How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- This article covers retail electricity suppliers you can choose in deregulated states, not the utility that delivers your power, since delivery charges stay the same when you switch.
- Constellation is the strongest all-round pick, with wide availability, transparent fixed-rate plans, and a large carbon-free generation fleet behind it.
- Rhythm and Gexa lead for renewable plans, with 100 percent renewable options and modern account tools, while TXU and Reliant suit Texans who want plan variety.
- Rates change by ZIP code and by the month you sign up, so always compare the Electricity Facts Label for your address rather than trusting a headline rate.
Quick comparison
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The best energy companies
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Constellation is the largest carbon-free energy producer in the United States, and its retail arm serves more than 2.5 million residential and business customers across deregulated states. Comparison guides name it the best overall electric company, citing transparent pricing with no hidden fees and fixed-rate plans in 12-month and 36-month terms that protect households from seasonal price spikes.
The company also offers 100 percent renewable plans and home services bundles, plus 24/7 customer support. The main caveat is that its advertised rate in one state says nothing about its rate in yours, and the cheapest plans may require autopay or paperless billing. Check the Electricity Facts Label for your ZIP code before signing, and confirm the early termination fee on longer terms.
What we like- Wide availability across states
- Transparent fixed-rate plans
- Large carbon-free fleet
Watch out for- Rates vary sharply by market
- Cheapest plans may need autopay or online enrollment
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
NRG Home, part of NRG Energy, is one of the largest retail suppliers in the country, serving millions of customers through brands that include Reliant, Direct Energy, and Cirro in some markets. Its strength is choice, with fixed-rate plans, plans offering free nights and weekends, and bundles that add home protection or smart devices.
That variety is also the risk. Free-nights plans only save money if your usage genuinely shifts to off-peak hours, and bill-credit plans can cost more at low usage than a simple fixed rate. Read the Electricity Facts Label at your own usage level, typically 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh, before picking a plan type.
What we like- Many plan types including free nights
- Home protection bundles
- National scale
Watch out for- Plan complexity can confuse
- Rates vary by market and usage level
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
TXU Energy is one of the oldest and largest Texas retail providers, and it suits Texans who want plan variety from an established name. Its lineup spans simple fixed-rate plans, free nights and weekends plans, and plans with cashback or rewards, backed by a large customer service operation. Guides list its average Texas rates around 18.4 cents per kWh, above the cheapest competitors.
That premium buys familiarity and service depth rather than the lowest bill. Budget shoppers in Texas will usually find lower rates at Rhythm, Gexa, or Frontier, but TXU is a solid pick for households that value an established provider and a wide plan menu. Compare its 12-month fixed plan against the cheapest simple plan in your area before deciding.
What we like- Long Texas track record
- Many plan designs
- Rewards and cashback options
Watch out for- Texas only
- Average rates run above the cheapest rivals
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Reliant, an NRG company, is a Texas-focused provider known for customer service and a rewards program that returns bill credits for activities like autopay and referrals. It also offers solar buyback plans for households with rooftop panels, which matters as more Texans add solar. Guides list its average rate around 16.1 cents per kWh.
Rewards only help if you actually use them, and Reliant rates still sit above the cheapest Texas plans. Households that value service quality and a straightforward switching experience will like Reliant, while pure price shoppers should compare its fixed-rate plan against Rhythm and Gexa at their usage level.
What we like- Strong customer service reputation
- Rewards program
- Solar buyback plans
Watch out for- Texas only
- Rates above budget rivals
- Rewards value depends on usage
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Direct Energy, also part of NRG, serves homes and businesses across many deregulated states with fixed-rate, variable-rate, and green plan options. Its national scale means a household that moves between deregulated states may be able to stay with the same provider, and its online account tools cover usage tracking and billing.
Customer satisfaction scores for Direct Energy sit below the leaders in Texas comparison guides, and its rates vary widely by market, with averages around 16.7 cents per kWh in Texas. It is a reasonable choice for households that want a national provider with plan choice, but compare its fixed-rate offer against Constellation and local leaders in your state first.
What we like- Available in many states
- Fixed and variable plans
- Online account tools
Watch out for- Average satisfaction scores lag leaders
- Rates vary widely by market
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Gexa Energy, part of NextEra Energy, combines competitive rates with a strong renewable commitment, with guides listing around 90 percent renewable content and average Texas rates near 14.3 cents per kWh. Its Eco Choice plan is a straightforward renewable fixed-rate option, and its customer satisfaction scores rank above many larger rivals.
Gexa is most available in Texas, so households elsewhere will need a different supplier. Some Gexa plans use bill credits that only apply above a usage threshold, so check the Electricity Facts Label at your usage level. For Texans who want low rates with green power, Gexa is one of the best values in the state.
What we like- Competitive fixed rates
- Strong renewable share
- Simple plan designs
Watch out for- Mostly Texas focused
- Bill-credit plans need careful reading
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Rhythm Energy is a newer Texas supplier built around 100 percent renewable electricity and a modern digital experience, with guides listing average rates near 13.4 cents per kWh and high customer satisfaction scores. Its plans are simple and fixed-rate, with no gimmick structures, and its app makes usage tracking easy for tech-comfortable households.
Rhythm serves Texas, so it is not an option in other deregulated states, and its plan menu is narrower than TXU or NRG. Households that want green power without paying a premium, and that prefer a simple fixed rate over complex plan designs, will find Rhythm hard to beat in Texas.
What we like- 100 percent renewable power
- Modern app and tools
- Low average rates
Watch out for- Texas focused
- Fewer plan types than TXU or NRG
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Inspire Clean Energy sells simple, 100 percent renewable electricity plans across several deregulated states, with a focus on households that want clean power without studying plan structures. Its month-to-month flexibility appeals to renters and movers, since there is no long contract to break when you relocate.
The trade-off is price. Inspire rates can run above the cheapest local fixed-rate plans, so households whose priority is the lowest bill should compare it against Constellation and local leaders. For households that rank clean power and simplicity above the lowest rate, Inspire is a straightforward pick.
What we like- Simple 100 percent renewable plans
- Month-to-month flexibility
- National reach
Watch out for- Rates can run above cheapest local plans
- Fewer plan types
How we chose
We compared 2026 provider guides and comparison sites for retail electricity suppliers, checking availability, plan types, average rates, renewable share, and customer satisfaction scores. We favored suppliers with wide availability and clearly published plan terms, and we treated Texas-specific data as Texas data rather than national pricing, since rates differ by state and ZIP code. We did not claim hands-on testing, and every rate figure here is a guide figure for a specific market, not a quote for your address.
How to pick an energy company
Start by confirming you live in a deregulated state and can choose a supplier at all. About 17 states plus DC offer retail choice for electricity, and in regulated states your utility remains your only supplier. If you can choose, your utility still delivers the power and maintains the lines, so switching suppliers never interrupts your service and never changes your delivery charges.
Read the Electricity Facts Label
Every retail plan in Texas and most choice states comes with an Electricity Facts Label that shows the average price at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh per month, plus fees, contract length, and early termination charges. Compare plans at your actual usage, not at the advertised headline rate, since bill-credit and tiered plans can look cheap at one usage level and expensive at another. A simple fixed-rate plan is usually the safest choice for households that do not want to study plan mechanics.
Fixed versus variable, and contract length
Fixed-rate plans lock your supply rate for 12 to 36 months and protect against seasonal spikes, which is why most guides recommend them. Variable plans can start low and rise without warning, and they suit only households that monitor rates closely. Shorter contracts give flexibility for movers, while longer contracts can lock a good rate through winter price peaks. Check the early termination fee before signing anything longer than 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch energy companies without losing power?
Yes. Your utility continues to deliver electricity and maintain the lines, so switching only changes the company that supplies the power and bills you for it. There is no interruption, no new meter, and no visit from a technician in most cases.
Is a 100 percent renewable plan really green?
Most renewable plans buy renewable energy certificates matching your usage, which supports renewable generation without changing the physical power that reaches your home. If you want the strongest green claim, look for plans that name specific wind or solar projects and publish certificate retirement details.
Should I pick a fixed-rate or variable-rate plan?
Most households should pick a fixed-rate plan, since it locks the supply rate and makes bills predictable. Variable plans can rise sharply during extreme weather or fuel price spikes, and they suit only households that track rates and can switch quickly.
How much can switching energy companies save?
Savings depend on your state, usage, and current rate, but guides suggest households moving from a high variable rate to a competitive fixed rate can save hundreds of dollars per year. Compare the Electricity Facts Label at your usage level rather than trusting advertised savings claims.
What happens when my energy contract ends?
Most plans switch to a variable month-to-month rate when the contract ends, which is often higher than the fixed rate. Mark your contract end date, shop for a new fixed-rate plan two to four weeks before it ends, and avoid auto-renewal into a variable plan.
Sources we checked (10)
- https://www.constellation.com
- https://www.nrg.com
- https://www.txu.com
- https://www.reliant.com
- https://www.directenergy.com
- https://www.gexaenergy.com
- https://www.rhythmenergy.com
- https://www.inspirecleanenergy.com
- https://www.move.org/best-electric-companies/
- https://electricityrates.com/providers/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Constellation
NRG Home
TXU Energy
Reliant
Direct Energy
Gexa Energy
Rhythm Energy
Inspire Clean Energy