TXU Energy sweepstakes winner puts money to good use

Brad Phillips, a 22-year-old college student in Dallas, Texas, recently moved into an apartment with his friends, and when he asked his mother about which retail energy provider to choose, she said she had been happy with TXU Energy's service.

Phillips then signed up with the independent electric supplier, and because of the company's Make Your Move sweepstakes, was automatically entered for the chance to win the $5,000 grand prize. A few months later, the power supplier pulled his name randomly from thousands of people who had switched energy providers.

"Winning this money is a lifesaver. This came at the perfect time," he said, adding that his car recently broke down, and the money would be used to get his wheels back.

In addition to fixing his car, Phillips said he plans to share some of the winnings with his mother.

"I owe her," he said, according to a release.

TXU Energy's sweepstakes prime example of the incentives retail energy providers are offering to entice electric customers to switch energy services. Texas' Bounce Energy and Reliant Energy have also offered similar prizes in the past.