People are being duped into thinking that they are getting the best deals because they can search this site and similar sites (like texaselectricrate.com). They call themselves the "one stop" marketplace, but they are NOT!
It must be understood that these sites are not scouring your service area for the best rates, they are only presenting the Companies that have signed on to their website. It is like shopping for an item on a website that only has Macy's , Dillards, and Saks represented on their site. Sure you will find the best price and feel satisfied on "your deal", but if Marshalls, Ross, and Tj Max were also included, you would see that you really did not get the "best deal".
There are a bunch of companies that offer "gimmick" rates. You have to view the EFL (energy fact label) to see the details. The "free nights, free weekends, free anything" contracts are a joke and could end up costing you 60% more than a fixed contract. Those "free" scams will typically double (or triple) the energy rate during the time you are not getting "free" electricity. I think it is unethical advertising.
I am very energy conscious and never use over 1000 kw a month. I try to find honest Power Providers that don't bludgeon a consumer for being frugal.
Many of the lowest price Providers do not advertise on TV , Radio, or ComparePower sites. There are usually fees/ commissions to pay for such promotions and that is passed on to the consumer.
I live in the Centerpoint service area of Harris County. I did a lot of research and found the Company Windrose Energy to have the best rates for my usage. They don't even charge a "base charge" in their rates. This is important to me because of my low usage. A $10 monthly "base charge" would be like adding 2 cents per kilowatt with my typical monthly usage was only 500kw. ($10 / 500kw = 2 cents)
I just signed up for a 4 month contract which only charges 3 cents per kilowatt for energy (plus the unavoidable Centerpoint charges of about 4.5 cents a kilowatt). It seems so unfair that I am paying more for the "wires" (Centerpoint charges) than for the electricity! We can thank the PUC (public utility commission) for always approving the rate increases for the distribution system.
I took the 4-month contract because it will expire in February when rates will still be cheap. Beware and avoid the short-term contracts that expire
in the summer months or you will be exposed to much higher rates to renew. read more