Dallas

Electricity Rates in Dallas

The city of Dallas is poised to reap huge benefits from a transformation in how energy is distributed. That’s because there’s a will and a way to get consumers savings on their electricity bills through the use of a competitive market. Texas is already ahead of the game on energy it’s known for having plenty of oil, but it’s also got a rapidly growing renewable sector. And now, consumers can save big bucks on their monthly bills by switching to a different electricity provider.

When you choose a standard plan from an alternate provider, you’re virtually guaranteed to save money on your monthly bill. That’s because most of these plans are directly tied to the Texas Price to Beat, which is based on status quo prices offered by default electricity providers.

Not much will change when you make this kind of switch. Your local utility will continue to deliver your power and fix up your power lines—however well or badly they already do it. The only major difference you’ll see is the savings at the end of the month.

Don’t Just Save Money—Save the Most Money

Switching is a no-brainer, but choosing your new company takes a little thought. One thing to notice is the signup bonus, which might or might not offered by the company you’re considering. The bonuses can be simple discounts on electricity, or it might be some less related gift. Maybe your dream company is offering you a dream TV!

You might be unsure about how to decide between a big signup bonus and a low rate—at this point, you need to think about the length of the contract you’re signing. Some companies require no contract (and impose no penalties for leaving), while others want you to sign a one- or two-year agreement. Whatever rate structure the company is advertising, think about the fact that you’ll have to pay this rate for the duration of your contract. And if you’re getting a great signup bonus, double check to make sure it’s worth the commitment.

Contracts based on the price-to-beat are called variable-rate, which means they change from month to month (just like your current plan). The alternative is a fixed-rate contract, which doesn’t vary along with the market. That means you might beat the market or you might lose to it; chances are you’ll be paying more for the stability.

A final perk to switching providers is that you can discriminate between different sources of electricity. Whereas before you got whatever your utility was dishing out, now you’ve suddenly got the right to be choosy about your energy. If you care about renewable electricity, you can now hook up with a green company that produces your electricity without waste. Maybe it’s the wind farm right around the corner!