Power to Choose vs Your Real Electric Bill: Why Low Rates Lose

Key facts

4 of the 10 cheapest Oncor plans at 1,000 kWh carry a bill credit.
Cheapest Oncor plan at 1,000 kWh: Simple Saver 3; at 500 kWh it ranks 122nd of 124.
Cheapest Oncor plan with no bill credit at 1,000 kWh: Variable Advantage, 9.9¢/kWh.

Rates updated November 15, 2026, from each plan's Electricity Facts Label.

Texas shoppers often sort by the lowest advertised rate and assume that is the best plan. In reality, the cheapest displayed rate can still lose on monthly bill outcomes once your actual usage pattern and plan mechanics are considered.

Compare plans by your real monthly usage →

Estimated costs are informational. Provider rates and plan terms may change. Confirm current details directly with the provider.

What "cheapest rate" misses

Benchmark sorting does not always reflect your true monthly kWh.
Bill credits can switch on or off depending on thresholds.
Fixed monthly charges can materially affect lower-usage homes.
Delivery-charge context and usage shape can change plan ranking.

How TrueBill uses Power to Choose data

TrueBill is an independent comparison site, not a PUCT service. It starts from the residential plans retail providers list on Power to Choose, the marketplace the PUCT maintains, and reads each plan's Electricity Facts Label (EFL). From the label it takes the energy charge, base charge, bill credits and recurring fees, adds the delivery charges for your area, and estimates the bill at your usage. When a label's energy charges can't be read reliably, it estimates from the label's published prices instead. You can enter one monthly figure, each month's usage, or a Smart Meter Texas or Green Button file to compare a full year.

Delivery charges come from your utility's published tariff and are included in every estimate. Current amounts by area.
Bill credits and minimum-usage fees are applied only in months when your usage meets their conditions, not at a single benchmark.
Scope: plans listed on Power to Choose for the Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North and TNMP delivery areas that pass TrueBill's data checks. Providers are not required to post every plan on Power to Choose (PUCT report, Project No. 56335), so plans offered only on a provider's own site are not included. The weekly market report shows the current number of listings and providers.
Ranking: Plan rankings are based on estimated cost at your usage — never on compensation, sponsored placement, or provider relationships. TrueBill Energy does not currently receive compensation from retail electric providers.

Power to Choose shows each plan's EFL average price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. Those averages already include delivery and recurring charges under the PUCT's EFL rule (16 TAC §25.475(g)(2)). TrueBill's estimate starts from the same label and prices delivery separately, from the charges on file for your area. After a delivery-rate change the two can differ for a while, and the plan card notes when a newer delivery rate applies. See how each estimate is calculated.

A practical decision framework

Identify your typical low, medium, and high monthly usage points.
Compare all-in estimates at each point, not only one benchmark.
Check whether top plans stay competitive across multiple months.
Review EFL terms and confirm current provider details before enroll.

Why usage-based comparison is usually more trustworthy

Usage-based comparison better mirrors how households are billed: month by month, with real variation. It helps reduce surprise bills by testing plan fit against actual behavior instead of a single synthetic benchmark.

This does not mean one marketplace is "good" and another is "bad." It means your method matters: better modeling leads to better plan decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Power to Choose useful for Texas electricity shopping?

Yes. It is a valuable source for available plans. The key is to go beyond headline sorting and evaluate plan structures against your own monthly usage profile.

Why can the cheapest listed rate lose on real bill cost?

Because effective monthly cost can be influenced by delivery charges, bill-credit thresholds, base charges, and usage sensitivity that are not captured by a single sorted benchmark view.

Should I avoid plans with credits and time-of-use structures?

Not automatically. Some can fit specific usage behavior. The practical approach is to compare estimates at your real monthly pattern and verify EFL terms before enrolling.

What is the most reliable way to choose a plan?

Compare all-in estimates at your expected monthly usage range, review EFL terms, and choose the plan that remains competitive across more than one month profile.

How does TrueBill relate to Power to Choose?

TrueBill is an independent comparison site, not a PUCT service. It uses the residential plans providers list on Power to Choose, reads each plan's Electricity Facts Label, adds your area's delivery charges and ranks plans by estimated bill at your usage. Providers are not required to post every plan on Power to Choose, so plans offered only elsewhere are not included. Plan rankings are based on estimated cost at your usage — never on compensation, sponsored placement, or provider relationships.

See which plan wins on your real bill →