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Utility Company

By powerwizard

Feb 01, 2022

Imagine this. You walk into a restaurant, the waitress hands you a menu. It’s the size of a dictionary. There are over 1,000 items on the menu! How would you choose? How would you know you were getting the best meal?

This ridiculous example might feel familiar if you have spent any time shopping for electricity in Texas. Texans have the choice of over 1,000 electricity plans from over 130 retail electric providers. 

Before you drop the menu and storm out of the restaurant in a huff, why not phone a friend?

As your friend, Power Wizard wants to help you with your electricity plan decision – and we’ve created the perfect tool for it. 

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool

Simply enter your zip code into the tool and we will find you the perfect electric plan! So say goodbye to that giant menu and say hello to your free time. 

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.


 

utility company

What Is a Utility Company?

People tend to use the terms utility company and electricity company interchangeably, but they are actually different.

That being said, though, there is a fine line between what a utility company and an electricity company do in the eyes of consumers.

Ultimately, a utility company is a company that provides electricity (or gas) to a home. It is also the company that maintains and repairs the equipment that delivers the electricity to homes — such as poles and lines.

Utility Company vs. REP

Utility companies and electricity companies are common terms. After all, it’s how we get electricity and gas into our homes, right?

Then, there’s Texas.

Texas is a deregulated state when it comes to electricity. This means the government doesn’t have as much control over electric utilities as it does in regulated states.

Deregulation in Texas allowed individual companies to sell electricity directly to consumers. Consumers get to choose which electricity company they buy electricity from.

Deregulation caused those 160+ Retail Electric Companies (REPs – aka electricity companies) we talked about earlier to pop up across the state. Each of these REPs competes to sell electricity to consumers.

Not all cities in Texas have deregulated electricity. For example, San Antonio is still a regulated city. On the surface, electricity companies and utility companies are the same to consumers. When you pull back the curtain, what goes on behind the scenes is where the differences emerge.

How are they similar?

Utility companies and electricity companies do have a similarity. On the surface, both are responsible for providing electricity to consumers.

The roles utility companies and electricity companies play, however, are very different.

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How are they different?

In Texas, an electric company buys the wholesale rights to electricity (buying from the companies responsible for generating electricity). An electric company then turns around and sells this electricity directly to consumers.

The electricity company sends your bill and provides customer service. You make your bill payment directly to the electricity company.

A utility company is responsible for delivering the electricity.

While electric companies are deregulated, utility companies are still regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Power Wizard is not a REP, an electricity company or an electric utility company. Power Wizard is an unbiased third party that uses its technology and algorithm to find the best electricity rate for Texas consumers.

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool searches through plan after plan for you to find the best electricity plan for your needs.

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.


When you automate this process, you could save thousands of dollars.

What utility company services my address?

Use Power Wizard to choose the best electricity plan and find out which utility company services your area.

Types of Utility Companies in Texas

utility company

Three types of utility companies exist in Texas:

  • Private investor-owned utility companies: Make up the largest portion of utility companies in Texas. There are five investor-owned utility companies in Texas. Consumers in these territories cannot choose their utility company but they can choose their electric company.
  • Municipally owned utility companies: Owned and operated by the cities where they are located. These generally are not deregulated cities so consumers there do not have the option to choose their REP.
  • Utility cooperatives: A utility cooperative is a non-profit. It is a utility company owned by its customers. Cooperatives are not deregulated, either.

Electric Utility Company in Texas

In Texas, the three types of utility companies deliver electricity to consumer

What is an electric utility company?

An electric utility company is the company that owns the poles and power lines that deliver electricity to consumers. If you experience a power outage in your area, the electric utility company is the one you call.

They’re the ones that come out to fix the lines to get the power up and running again. Before Texas was deregulated, everyone was required to buy electricity from their local utility company.

The utility company was responsible for the supply of electricity and delivery of the electricity. Deregulation separated the supply of electricity and the delivery of electricity.

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Now, electric utility companies are only responsible for delivering electricity.

Gas Utility Companies in Texas

Gas utility companies in Texas deliver gas to consumer

What is a gas utility company?

A gas utility company is the same as an electric utility company. The difference is that instead of delivering electricity to consumers, the utility company delivers gas.

How Many Utility Companies Are There in Texas:

Five investor-owned utility companies exist in Texas. Seventy-five cooperatives exist in Texas with over 3 million members. The number of municipal utility companies is unknown.

Can a Utility Company Come on my Property?

utility company

If you have a utility pole or utility lines on your property then the utility company owns these poles and lines. This is true of electric and gas utility companies.

The technical term is an easement. It means that the property owner retains the title to the property but the utility company has the right to go onto the property to maintain or repair their property, which is the poles and lines. ### Reasons Why A Utility Company Would Go On Your Property:

A utility company does not have carte blanche, however, to traipse all over your property any time they feel like it. They have to have a specific purpose for going onto your property. They only have the right to do maintenance and repair work on the poles and wires and equipment they own that is on your land.

An easement also gives the utility company the right to go onto your land to:

Erect/install utility poles/install linesMaintain their poles and linesRepair their poles and lines

Utility Companies Near Me in Texas

Power Wizard can help you find the best electricity plan for you. Its Shopping Tool helps you locate the companies that service your area and then you can determine which utility company works in the area.

Discover the best electricity rates.

Power Wizard finds you the best electricity plan and ensures you won’t overpay for electricity again.

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Houston

If you live in Houston and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for you.

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.


Neighborhoods in Houston – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Houston – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Dallas

If you live in Dallas and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for you.

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Neighborhoods in Dallas – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Dallas – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Corpus Christi

If you live in Corpus and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for you.

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.


Neighborhoods in Corpus Christi – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Corpus Christi – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Waco

If you live in Waco and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for yo

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Discover the best electricity rates.

Power Wizard finds you the best electricity plan and ensures you won’t overpay for electricity again.

Learn More in Under 2 Mins
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Neighborhoods in Waco – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Waco – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Fort Worth

If you live in Fort Worth and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for yo

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Neighborhoods in Fort Worth – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Fort Worth – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Killeen

If you live in Killeen and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for you.

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.


Neighborhoods in Killeen – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Killeen – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Arlington** If you live in Arlington and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for yo

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Neighborhoods in Arlington – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Arlington – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Plano

If you live in Plano and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for you.

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Discover the best electricity rates.

Power Wizard finds you the best electricity plan and ensures you won’t overpay for electricity again.

Learn More in Under 2 Mins
×

Neighborhoods in Plano – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Plano – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Irving** If you live in Irving and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for yo

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Neighborhoods in Irving – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Irving – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

McKinney

If you live in McKinney and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for you.

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Let us find you the best plan in seconds and start saving.


Neighborhoods in McKinney – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In McKinney – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

Galveston** If you live in Galveston and you’re looking for an electricity company, your first step is to find the plan that is best for yo

The Power Wizard Shopping Tool can help you find the best plan for your needs. Input some information and Power Wizard does all the work for you to pick the best plan for your needs.

Neighborhoods in Galveston – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Neighborhood

Zip Codes In Galveston – Find a Utility Company and Electricity Plan In Your Zip Code

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