We want you to find the best electric providers in Lindale Texas so we have this guide to help you through the process. You want to narrow your search down to one electric provider in Lindale with electric rates you can be confident about.
Electric rate plans can be gimmicky so to avoid this Lindale Texas electric rate plan shoppers typically order a fixed electric rate plan.
What to Expect With Lindale Electric Rates
Lindale Texas is in the Oncor Electric Utility area which simply points out the deregulated portion of Texas Lindale falls in. If your in the Oncor area it means you have electric choice.
You call Oncor if you have an electric outage at: 888-313-4747. They respond within 2 hours or less for most electric outages.
If you moved here from out of state like from California it will seem confusing that you have a choice and why you can’t just call Oncor to handle getting your Lindale Texas electric service turned on.
The Texas government broke up the monopoly electric utilities like what happened in California with Enron. Just like in California and with Enron electric deregulation is a contentious issue and some just wish the “monopoly” Lindale Texas electric company would come back and they could just forget about it. That company people used to order electric service with was called TXU Energy and some called the company TU Electric.
My Experience Finding Lindale TX Electric Providers
You have over 20 retail electric companies competing to win your business so it is advantageous to research and find a good one. I saw a comparison of Lindale electric rate plans just the other day and it was very tricky. A large energy company that was the umbrella company for several smaller retail electric provider brands was offering Lindale electric rate plans in a side by side chart. The only thing is they represented themselves as a shopping and comparison site but all the Lindale Texas electric providers were owned by the same company.
Some of the electric rate plans were suspect as well as they had a mix of variable rate contracts and fixed rate contracts. There are even “fixed” contracts that fixes the electric rate at one price provided you stay under 1,000 kWh but if you go over that threshold the rate doubles in price.
If you don’t read the fine print Lindale electric rates like this can fool you into ordering with a bad Lindale electric provider.
Be Careful With Variable Electric Rate Plans
A variable electric rate plan is how most Lindale electric bills jump in price to double or triple what the energy consumer expected. There are state laws now in the books that outlaw electric companies from even having variable rate plans but not in Texas.
Connecticut is one state that made it illegal for there to be residential electric rate plans or commercial rate plans that are variable in nature. Even if the energy contract expires this state does not allow the contract to morph into a variable price.
A notorious Texas electric company that involves variable electric rate plans is Griddy Energy. There are still people that champion this energy company for putting the power to save on energy in their hands but most people lost out. The price followed a wholesale index but that index spiked 400% causing the average per kWh rate for 2021 to be 81 cents per kWh!
You can learn more about what happened regarding their variable electric rate plan below. Several Lindale Texas electric service customers were affected by the rate spike.
In Texas variable electric rate plans can be advertised as following an index without having to disclose when it doesn’t follow the index. Basically the Lindale electric rate plan that is variable is indiscriminate and can change at the providers discretion. We want you to be safe as you find the best Lindale electric provider by only comparing fully fixed electric rate plans without additional variable components or thresholds.
Call me if you have any questions about this at: 903-245-4989
Fixed electric rate plans allow you to compare accurately however some of these compare charts do not include the Texas pass through charges. The non-negotiable pass-through charges come from the poles and wires company which is Oncor in Lindale. If one residential electric rate plan includes these and the other plan does not it will look like you found a rate that is 3 – 4 cents per kWh cheaper. I have seen comparison websites that leave these tariffs off as well as Lindale electric providers advertising without these charges bundled in.
The best electric provider in Lindale will have your back and make your rate plan clear and understandable. A fixed rate plan has the advantage of being a plan that is easy to compare with other competing companies so you make the right choice.
My Personal Experience Choosing an Electric Rate Plan Type
I have signed up with variable plans and fixed plans over the years. I was in the boat with so many people that found out their variable plan was just a way for the electric company to increase their bill by 300%. Once I was burned by a variable plan I swore off ever choosing one of those again.
A few years ago when rates were okay but not the cheapest I locked into a 5 year electric rate plan agreement. During the electricity price spikes that occurred during 2021 Texas winter storm Uri I avoided paying dearly because my rate was locked in (it could not change). There were so many people complaining that their electric bill was over $1,000. I was very happy in hindsight that I locked in for so long.
Picking a new electric provider every year sometimes gets pushed to the back burner so a long term contract helped me avoid seeing my energy contract lapse. The time I let my electricity service contract lapse I was put on a variable “market price” but the electric company indiscriminately raised my price way beyond what was reasonable for where the market was at.
Lindale electric service customers can avoid an energy contract from lapsing by allowing an energy consultant to keep you in the loop each year so it doesn’t fall through the cracks. Call me and let me set you up in our system to keep your energy contract secure each and every year. My number is 903-245-4989 and be sure and ask for Donny.
Transmission and Distribution Service Provider
In the Lindale and East Texas area you call Oncor to handle any power outages. They will come to your home or business and repair any lines or transformers and get electric service back up and running. I live here in New Harmony which is just outside the Tyler city limits and a hop, skip, and jump to Lindale and have called Oncor numerous times during outages.
Oncor has a great automated system that usually tells you they are aware of the outage and gives you an ETA when they expect power to be back on. Oncor even sends you a text message with this information. Oncor’s power outage communication system is state of the art.
Oncor also buries your electric wires, installs your meter, and reads your smart electric meter through the internet. In some cases your meter may not be reading correctly and they replace the faulty meter. Many Lindale customers have reached out to me for assistance getting Oncor to check on a faulty meter reading.
Beyond the Oncor breakdown below there can be more charges based on how much energy you use during peak demand times. The state of Texas governs what rate increases the TDSP can pass-through. There is no negotiation regarding your TDSP as the state of Texas handles that. Winter storm Uri is a perfect example of how peak demand energy usage was past on to all Texas customers by raising the price Oncor could charge in their pass through charges and energy tariffs.
ONCOR Residental TDSP TAX breakdown:
- TDU Delivery Charge: 4 cents per kWh
- TDU Delivery Charge: $3.42 per billing cycle
Proposed future charges Oncor may be approved to charge Lindale and East Texas homes.
If you use 1000 kilowatt hours a 4 cent fee is multiplied against it which would equal = $40
Oncor wants to raise their fixed fee from $3.42 to $4.32 and raise the multiplier fee from 4 cents per kWh to 4.4 cents per kWh.
What the fee is now:
1,000 kWh of usage would be $40 plus $3.42 to equal $43.42
Proposed Oncor Fee Increase:
1,000 kWh of usage would be $44 plus $4.32 to equal $48.32
Types of Plans You Can Choose
The electric rate plans in Lindale come down to three basic choices. You have fixed, variable, and prepaid “no deposit” offers. The fixed Lindale electric rates are the most popular option. Prepaid is a necessity if you have low-income and have to work on your credit. Fixed plans keep the price the same the whole energy contract.
There are no surprises with a fixed rate but with variable prices things can get unpredictable as we talked about above. The Texas winter storm of 2021 proved how crazy high electricity prices get with a variable plan. Residential customers were getting $2,000 – $18,000 monthly electric bills in the mail and Brazos Electric Cooperative may go bankrupt. Considering Brazos Electric Cooperative is the oldest Cooperative in Texas it shows the magnitude of the wholesale electricity price spike of 2021.
Fixed
These are the simple contracts, “what you see is what you get” type of plans and are great for most people. You see the advertised electric rate and it says it’s good for 1 year and the Lindale electric company keeps the rate the same the rest of the year or more (based on your contract length). These plans can be 24 months, 36 months and even 5 years long. The long term plans do have early termination penalties so if you sign up for one make sure that if you move it is in Texas so you can transfer the rate to your new home.
Variable
Variable plans can change indiscriminately at anytime. The Lindale electric provider does not reveal exactly how they decide to raise the rate. Texas historically sees their electric prices pike in price for various reasons so never get comfortable on a variable off contract rate.
The market can affect some of these retail electric providers that gave you a really low variable price and out of nowhere your rate can triple. Just ask the millions of customers it happened to the winter of 2021 and the summer of 2022.
Prepaid Guaranteed No Deposit
Prepaid electricity plans are really good if you have bad credit and cannot afford a deposit. These electric rate contracts are like a secured credit card. If you live in Lindale Texas and are trying to avoid paying a $500 or more deposit to get your lights on then prepaid electric plans are a good option. You deposit the money in advance into your account with that provider and they deduct from your account weekly.
You have to fill your account up in advance each month to pay for the electricity you will use the next month. The good news is that there is no deposit. The con with these plans is that the rates are higher in price. You will get notified frequently about your usage and the need to refill your account with money which is annoying for most who are on a fixed-income with these providers.
Average Electric Rates in Lindale
The EIA from the U.S. government has reported on the average rates for Lindale Texas. The average residential electric rate in Lindale was 13.53¢ as of July 2022. Over the course of 2021 and 2022 Texas electric rates have been considerably higher in price due to Texas sending LNG to Europe. Future averages will show as higher because of recent price hikes in the Texas market. Market analysts predict electric rates will come back down some in 2023.
Cheapest Price Electric Companies in Lindale
Check to see who offers the cheapest rates in Lindale and East Texas for your zip code.
Frequently Asked Questions in Regards to How to Compare Electric Rates in Lindale, Texas
How do I pick the best electricity company in Lindale
The Electricity Facts Label and Terms of Service have to be read to truly understand the Lindale electric rate plan. You can call me, Donny and I can go over these things with you. In the past I have been confused even after reading the EFL so don’t feel like your alone. The EFL can be clear but sometimes it’s a mess depending on the rate plan.
I helped someone recently that never used over 1,000 kWh a month. There was a rate plan that had a really low monthly customer fee of $5. Most of the other rate plans had higher monthly fees but lower rates. The average rate was lower with all the companies that had higher monthly fees but the company that had a slightly higher rate plan but lower monthly fee averaged lower. I chose the rate plan that was truly the lowest in cost for her and she was golden. She didn’t want to figure this out on her own and I was glad to help. If this is your situation please call and I would be glad to help. My name is Donny and my number is 1-903-245-4989.
How can I change electric providers in Lindale?
The change in Lindale electric providers goes through an organization called, ERCOT. The Reliability Council switches you from your old provider to your new one without any possibility of you ending up on both. You can go shopping for the best electric rate plans without having to contact your old electric provider to, “break up”. The electric service switch process is simple and nothing to worry about.
Why So Many Lindale Energy Companies?
If you come from a state municipality or a cooperative you did not have a choice. The Brazos Electric Cooperative offers a good example. This is a Cooperative in Texas that was the only choice in the Waco area and several other Texas cities. If they were to go out of business other companies would need to fill the vacuum. In some ways deregulation allows any vacuums that open up in the market to be filled by retail electric companies willing to offer you their business services.
How to change electric providers in Lindale?
Comparison websites like this that compare Lindale Texas electric providers is the preferred way to shop for energy. The state of Texas has a website called Power to Choose that lists too many plans and problematic providers that are at risk for going out of business along side good electric companies. Being unbiased can have its disadvantages and this is the main issue with Power to Choose.
Who do people trust to offer the best Lindale electric rates?
The Analysis Group Economic – Financial, and Strategy Consultants, Economic Development Journal, and the Tyler Chamber of Commerce feature ElectricRates.com comparison website as a trusted source for consumers to use to shop for Lindale electricity rate plans near them.
Is electricity expensive in Lindale?
The winter storm of 2021 caused rates in Lindale to rise to historical numbers, the war in the North increased demand for natural gas which has also raised electricity prices. Lindale electric rates are higher than normal but on average Lindale electricity prices are 60 % lower than the rest of the country. Long term contracts with current energy contracts being contracted today average around 8 cents per kilowatt hour with the average electric bill around $135 a month.
What company provides electric service in Lindale?
ONCOR is the transmission and distribution company that sends electricity over the poles and wires but does not sell you the service. Our website sells you electric service while Oncor would fix a power outage. For green energy please visit our voluntary sustainable energy offer.
Who has the cheapest electric rates in Lindale?
We signed up a commercial business at 4.7 cents per kilowatt hour as a large manufacturing business. If you are a Lindale business you can be in our reverse auction to see who can offer the best electric rates in Lindale. Residential electric rates are compared daily using our comparison widget on this site. Visit our compare tool to see who is the cheapest today.
Popular East Texas Towns Served by ElectricRates.com
These are some posts I have written on some popular towns that use ElectricRates.com to shop and compare electric providers.
Donny Eisenbach
Donny has been writing about the deregulated energy markets since early 2007. His knowledge has helped consumers lower their electricity cost.
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