What Is an EFL (Electricity Facts Label)?
Estimated costs are informational. Provider rates and plan terms may change. Confirm current details directly with the provider.
An Electricity Facts Label (EFL) is a standardized disclosure document that every licensed Texas electricity provider must publish for every plan they sell. The Texas Public Utility Commission requires it. Think of it as the nutrition label for an electricity plan.
The EFL must show the total price you will pay at three usage levels: 500 kWh, 1,000 kWh, and 2,000 kWh per month. Those prices must be expressed as a single all-in rate (cents per kWh) that includes all charges: energy supply, base charge, and utility delivery fees.
What the EFL must contain
- Average price per kWh: At 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh/month. This is the most-read number, and the most abused.
- Contract term: How long the plan lasts (month-to-month, 6, 12, 24, 36 months).
- Early termination fee (ETF): The penalty for canceling before the term ends, typically $10–20 per remaining month.
- Cancellation terms: How much notice is required and how cancellation works.
- Renewable energy content: What percentage comes from renewable sources.
- Provider contact information: Customer service details.
The EFL rate can be misleading: here's why
The average price shown at each usage level is a calculated number, not a fixed rate. It is computed by dividing total charges at that usage level by the kWh amount. Because many plans have bill credits that only apply at certain usage thresholds, the math can produce very different numbers at 500 vs. 1,000 vs. 2,000 kWh.
A plan charges 11 cents/kWh with a $10 base charge, plus a $35 bill credit at exactly 1,000 kWh. At 1,000 kWh the total bill is (11¢ × 1,000) + $10 − $35 = $85, so the EFL reports 8.5 cents/kWh at 1,000 kWh. But if you use 900 kWh, the credit doesn't apply. Your bill is (11¢ × 900) + $10 = $109, which is 12.1 cents/kWh. The advertised 8.5 cents never applied to you.
TrueBill calculates your estimated bill at your actual kWh, not just the three benchmarks on the EFL. This is why our plan rankings often look different from what you see on sites that only compare at 1,000 kWh.
Where to find the EFL
Every plan's EFL must be published on the provider's website and filed with the Texas PUC. On TrueBill, plan cards link directly to the official EFL PDF so you can verify any plan before you sign up.
Key questions to ask when reading an EFL
- 1Do the per-kWh rates change significantly between 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh? If so, there are bill credits or tiered rates involved.
- 2What is the ETF? If you might move in the next 12 months, a high ETF makes a long-term plan risky.
- 3Is there a base charge? A $9.95/month base charge adds 2 cents/kWh at 500 kWh. Make sure the comparison accounts for it.
- 4What is the renewable content? If 100% renewable matters to you, confirm it in the EFL, not just marketing materials.
Continue Comparing Smarter
Compare plans by estimated cost at your usage, then verify final pricing terms directly with the provider before enrolling.