When to Sign Up for 3 Month Electricity Plans
2 minute readThree-month electricity plans can be a smart choice if you time them right. In Texas, electricity prices fluctuate throughout the
How to Switch Electricity Providers in Texas
Comprehensive guide to switching electricity providers
9 minute read • Last update March 2026
To switch electricity providers in Texas, review your current contract for your energy charge and early termination fee, compare plans from other providers, and enroll with your new provider online or by phone.
Your new provider handles the rest, including notifying your old company. A standard switch typically takes 3-7 days with no interruption to your power.
Your complete guide to switching energy providers
Here’s why it’s important to select a new electricity plan before your current contract expires: if you don’t make a decision, your electricity company is required to move you to a default variable-rate, month-to-month plan.
These variable-rate plans tend to cost much more than a fixed-rate plan.
Whether your plan is coming to an end, you’re moving, or you simply want a new plan, here’s everything you need to know about changing electricity providers in Texas.
Can you switch electricity providers in Texas?
Yes, you can switch electricity providers in Texas if you live in a deregulated region of the state.
About 85-90% of Texans live in a deregulated utility region, meaning they have the power to choose who supplies their homes’ electricity.
In regulated cities, Texans are not able to choose their provider.
- Deregulated Cities: Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Odessa, Midland, San Angelo, Abilene, and more
- Regulated Cities: Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, The Woodlands, College Station, and San Marcos.
To check your city’s status, enter your zip code on our website. If our plans are available in your area, that means you have the power to choose!
What switching electricity providers really means
It’s important to understand that switching providers only changes who bills you for electricity and how much you pay per kWh for the energy charge portion of your bill. Switching providers does not change who delivers your power.
This is because your bill includes charges from two separate entities: Residential Electricity Providers (REPs) and Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs).
| Residential electricity provider (REP) | Transmission and distribution utility (TDU) | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Purchase wholesale electricity from power plants across the state, sell electricity to customers, and handle billing | Deliver power to homes and businesses, responsible for the maintenance and management of energy infrastructure (power lines, transformers, etc.) |
| Can you switch? | You can switch REPs whenever you want, but you may have to pay an early termination fee | You cannot switch TDUs unless you are moving to a different service region |
| How do they charge you? | Energy Charge in cents per kWh | Delivery Charge in cents per kWh and a flat monthly fee |
Should you switch energy providers?
There are a few core reasons to switch energy providers:
- Your current plan is about to expire
- Your plan has expired, and you’ve rolled to an expensive month-to-month variable-rate plan
- Your current plan has hidden fees like base charges or minimum usage fees
- Your current plan has a high energy charge masked by gimmicky bill credits or time-of-use terms
- You’ve found a much cheaper rate
- You’re moving to a new home
- You want better customer service
If you fall into any of the above categories, this guide is made for you.
When is the best time to switch providers?
Typically, the best time of year to switch providers is the spring or fall.
The spring and fall generally offer lower rates because of reduced demand on the Texas grid.
It’s important to note these rules from the Public Utility Commission of Texas:
- You can switch without incurring an early termination fee if the switch falls within 14 days of your contract end date.
- Providers are required to send a 30-day expiration notice for your current plan. Many will send notifications 90, 60, 30, and 15 days before your plan ends.
As previously mentioned, do not wait until after your plan expires to switch. If you wait too long, your provider is legally required to move you to a variable-rate plan that is likely much more expensive.
When you should not switch providers
It can often be a good idea to move to a different energy company, but not always:
- You would be cancelling your current plan early and incur a costly early termination fee (ETF)
- You would be cancelling early, and it’s a season with peak demand and higher rates (summer or winter)
We built a calculator to help Texans determine whether the early termination fee is worth paying. Enter your current price, the price of the new plan, and your early termination fee. The calculator will return your estimated monthly savings if you switch plans, and how many months it would take for those savings to outweigh the cost of the early termination fee.
How to switch electric companies in Texas
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to switching electricity providers in Texas:
- Review Your Current Plan: Check your EFL to find your current energy charge, base charges, and early termination fee. Verify your contract end date with your current provider.
- Compare Plans and Providers: Shop by energy charge, not advertised average price. Watch out for gimmicks (bill credits, free nights, teaser rates). Read the EFL for every plan. Consider contract length, renewable content, customer service, and loyalty programs.
- Check Bill and Usage History: Find your kWh usage history from past bills or Smart Meter Texas. Use an electricity bill calculator to determine what you can expect to pay from a new plan.
- Gather Documents: Some providers may request documents such as a valid ID, mortgage, or lease agreement to verify your identity and keep your account secure.
- Enroll with Your New Provider: Sign up online or by phone. Your new provider handles the rest. You do not need to contact your previous provider.
Explore BKV Energy’s affordable plans by entering your zip code below. Need power today? We’re proud to offer same-day electricity service.
In-depth guide to switching providers
Step 1: Review your current contract and plan details
Before you begin your search for a new energy provider, it’s important to evaluate the details of your current plan and contract.
You can find this information on your Electricity Facts Label (EFL).
- Energy charge: What you pay per kWh to your electricity provider.
- Base charge: A monthly fee added to every bill. You’ll want to avoid this on your new plan.
- Minimum usage fee: A fee added to your bill when you don’t use “enough” electricity. Your new plan shouldn’t have these fees.
- TDU charges: What you pay to your regional utility (ex: CenterPoint or Oncor) for management and maintenance of energy infrastructure.
- Expiration date: When your contract ends.
- Early termination fee: What you’d need to pay for terminating your current plan outside the 14-day window allowed by the PUCT.
For example, you’ll have the option to choose between simple fixed rates and time-of-use plans.
You’ll use your energy charge as a baseline to compare to your new plan. Ideally, your energy charge would stay about the same or drop, although market conditions may not allow for this.
If you have hidden fees like base charges or minimum usage fees on your current plan, we recommend looking for one without those extra costs.
Step 2: Compare rates and plans
Start researching electricity providers and comparing plans. Along the way, watch out for misleading gimmicks and hidden fees, such as:
- Time-of-use, like free nights and free weekends
- Bill credits
- Base charges
- Minimum usage fees
- EV charging plans
Many providers try to lure customers in with promotions, like free nights or weekends, low introductory rates that increase after a certain period, or plans with high usage thresholds.
On the surface, these plans seem great, but they aren’t for everyone.
Pay close attention to the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) to understand what the company means by “free” and whether or not you’ll benefit from the incentive.
| Simple fixed-rate plans | Time-of-use plans |
|---|---|
| Simple fixed rates are electricity pricing plans where the rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity remains the same regardless of the time of day. In other words, the price you pay for electricity is constant, and you are charged the same rate for each unit of electricity you use. These plans are the easiest to understand and don’t require customers to meet specific usage requirements in order to get a good rate. | Time-of-use plans offer different rates for electricity consumption based on the time of day. You often pay more per kWh during peak demand and less during off-peak demand. If you consume electricity during peak hours, you will pay more per kWh than during off-peak hours. The advertised average price appears lower, but it is difficult to shift a majority of your usage to off-peak hours and bills can end up much higher than you’d expect. |
If you have trouble making sense of it all, speak to a knowledgeable provider, like BKV Energy.
Our customer service team can evaluate your current bill, talk you through the ins and outs of various plans, and provide an honest assessment of our plans to help you find the best rates and plans according to your lifestyle.
Other factors to consider
You should also consider these factors before making a decision:
- Loyalty programs (that can reduce your bill in the long term)
- Customer service
- Company values
- The company’s commitment to the community
Step 3: Find your historical kWh usage to estimate future bill amounts
Find your historical kWh consumption from previous bill documents or Smart Meter Texas. Combine the usage and potential plan details from the Electricity Facts Label to calculate future bills with an electricity bill calculator.
This will help you determine what you might expect to pay on a new plan.
Step 4: Gather necessary documents (if applicable)
In most cases, no documents are required to switch energy providers. If you are moving, you may need to present proof of relocation to avoid a contract breakage fee.
It’s a good idea to have proof of identification ready in case you are asked to verify your identity.
Step 5: Make the switch
Once you’ve selected a new energy provider, the process to make the switch is very simple.
- Visit the new provider’s website or call them
- Select a plan
- Enter your account information
- Select a start date
- Submit the signup form
Your new provider will handle the rest of the process, including notifying your current provider and arranging for the switch to take place.
That’s it! After completing these steps, you will have successfully switched to a new energy provider in Texas.
What happens after you switch electric providers?
After you switch electric providers…
- Your new provider notifies your old provider and your TDU
- The switch will likely take 3-7 business days unless you’ve selected same-day service
- You’ll receive a confirmation notice from your new provider acknowledging your enrollment, along with the EFL, Terms of Service, and Your Rights as a Customer documentation.
- Your old provider will send your final bill, including any outstanding balances or credits owed.
- Your new provider will start providing electricity to your home on the date specified in your enrollment confirmation.
If you have questions or concerns, contact your new provider’s customer service department for assistance.
What to know before switching energy providers
Ready to make the switch? Consider these tips for a smooth transition:
- Check for Fees: Unless you’re on a month-to-month plan, most providers charge an early termination fee if you switch before the end of your contract. Read the terms of your current energy plan carefully to understand any potential fees.
- Be Aware of Deposits: When switching to a new provider, they will run a soft credit check to determine whether a deposit is required to begin service. There are ways to request a deposit waiver if your credit history requires you to pay that fee to switch.
- Can You Switch Back to Your Old Provider?: After switching, you may realize your new plan isn’t the best fit for you. You may be able to switch back to your previous provider, but this can come at a cost. At BKV Energy, we provide a no-hassle, 30-day trial period where you can cancel your service with no early termination charge.
- Unpaid Balances: If you have an outstanding balance with your current energy provider, it’s important to address this before switching to a new provider. In Texas, your current provider can place a “switch hold” on an account to prevent customers from jumping from one company to another without settling the bill.
- New Home, Past Due Bill: If you’re moving into a new home and the previous tenant had an outstanding balance, you may be subject to a switch hold. You’ll need to fill out some paperwork known as a New Occupant Statement and provide a copy of your lease, an affidavit from your Landlord, and a few recently paid electric bills from your previous address to prove that you are a new tenant.
The pros and cons of switching energy providers
Is switching electricity companies worth it? Whether or not it’s worth switching providers will depend on the needs of your household.
| Pros of switching providers | Cons of switching providers |
|---|---|
| Get a cheaper rate and save money | May be required to pay an early termination fee |
| Escape a gimmicky plan with hidden fees | Electricity shopping can be a stressful task |
| Get more reliable customer service | Many electricity shopping websites are designed to confuse you |
| Switch to a plan with better benefits | Switching at the wrong time can cost you (like over the summer) |
| No interruption to your home’s power | It’s easy to fall into misleading plans |
Bear in mind that even a small savings on your energy charge will add up quickly over the year, so comparing providers is always a useful exercise.
Of course, there are other benefits to switching providers aside from cost savings.
One of the most significant reasons why consumers consider switching to electricity companies is to obtain better service. While utility companies (also known as transmission and distribution utilities, or TDUs) are responsible for delivering electricity, retail energy providers manage the customer experience.
A new energy company could provide better customer service and more reliable billing. Do your research and read reviews before making a switch. Does the provider you are considering have a good reputation for responsiveness and helpfulness? Are they willing to assist you when you’re experiencing a financial crisis?
Some providers, like BKV Energy, prioritize customer service and offer assistance through email, phone, chat, SMS, and even social media to support their customers; others are far more hands-off, and some even charge for access to customer support!
Frequently asked questions about switching providers
Can you switch power companies in Texas?
Yes, thanks to the deregulated energy market, consumers in Texas have the power to choose their electricity provider.
How long does it take to switch electric providers in Texas?
Switching energy at an established address is a very quick process. The switch typically takes around 3-7 business days to complete, but it can take up to 2-4 weeks in some cases, such as when a new meter has to be installed.
Can you switch electricity suppliers at any time?
Yes, consumers in Texas can switch electricity suppliers at any time. However, you may incur fees or penalties.
How easy is it to switch electric providers in Texas?
Switching electric providers in Texas is relatively easy and can be done online or over the phone in a few simple steps. If you’re under a current contract with a provider, you will usually be responsible for any early termination fees when switching, unless you are moving.
How do you switch electric companies in Texas?
To switch electric companies in Texas, you need to compare plans and rates, select a new provider, and then contact them to start the switch. Be sure your contract has ended or you’ve accounted for early termination fees in your total costs. If you’re moving to a new address, you can see if your provider has service there or you can exit your contract without early termination fees.
Can I switch my utility company in Texas?
In Texas’s deregulated electricity market, customers can switch their REP (retail electricity provider) at any time. However, the utilities that own and maintain the grid own large patches of it, so your utility carrier will not change unless you move out of its territory.
Ready to switch? Choose BKV Energy
Switching electric companies in Texas is easier than you may think. Sure, it requires a little research and shopping around to find the best possible provider, but the money you can save on your bill every month (and the peace of mind you’ll have knowing you have a supplier that is always ready to assist you) will make the entire process worth your while.
If you are interested in changing electricity providers, get in touch with BKV Energy. There are no hidden fees, no vague terms, no rate surprises, and no gimmicks. Just honest, reliable energy at affordable rates.
Related articles
