When to Sign Up for 3 Month Electricity Plans

Three-month electricity plans can be a smart choice if you time them right.

In Texas, electricity prices fluctuate throughout the year based on weather, demand, and other wholesale market conditions.

Because short-term plans lock in a price for only a few months, when those months occur matters.

Month	Should You Sign Up for a 3-Month Plan Now?
January	Yes
February	First half of the month
March	No
April	No
May	No
June	No
July	No
August	No
September	Second half of the month
October	Yes
November	Dependent on forecasted winter temperatures
December	Dependent on forecasted winter temperatures

When does it make sense to enroll in a 3-month electricity plan in Texas?

January and early February

The ideal window to sign up for a 3-month electricity plan is generally January through early February because electricity prices are generally lower during those months.

Why? Because when you sign up for a 3-month plan then, your plan occurs during February, March, and April.

Generally, the weather during those months is mild.

Mild weather = outdoor temperatures that don’t require much use of heating and air conditioning systems.

When Texans aren’t using their HVACsystems, demand on the Texas energy grid is lower.

Finally, lower grid demand generally leads to lower prices.

Late September and October

Another recommended time to sign up for a 3-month electricity plan? Late September and October.

When you sign up for a plan during those weeks, the contract occurs during October, November, and December.

Generally, the weather during those months is also pretty nice.

When the weather’s nice, Texans aren’t using their HVAC systems as much, which helps reduce demand on the Texas grid, and reduced demand helps keep electricity prices lower.

November and December

November and December can also be a good time to sign up for a 3-month electricity plan, but it depends on forecasted winter weather.

If the experts expect that the winter will be very cold, that could increase the prices of a 3-month plan.

Cold winters lead to increased use of heaters and furnaces, which increase demand on the grid, and increase prices.

On the other hand, if a winter is expected to be warm (like winter 2025/2026), then 3-month plan pricing could be very attractive.

When not to sign up for 3-month electricity plans

April, May, June, July, August

It’s generally not a good idea to sign up for a 3-month electricity plan in Texas in April, May, June, July, or August.

A 3-month plan starting in those months would land your contract during peak summer demand.

Air conditioners are working overtime, and demand on the Texas electricity grid is very high.

When temperatures soar, so do electricity prices.

That means more expensive bills.

How to think about electricity plan pricing

Electricity pricing isn’t just about the cost of electricity today.

It’s about the forecasted cost of electricity during the months your contract applies to.

Short-term fixed-rate plans can work, but only when market conditions are calm, like at the end of winter and during spring.

When demand rises over the summer, long-term fixed-rate plans typically offer a better value and protection from high summer wholesale prices.

Enter your zip code below to shop BKV Energy’s affordable fixed-rate electricity plans.

Written by Graham Lumley

Graham Lumley is the Growth Product Manager at BKV Energy, a retail electricity provider in Texas' deregulated market, where he has worked since 2023. He analyzes customer usage and billing data, helps develop BKV's fixed-rate plans, and creates tools to simplify Texas electricity shopping. He has written over 200 articles on Texas electricity rates, delivery charges, plan types, energy generation, and more to help Texans understand their bills and pay less. With over 10 years of experience in consumer products, marketing, and energy, he explains the Texas electricity market in plain language.