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Houston Electricity Providers?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Johndoe804, Mar 21, 2013.

  1. Johndoe804

    Johndoe804 Member

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    I'm about to move into a new apartment and need to get my electricity provider setup. My landlord gave me a list of providers. Any suggestions, or information about these guys? Anybody in particular I should avoid?

    The list is:

    Reliant Energy
    Centerpoint Energy
    Direct Energy
    First Choice
    TXU
    Gexa Energy
    Affordable Energy


    Any help from my Clutchfans brothers is appreciated!
     
  2. LonghornFan

    LonghornFan Contributing Member

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  3. tested911

    tested911 Member

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    For the best price? Check out power to choose website but every single time I call Reliant they can beat the quoted price. I think all the major retail providers can offer a better price if you just ask.. Oh and sounding like you have money problems when you call helps out a lot. :)
     
    MadMax likes this.
  4. Sajan

    Sajan Member

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  5. Sajan

    Sajan Member

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  6. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    Funny thing is I just got StarTex power for my new home yesterday
     
  7. icrnk

    icrnk Member

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    Check out TriEagle. Good rates and no issues with billing.
     
  8. icrnk

    icrnk Member

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    So trying to compare plans. The EFL lists the price as:

    500 kWh - 12
    1000 kWh - 11
    2000 kWh - 10

    So how is this read?

    Anything up to 500 kWh at 10; up to 1000 kWh at 11; etc.

    Going 1024 for a month would be charged at the 2000 kWh level?
     
  9. Haymitch

    Haymitch Custom Title
    Supporting Member

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    I just went with cheapest big name company, and that just happened to be Direct Energy. I've had no problems with them. But I'll shop around once the year-long term ends.
     
  10. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    Ignore the list and go to powertochoose. I work for DE, and you can use my friends and family rate. Use promo code Family and then put Sam Gafford as the referrer. I'm not sure how that rate compares to the market right now.

    Sajan, the mistake was not in locking in the rate, but in renewing without shopping around. REPs in Texas generally charge a low-margin acquisition rate to get the customer and then add another .02 to .04 of profit/kwh on the renewal. You could have called them and asked them to match a rate you find on powertochoose to see if they'll lower your price to save the customer.

    icrnk, the rate is probably flat. Power bills are a mix of per-kwh and fixed per-meter charges. As the usage goes up, the average blended cost per kwh goes down. People in apartments should probably focus on the 500 kwh number, whereas someone in a large house should look at the 2,000 kwh number.

    This is especially important for apartment dwellers now because of a fashion to charge low-usage customers a higher base rate, which can translate into an extra penny on the rate. If you're in an apartment, you should try to find a $4.95 base rate instead of the plans that charge $10 if usage is under x kwhs (all else being equal).
     
  11. Classic

    Classic Member

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    Had Amigo, they were pretty legit
     
  12. icrnk

    icrnk Member

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    9.6 flat rate. 4.95 base rate.
    Looking at history since April 2011
    Months with
    < 500kWh = 4
    >500 & < 1000kWh = 13
    > 1000kWh = 5

    Highest month was 1247kWh
    Low was 438kWh
     
  13. jcantu

    jcantu Contributing Member

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  14. Sajan

    Sajan Member

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    if i signed a contract today with amigo..is it too late to cancel?
     
  15. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    When you're switching providers, there is a 3-day rescission period in which you can cancel. But, I'm doubtful that it applies when you renew with the same provider. A quick google search did not yield up an answer for me on that.
     
  16. Sajan

    Sajan Member

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    Brothers...
    Been enjoying sub 10 cent rates for a decade+ through various plans from (amigo/champion/discount)...
    Just saw the current rates...

    16.4c????
     
  17. Xerobull

    Xerobull You son of a b!tch! I'm in!

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    You know inflation is real, right? 10 cents 10 years ago is about 13 cents now.

    https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

    https://powertochoose.org/

    I see prices at around .12c now.

    Also generally follows the natural gas market.
     
  18. Sajan

    Sajan Member

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    brother. i am paying 10 cents now on the last month of my 3 year contract.. been paying <10 since 2011.

    50% inflation in 3 years? makes no damn sense.

    the 12c ones are either variable or short contracts. 3-6 months. which will put me out of contract in the middle of the summer. no bueno.
     
  19. jchu14

    jchu14 Contributing Member

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    10 cents is pretty amazing, even for a contract that was signed 3 years ago. I am on a three year contract that ends in October 2024 and I am paying 5.8c per kwh + centerpoint fees that adds up to about 11.6c per kwh at the current delivery charge.

    I don't think you can get anywhere close to 10 right now. I see 7.584c per kwh + fees from BKV energy for a 36 month contract. If I can get that price when I renew in October, I'd be pretty pretty happy.
     
    Xerobull likes this.
  20. Xerobull

    Xerobull You son of a b!tch! I'm in!

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    Yep, 40-50% inflation since 2020 is very real. The 5t+ worth of money the government printed to keep the economy afloat has to be paid back somehow.

    https://smartasset.com/investing/inflation-calculator
     
    ThatBoyNick likes this.

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