Are you living in Texas and getting shocked each month by your electricity bill?
You are not alone.
For A Better Texas shows that 14.7% of people living in Texas (approximately 4.1 million people) live in low-income households.
And with all of the varying electricity prices, many families are finding it difficult to pay for this essential utility service — especially if they are on a plan that is not right for their unique electrical needs.
But how can you find the right electricity plan so you know you’re not overpaying for electricity?
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Consider this:
Sarah, who is 65 years old and retired, lives alone in her one-bedroom apartment in Dallas, Texas. Her husband, who was still working to provide for them both, passed away a little over a year ago.
Since her husband’s passing, Sarah has struggled to make ends meet.
This winter has been especially hard for her. It is colder than usual in Dallas this year.
Sarah’s one-bedroom apartment is in the basement and doesn’t have the best insulation. She finds herself constantly running her central heat. Although she is layering her clothes and bundling up in blankets, it isn’t enough to keep her warm throughout the day and night.
It’s already January, and she has accumulated a past due amount of over $400 for her electricity bill. She is wondering how she will be able to afford groceries or pay for her bus fare this month.
Her social security and retirement benefits are not sufficient for her essential living costs and she begins to wonder…
Can I get a discount on my electricity bill?
Despite all her efforts in paying as much as she can towards her bill to avoid getting her electricity shut off, she receives a disconnection notice from her electricity company.
Sarah is at a loss and needs to figure out something quickly!
If you are in a similar situation as Sarah, you already know the stress that comes with feeling like you have to choose between buying food or keeping the lights on in your home.
Thankfully, there are assistance programs that can help by subsidizing your electricity bill or even offering resources for weatherizing your home.
If you are a Texas resident, two programs are worth checking out:
There are also federal assistance programs that you may qualify for:
Although these programs exist to subsidize your bill…
One of the most important things that you can do to cut down on your electricity costs is to choose the most affordable electricity plan for your needs.
Power Wizard finds you the best electricity plan and ensures you won’t overpay for electricity again.
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The best electricity plan for you and your family may be different than another family’s based on the following factors:
As a starting point, here are some companies that have comparable electricity plans at low or affordable rates.
| INFUSE – Essential Infusion Plan | 6 months | 12.0 ¢ / kWh |
| FIRST_CHOICE – You Got This™ – Fixed | 12 months | 12.7 ¢ / kWh |
| ENERGY_TEXAS – Come & Take It | 12 months | 12.7 ¢ / kWh |
| DIRECT – Green Texas – Fixed | 12 months | 13.0 ¢ / kWh |
| YEP – YEP Saver Fixed Autopay E-Plan | 6 months | 12.8 ¢ / kWh |
| SOUTHWEST – Texas Saver Fixed Rate Autopay E-Plan | 6 months | 12.8 ¢ / kWh |
| VETERAN – Basic | 12 months | 12.8 ¢ / kWh |
| DISCOUNT – Saver | 12 months | 12.7 ¢ / kWh |
| SPARK – Choose | 15 months | 12.8 ¢ / kWh |
| CIRRO – Smart Simple | 12 months | 12.8 ¢ / kWh |
However, with 150+ retail electricity providers (REPs) in Texas, and several more variations of electricity plans, how will you be sure that you have chosen the best electricity plan for you?
We can help you find electricity plans that are suitable for low-income families in Texas.
If you have sub-par credit, researching your options for electricity companies may be a concern for you.
You are probably thinking that you might have to pay a large deposit to get your electricity turned on in your home.
However, times have changed.
There are other types of electricity plans that you can consider when you do not have good credit.
Let us find you the best electricity plan in seconds and start saving.
In Texas, you will find that most companies run a credit check on potential customers.
Although most electricity companies do require a credit check, some do not.
Depending on the type of plan that you sign up for, you can get around having to do a credit check.
Here are three types of electricity plans that may be suitable for you if you are avoiding having to do a credit check to power your home.
Most prepaid electricity plans don’t require a credit check because, in essence, it is a “pay as you go” plan.
If you are worried about your credit score, or if you need electricity immediately, a prepaid electricity plan is a good option for you to consider.
How does it work?
It’s a straightforward process …
Low-income families may find it easier to get their electricity turned on through a prepaid plan because there is no credit check required.
A prepaid plan is only one of the three options that do not require a credit check.
So, there might be an even better electricity plan for you – one with a better and affordable rate that meets your family’s needs.
With month-to-month plans, you have a bit more flexibility in terms of your contract and rates.
If you are looking to find the lowest electricity rates to match your budget and household’s usage factors, a short-term contract with no credit check could be for you.
In Texas, it is common for month-to-month plans to offer incentives such as bill credits and free electricity, which can help if you are living on a low income.
It’s hard to know which plan is right for you, so it’s important to compare all options before deciding on an electricity plan.
Typically, electricity companies make you pay a deposit if you do not have good credit.
However, there are still some companies that do not require a deposit or credit check.
Even though there is a bit more flexibility in how you pay your electricity bills, these no deposit electricity plans can cost a little more per kilowatt-hour than traditional plans.
As you can see, with all the various plan options, finding a low-income electricity plan that meets your needs can be a tedious process.
You may have found yourself paying too much for your current electricity plan and want to switch.
If so, you have some options for how to cancel your plan and switch to a new one.
Before you do, be sure to look at the terms of your contract with your current retail electricity provider (REP).
Depending on your REP, you could incur cancellation fees or other hidden fees for ending your contract prematurely.
However, if you are not on a contract or your contract will be ending soon, it may be worth your time to continue the process of canceling your current service for one that is better suited for your electricity needs.
To cancel and switch take a look at the information below:
Tip: Discuss your options with family or a close friend because it is a lot of information to consider without help.
If you do not know how to contact your current electricity company, you can do a similar Google search as before but type in “cancel electricity with [your electricity company’s name]” in the search box.
Follow through with your current company’s process to cancel service. After that, you can sign up for your new service by going to their website (it should be in your notes) and signing up online.
Be sure to let your new electricity provider know when you plan to switch over so that they can do the switch on time.
As you can see, getting out of your current electricity plan, finding a better one, and making the switch can be quite challenging.
If you are not careful, you could incur cancellation fees and other hidden fees for ending your contract early.
You could also miss some important details about your new plan that could cause you to pay more for your electricity than is necessary.
Make sure to read the fine print.
Once you have signed up for a more affordable plan, you can take some actionable steps to lower your electricity bill even more.
Below you will see some electricity-saving tips that anyone can consider, even if you have a low-income budget.
The more tips you apply, the more you can save.
Your air conditioner works unnecessarily harder anytime something is blocking its airways.
Therefore, you should be sure to change your air filters monthly, especially during warmer months.
Also, check to make sure your air vents throughout the home are open.
Just by lowering your heat by two degrees, you can save 5% on your electricity bill.
You can also save 10% by lowering your heat by 5 degrees.
Similarly, you can also save by lowering your air conditioner in the summer months.
Power Wizard finds you the best electricity plan and ensures you won’t overpay for electricity again.
Learn More in Under 2 MinsDid you know that when you leave anything plugged in, like your toaster, blender, or computer printer, can account for 5-10% of your yearly electricity bill?
You could walk around your house and unplug all of your unused electronics, but there is a better way to carry out this task with a power strip.
Simply plug the devices that you do not need on all the time into a power strip, and at night turn the power strip off.
The items plugged into the power strip will no longer passively drain your electricity.
Reduce your summer cooling costs by keeping the doors to your home closed.
It is also wise to block the heat from the sun by shutting blinds and curtains.
You can use less electricity to cool your home if you keep unnecessary sunlight (which is heat) to a minimum.
Consider turning off the lights in your home and using natural light during the day.
Natural light is free to use and can illuminate your home well enough for everyday tasks.
If you turn off two 100-watt bulbs for two hours each, it could potentially save you $15 or more annually.
As you can see, utility help for low-income Texas families is available, but there are other means to get lower rates for your electricity bills.
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