Power to Choose: Your Guide to Electricity Choice in Texas

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Power to Choose: Your Guide to Electricity Choice in Texas

The Power to Choose gives you control over your monthly bill, your energy source, and your overall experience with electricity. But choice can also come with confusion.

This guide is here to break it all down. Whether you’re new to deregulation or looking to switch to a better provider, we’ll walk you through how it works, what to look out for, and how Rhythm helps Texans take control of their power.

What is Power to Choose?

Power to Choose is the result of Texas’s deregulated electricity market. Instead of being locked into a single utility company, Texans in deregulated areas can pick from dozens of Retail Electric Providers (REPs)—including Rhythm.

Your local utility (known as a TDSP) still handles the delivery of electricity to your home and manages power lines and outages. But the REP you choose determines:

  • Your electricity rate

  • Your contract terms

  • Your billing experience

  • Whether your energy is renewable

  • What kind of customer service you receive

That choice gives you the opportunity to find a plan that fits your budget, values, and lifestyle.

Why Your Electric Choice in Texas Matters

Electricity is something you use every day, but how much you pay for it—and how it’s generated—can vary widely depending on the provider and plan you choose.

In Texas, the freedom to choose your electricity provider comes with both opportunity and risk. Some include base charges, bill credits, or usage cliffs that make your monthly bill harder to predict. And many plans include terms that are easy to overlook, like early termination fees or automatic renewal into a higher rate.

By understanding how to evaluate plans—beyond just the headline rate—you can avoid the frustration of unexpected charges and find an option that truly fits how your household uses energy.


Electricity choice isn’t just about cost, either. It’s also a chance to align your energy usage with your values. Many Texans are choosing to support renewable energy by selecting providers that source from wind and solar. That means your everyday power use can have a bigger impact—without changing how you live.

In short, the Power to Choose gives you control. But to use that control well, it helps to understand what’s in the fine print, how different plans are structured, and how to make a choice that works for your home, your budget, and your peace of mind.

How to Compare Providers the Right Way

If you're comparing plans, it’s not just about finding the lowest advertised rate. Here’s what savvy shoppers focus on:

  • The Electricity Facts Label (EFL) for real cost comparisons

  • Rate structure (fixed, variable, time-of-use)

  • Base charges and usage tiers

  • Renewable energy content

  • Billing transparency and reputation

Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing

Thousands of Texans overpay for electricity every year—not because they don’t have a choice, but because they make common mistakes:

  • Falling for teaser rates

  • Letting a plan auto-renew into a worse rate

  • Signing a long contract without checking early termination fees

  • Not understanding who to call during outages

You don’t have to learn the hard way.

Confused About PowerToChoose.org?

PowerToChoose.org is the official electricity plan comparison site run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. It was designed to give Texans a way to compare providers and plans side by side. While it's a helpful resource, the volume of options—and the way some plans are structured—can still make shopping feel overwhelming.

Usage-based pricing, bill credits, and fine-print fees can make two similar-looking plans behave very differently on your bill.

Don't overpay for electricity.

Understand the Different Types of Plans

Texas REPs offer a range of plan types—but not all will be right for your usage patterns. We break down:

  • Fixed-rate plans

  • Variable-rate plans

  • Time-of-use plans (like our Powershift plan)

Understand Your Bill

Ever wonder why your bill includes delivery charges even though you picked your provider? Or why your "rate" doesn’t always match what you expected? Electricity bills in deregulated areas can be confusing.

We walk you through every line item so you know exactly what you’re paying for—and how to reduce it.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

Still have questions about switching, contracts, or what happens if you pick the wrong provider?

Join the the fastest-growing, highest-rated independent green energy provider in Texas.