 |
| EXPRESS ENERGY | 10.1 |
| MIDAMERICAN ENERGY SERVICES LLC | 10.2 |
| AMIGO ENERGY | 10.4 |
| CHAMPION ENERGY SERVICES LLC | 10.4 |
| JUST ENERGY | 10.4 |
| TARA ENERGY | 10.4 |
| AP GAS & ELECTRIC (TX) LLC | 10.5 |
| TRIEAGLE ENERGY LP | 10.5 |
| PULSE POWER LLC | 10.6 |
| THINK ENERGY | 10.6 |
| CONSTELLATION NEWENERGY INC | 10.8 |
| ENERGY TO GO | 11.2 |
| TXU ENERGY | 11.5 |
| AMBIT ENERGY | 12.7 |
Varsity Energy had the lowest rate of this category. Their plan is called “HOMERUN 12.” It was available to all customers and charges a $150 termination fee.
Ambit Energy showed a plan called “Lone Star Classic 12.” This plan was also available for all customers. This offer’s special terms state that “A monthly E-Plan credit is available for this product by successfully enrolling in Ambit Energy’s Paperless Billing and Automatic Payment programs when you sign up for new service.”
Market trend: About 52% of the REPs changed their price here during the month of February and slightly more than half of them increased their price as opposed to decreasing their price. Only Infuse Energy, Champion Energy and Southwest Power & Light kept offering plans throughout the whole month of February on Power to Choose website.
AEP Central – Lowest Reported EFL Price for a Fixed Rate 24-month Plan for an estimated 2000 kWh’s during February 2021*
(lowest to highest rate)
| Energy Providers | Rate for 2000 kWh (¢/kWh) |
| CPL RETAIL ENERGY | 9.0 |
| INFUSE ENERGY LLC | 9.1 |
| RELIANT | 9.1 |
| SOUTHERN FEDERAL POWER LLC | 9.3 |
| V247 POWER CORPORATION | 9.4 |
| WINDROSE ENERGY | 9.4 |
| 4CHANGE ENERGY | 9.5 |
| CIRRO ENERGY | 9.5 |
| DISCOUNT POWER | 9.5 |
| EXPRESS ENERGY | 9.5 |
| HERITAGE POWER LLC | 9.6 |
| SOUTHWEST POWER & LIGHT | 9.6 |
| SPARK ENERGY LLC | 9.6 |
| THINK ENERGY | 9.6 |
| FRONTIER UTILITIES | 9.9 |
| MIDAMERICAN ENERGY SERVICES LLC | 10.0 |
| SUMMER ENERGY LLC | 10.0 |
| CHAMPION ENERGY SERVICES LLC | 10.2 |
| AP GAS & ELECTRIC (TX) LLC | 10.3 |
| AMIGO ENERGY | 10.4 |
| JUST ENERGY | 10.4 |
| TARA ENERGY | 10.4 |
| PULSE POWER LLC | 10.5 |
| TRIEAGLE ENERGY LP | 10.5 |
| VETERAN ENERGY | 10.6 |
| ENERGY TO GO | 10.9 |
| TXU ENERGY | 11.4 |
CPL Retail Energy was showing the lowest rate. “Price Protection Plan 24” was the name of this plan. It was only available to new customers, and there was a $135 termination fee.
TXU Energy had the highest rate in this table with their “Simple Value 24” plan and was only offering it to new customers. This plan included a $295 termination fee.
Market trend: About 56% of the REPs changed their price here during the month of February, and most of them increased their rates. Only Infuse Energy, Champion Energy and Southwest Power & Light kept offering plans all month on the Power to Choose website.
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2. Variable Rate Plans
AEP Central – Lowest Reported EFL Price for a Variable Rate Plan for an estimated 2000 kWh’s during February 2021*
(lowest to highest rate)
| Energy Providers | Rate for 2000 kWh (¢/kWh) |
| SOUTHERN FEDERAL POWER LLC | 8.1 |
| INFUSE ENERGY LLC | 8.2 |
| SOUTHWEST POWER & LIGHT | 8.4 |
| YEP | 8.4 |
| CPL RETAIL ENERGY | 9.5 |
| DIRECT ENERGY | 9.5 |
| FIRST CHOICE POWER | 9.5 |
| RELIANT | 10.2 |
| NEC CO-OP ENERGY | 12.0 |
| TXU ENERGY | 12.9 |
| AMBIT ENERGY | 17.5 |
Southern Federal Power had the lowest rate. The plan was called “Variable Advantage: Month-to-Month” This product required enrollment in paperless e-Billing and payments that auto withdraw. If not, additional fee applies as described in the Term of Service (TOS). This product was available for new customers only.
Ambit Energy had the highest rate of this table with a plan called “Lone Star Flex.” This plan was offered to all customers (existing or new).
Market trend: About 67% of the REPs changed their price here during the month of February, and there were more price increases than decreases. Only Reliant and Nec Co-op Energy kept offering plans all month on Power to Choose website.
3. 100% Green Plans
AEP Central – Lowest Reported EFL Price for a 100% Green Fixed Rate 12-month Plan for an estimated 2000 kWh’s during February 2021*
(lowest to highest rate)
| Energy Providers | Rate for 2000 kWh (¢/kWh) |
| GEXA ENERGY | 9.0 |
| FRONTIER UTILITIES | 9.1 |
| GREEN ENERGY EXCHANGE | 9.2 |
| CHARIOT ENERGY | 9.3 |
| VARSITY ENERGY LLC | 9.3 |
| CLEANSKY ENERGY | 9.5 |
| TOMORROW ENERGY CORP | 9.8 |
| 4CHANGE ENERGY | 10.2 |
| RHYTHM | 10.5 |
| AP GAS & ELECTRIC (TX) LLC | 10.7 |
| TRIEAGLE ENERGY LP | 10.8 |
| ATG CLEAN ENERGY | 10.9 |
| PULSE POWER LLC | 10.9 |
| ENERGY TO GO | 11.5 |
| GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY COMPANY | 11.5 |
| IBERDROLA TEXAS | 11.7 |
Gexa Energy was the REP showing the lowest rate in this table. Their plan was ”Gexa Choice Green 12.” The highest rate was offered by Iberdrola Texas. The plan’s name was ”Wind by TX 12.” How do they compare?
- Early cancellation fee? Yes, $150 for both.
- Available for all customers? No. Those two offers were only available for new customers.
- Special requirements? No, but Iberdrola offered a 0.1¢/kWh discount to the price above for customers that enrolled in Autopay.
Market trend: About 38% of the REPs changed their price here during the month of February, and more of them decreased their rates. Only Rhythm and Iberdrola Texas kept offering plans during the week of the winter storm on the Power to Choose website.
AEP Central – Lowest Reported EFL Price for a 100% Green Fixed Rate 24-month Plan for an estimated 2000 kWh’s during February 2021*
(lowest to highest rate)
| Energy Providers | Rate for 2000 kWh (¢/kWh) |
| CHARIOT ENERGY | 9.2 |
| 4CHANGE ENERGY | 9.6 |
| GREEN ENERGY EXCHANGE | 9.8 |
| GEXA ENERGY | 9.9 |
| RHYTHM | 10.4 |
| AP GAS & ELECTRIC (TX) LLC | 10.5 |
| ATG CLEAN ENERGY | 10.5 |
| TOMORROW ENERGY CORP | 10.5 |
| IBERDROLA TEXAS | 11.4 |
| GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY COMPANY | 11.7 |
Chariot Energy was the REP that offered the lowest rate here. The plan was called “Chariot Choice 24.” It has a $49 cancellation fee and is available to all customers.
Green Mountain Energy was the highest rate of this table. This electricity plan was called “Pollution Free Crystal Clear 24 Choice” and has a $200 termination fee. This plan was also available to all customers.
Market trend: About 30% of the REPs changed their price here during the month of February and most of them decreased their rates. Only Rhythm and Iberdrola Texas continued offering plans on the Power to Choose website during the winter storm.
AEP Central – Lowest Reported EFL Price for a 100% Green Variable Rate Plan for an estimated 2000 kWh’s during February 2021*
(lowest to highest rate)
| Energy Providers | Rate for 2000 kWh (¢/kWh) |
| INFUSE ENERGY LLC | 8.2 |
| BULB | 9.0 |
| CHARIOT ENERGY | 10.0 |
| GREEN MOUNTAIN ENERGY COMPANY | 14.9 |
| AMBIT ENERGY | 17.7 |
Infuse Energy is showing here as the REP with the lowest price with its plan called “Keep It Simple Savings Green Flex.” It is only available for new customers. This plan’s EFL stated that “You will incur a fee of $5.00 per billing period if you are not enrolled in Autopay.”
Ambit Energy is showing the highest price. Their plan is called “Ambit Green Texas Flex “and is available to existing and new customers.
Market trend: Infuse Energy is the only REP that changed their price during the month of February for a green variable rate plan. Only Green Mountain Energy kept offering plans all month on the Power to Choose website.
* Data obtained from powertochoose.org (Power to Choose) for the days from 2/1/2021 to 2/28/2021. The tables above list the lowest price in cents/kWh offered by each retail electricity provider (REP) for a given type of plan for a monthly usage of 2000 kWh. If more than one product was available from the same REP for a given type of plan, EnergySavings.com only included the one with the lowest rate in its analysis. Please note that as products and rates may change at any time in the day on Power to Choose; EnergySavings.com’s analysis is based on information captured in its single daily snapshot, and therefore cannot guarantee that every product and rate made available in the month has been captured. Please reach out to [email protected] if you feel that any meaningful data has not been captured and EnergySavings.com may, at its sole discretion, issue a correction to the report. Data collected on the 9th and 10th of February with a TDUCompanyName “AEP Texas” were excluded from this report. The analysis is performed by excluding plans that are marked as “Minimum usage fees/credits”, “Time of Use”, and “Prepaid” according to the data captured from Power to Choose. For more information about the electricity plans mentioned in this report, please consult both the Electricity Fact Label (EFL) and Terms of Service (TOS) for those plans. Those documents are available on the Power to Choose site if the plan is still currently offered. The rates listed may differ if the REP has changed their pricing.