We shop 25+ licensed Texas REPs to find the best residential electricity rate for your home or apartment. Share your bill, we compare plans, you save — no fees, no obligation.
Get Residential RatesTexas residents can choose between three main residential rate structures. Each carries a different mix of price certainty, flexibility, and usage-based savings — and the right one depends on how much electricity you use, when you use it, and whether you value a predictable bill or the chance to save on off-peak hours.
Variable-rate residential plans have no contract and no early termination fee — you pay a per-kWh rate that changes month to month based on the wholesale ERCOT market and the REP's own pricing. In mild months your bill can be lower than a comparable fixed-rate plan, but during summer peak and winter cold snaps variable rates can jump sharply with little warning. Variable plans are the right choice for short-term renters, people between homes, or anyone who needs maximum flexibility and is willing to accept bill volatility in exchange. Elite will help you monitor the market so you know when to lock in if rates start trending up.
A fixed-rate residential plan locks in a single per-kWh rate for the full contract term — typically 12, 24, or 36 months. Your monthly bill still reflects how much electricity you actually use, but the rate itself stays constant regardless of what happens in the ERCOT market, the weather, or natural gas prices. For most Texas homeowners and apartment renters, a fixed-rate plan is the simplest and safest choice: predictable bills, protection from summer price spikes, and easy budgeting all year round. The trade-off is a small premium over variable rates, because the REP is absorbing the market risk on your behalf. Elite shops 25+ REPs to make sure you lock in at the right time — not just any time.
Time-of-Use plans give you free or deeply discounted electricity during specific hours — typically overnight (Free Nights) or on weekends (Free Weekends). The trade-off is a higher per-kWh rate during the "paid" daytime hours. If you can shift significant usage — running the dishwasher, laundry, and pool pump during the free window — these plans can cut your bill by 20–30% compared to a standard fixed rate. But if your usage is spread evenly across the day, the higher daytime rate can actually cost you more. Before we recommend a Time-of-Use plan, Elite models your bill against your actual usage pattern to confirm it'll save you money — not just look good on paper.
A three-step process to compare and secure the best residential electricity rate — so you can stop overpaying and start saving.
Upload your electricity bill or send your account info so we can see your usage history and current rate.
Our team compares 25+ licensed Texas REPs and matches the best fixed, variable, or Time-of-Use plan to your actual usage.
We email you the best-matched plan. You enroll in minutes with zero service interruption.
The Electricity Facts Label (EFL) is the most important document in Texas residential energy shopping. Every REP is required to publish one for each plan — and it reveals costs that the headline rate hides. Here's what to look for.
Every EFL shows a monthly base charge (a flat fee regardless of usage) and an energy charge (per-kWh rate). A plan with a low energy charge but high base charge may cost more than it looks at 500 kWh. Always calculate your total cost at your actual monthly usage, not just the headline rate.
Many "low-rate" plans quietly charge a penalty if you use under a threshold — often $9.99 if under 999 kWh. Small households and apartments get hit hardest because they're more likely to fall below the minimum. Always check the EFL for this line before you sign up.
Some plans advertise a single low rate but only at exactly 1,000 kWh because of a bill credit baked into that tier. Use above or below that amount and your effective rate jumps. Look for rate-vs-usage tables on the EFL — if the rate at 500 kWh and 2,000 kWh is noticeably different, you're looking at tiered pricing.
Residential electricity rate shopping across every major deregulated city in the Texas ERCOT market. Wherever you live, we can shop the market for you.
Answers to the questions Texas homeowners and renters ask most about residential electricity rates, plan shopping, and working with a broker.
Elite is a licensed Texas energy broker, not a Retail Electric Provider (REP). Our team manually shops 25+ licensed REPs for every residential customer, compares the fine print on each Electricity Facts Label, and emails you the plan that actually fits your usage. You enroll directly with the REP we recommend, and we're paid a small referral fee by the supplier — not by you. There are zero fees to the homeowner or renter.
Learn why Texans use energy brokersAn Electricity Facts Label is the standardized one-page disclosure that every Texas REP is required to publish for each residential plan. It shows the energy charge, base charge, minimum usage fees, contract length, and early termination fee. The headline rate on a plan is almost never what you'll actually pay — the EFL is the only document that tells you the true cost. Learning to read the EFL is the single most important thing a Texas resident can do when shopping for electricity.
Read our breakdown of fixed vs. variable ratesIn most deregulated Texas markets, yes — as long as your apartment has its own individual electricity meter and the account is in your name, you can choose any REP you want. Check your lease to confirm. If your landlord holds a master account for the entire building, electricity is bundled into rent and you can't switch individually — in that case, the property owner would need to work with Elite's commercial side.
An early termination fee is a charge your current REP applies if you leave before your contract ends — typically $150 to $395 depending on the plan and term length. Texas law lets you switch to a new provider up to 14 days before your contract expiration date without paying the ETF. Elite tracks your renewal date and proactively re-shops the market before your contract ends so you never get hit with a surprise fee or a month-to-month holdover rate.
Read more about contract renewal timingOnly if you actually shift significant usage to the free window — running the dishwasher, laundry, and pool pump overnight. Free Nights plans typically charge a much higher daytime rate to subsidize the free hours, so if your usage is spread evenly across the day you'll often pay more than a standard fixed-rate plan. Before Elite recommends a Time-of-Use plan, we model your bill against your actual usage pattern to confirm it'll save you money.
Residential customers pay zero broker fees to Elite. We're compensated by the Retail Electric Provider as a small referral fee when you enroll. You pay exactly the rate published on the EFL — no markup, no hidden charge. If a broker ever asks you to pay them directly for residential electricity shopping, that's a red flag.
Send us your latest bill or account info. We'll shop 25+ Texas REPs and email you the best plan for your home or apartment. No fees, no obligation.
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