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Abid Haque is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront, specializing in all things residential. He has home improvement, design and wellness for publications such as Domino, Architectural Digest, GQ and The New York Times. When he’s not busy writing, Abid can be found seeing patients. As a physician based in Atlanta and New York City, Abid is passionate about well-being and even has his own animal sanctuary where he does his home (read: farm) improvement projects. You can follow Abid on instagram @AbidWrites.
If you live in Texas and have seen a rise in your electricity bill, it may be time to switch your energy company. That’s because Texas is one of the 14 states that has deregulated energy — meaning that instead of being locked into a power supplier that is owned and operated by the government, consumers can shop around and find an energy retailer that suits their needs.
Reliant Energy is one such energy retailer, which stands out for its plan options and large service area.
In essence, when a state has deregulated energy, it breaks up the “vertical elite integrated utility that owns and controls every aspect of the supply chain from the coal mine to the distribution utility,” said Matt Schilling, director of the Department of Public Affairs, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in Columbus.
A perk of living in a state with a deregulated energy market is the power to choose your energy retailer. “You can negotiate all sorts of terms and conditions and pricing for service,” Schilling said. “[Deregulated energy] gives a little bit more power to the consumer to make choices.”
Our Reliant Energy review will cover plans, common customer feedback and important considerations to keep in mind as you decide on an energy provider that’s right for you.
As one of Texas’ largest energy retailers, Reliant Energy offers an unparalleled area of coverage for its customers. Reliant may be a good option for continuing your coverage with little to no hassle if you plan to move within Texas.
Other benefits include the following perks.
Reliant offers customers the option to sign up for solar energy electricity plans. The Reliant 100% Solar plan matches your energy usage with solar renewable energy certificates and is available to renters.
Suppose you live in a home and have solar panels or an electric vehicle (EV). In that case, Reliant offers plans where you can get bill credits for excess energy generated by your panels and specific EV charging plans.
Transferring service with Reliant is easy if you’re moving within one of their service areas. If you’re not, you can provide proof of your move, allowing you to end your contract without the early termination fee.
If you’re not a homeowner but a renter, there’s a variety of plans specifically designed for you. When searching for available plans by address, you can select “home” or “apartment” to find the best plan for your living situation.
Reliant offers new customers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. During the first 90 days of service, residential customers can change their plan once without a penalty fee.
Reliant Energy is based in Houston and is a subsidiary of the Fortune 500 company, NRG Energy. Selling electricity to over 1 million Texans, Reliant Energy has been in business for over 20 years and offers plans with variable durations ranging from month-to-month to 36-month-long contracts.
Reliant Energy services 60 cities and offers various fixed-rate plans, variable-rate, prepaid and green energy plans for residential and commercial customers in Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas and Austin, among others.
Aside from their initiatives to help Texans find sustainable and affordable energy sources, Reliant Energy invests back into the local Texas community. They have community initiative programs focusing on more than 200 local causes that range from post-disaster relief to racial inequality initiatives to helping environmental organizations.
Considering a switch? The best place to start is by reviewing their price per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The rates vary based on whether you’re a commercial or residential client and the duration of your contract.
The average price of electricity in Texas as of January 2024 was 14.3 cents per kWh, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Electricity prices will range by location — for example, in April 2024 it cost 18.2 cents per kWh in Dallas and 10.8 cents in Houston.
You can look up your specific plan on the Reliant Energy website. Longer contract durations of 24 or 36 months typically result in a two-cent savings per kWh.
If you select Reliant Energy, it offers a variety of rates and plans: fixed-rate, variable or pre-paid.
Reliant Energy offers prepaid plans that require no deposit. These plans are not available in all service areas, but where they are available, they allow you to pay for electricity in advance, with no deposit and no long-term contract.
You decide how much electricity you want to purchase and can buy it in-store, online with a credit card via reliant.com or through the Reliant mobile app. Prepaid plans also do not require a credit check.
Reliant’s early termination fee varies with the length of the contract. Each plan’s cancellation fee can be found online in the Electricity Fact Label document. In general, the fees range as follows:
Reliant Energy offers three main contract lengths — 12 months, 24 months or 36 months — and tiered pricing. Cost decreases per kWh at 500 kWh, 1000 kWh and 2000 kWh thresholds. There are also options for 15-month, 18-month or 20-month durations.
The plans available to customers vary by location. These can include energy rates that focus on solar, EV, apartment dwelling and free nights (8 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
Check with a Reliant customer service representative to confirm that your desired plan is available in your neighborhood.
Secure Advantage
Get More, Save More 15 and 36
Power Savings 12 and 24
If you’re concerned about fluctuating energy prices, opt for Reliant’s Secure Advantage plan. It offers a fixed rate energy charge with guaranteed protection for the length of your contract. There are also no usage fees if you use at least 800 kWh.
The Reliant Get More, Save More plans are fixed-rate plans that allow customers a fixed rate for the first 1,000 kWh uses and then a lower energy charge for anything beyond.
One of Reliant’s popular plans is the Power Savings Plan. It’s a fixed-rate plan that offers customers a $50 bill credit if their monthly usage equals or exceeds 1,000 kWh.
As one of the largest energy retailers in Texas, Reliant Energy covers several major cities in the state — Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Corpus Christi.
The easiest and most up-to-date way to determine Reliant Energy rates in your area is by utilizing Reliant.com. Enter your ZIP code to determine eligibility and available plans.
Reliant Energy does not serve San Antonio or El Paso. We checked coverage in San Antonio by running a quote for a San Antonio ZIP code. The quote form response was that the address was in a regulated zone and we should buy directly from the state-delegated local provider. This explains why this populous city is out of Reliant’s purview.
Reliant Energy had a customer review rating of 2.4 out of 5 stars on Better Business Bureau (BBB) at publication time. The energy retailer has the highest number of complaints — 238 — with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. To put the number in context, TXU Energy had 222 and Just Energy had 167 complaints. The majority of these complaints for Reliant Energy focus on billing issues.
Other consumer review platforms such as Trustpilot and Yelp also site billing complaints, and customers don’t like the early termination fees, which some claim can be as high as $395. Other reviewers said that their bill credits disappeared due to hidden costs and that it was not an electricity company they would pick again.
If you come across an energy retailer offering a lower rate for your level of consumption, it might be time to switch. Texans can check their rates online using tools such as Choose Texas Power.
A good electricity service will provide you with a combination of a low monthly bill, no pricey early termination fees, good customer satisfaction and the option for month-to-month plans.
No matter your hourly electricity rate, most plans will vary due to your energy usage pattern. Some will offer free weekends, free nights, smart thermostats and renewable energy sources but don’t be distracted by these shiny offerings. Even if the perks seem alluring, evaluate your electricity usage objectively and decide if your new energy retailer makes financial sense when it comes to your monthly bill.
However, before you decide to switch electricity suppliers, review your current plan and confirm that you are not locked into a contract with exorbitant early termination fees.
For questions regarding your specific situation or to get the most up-to-date information about Reliant Energy’s pricing, electricity plans or electricity rates, contact the energy retailer directly.
Reliant Energy has contact information on their website where you can opt for a virtual chat with one of its representatives, send an email or call the toll-free phone number. You can also visit one of their retail locations and talk to a sales rep directly.
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