We want you to find the best electric providers in Bullard Texas so we created the ultimate guide just for that purpose.
Bullard is open to electric choice so you have a lot of options. Realistically there are too many choices so it’s best to narrow it down and have a few good winning plans to choose from among competing electric providers.
What to Expect With Bullard Electric Rates
Bullard Texas is in the poles and wires territory known as Oncor. It’s good to know this because Oncor is open to electric choice and they are the one to call when you experience a power outage. Oncor cannot sell you electric service but there are many electric providers that can and you can check availability for your home or business by clicking on our button above or below.
If you reached this page because your Bullard home had a power outage then simply call 888-313-4747. Oncor has a great automated system as much as those are worthy to be hated. They will tell you the ETA and they likely will already know about the outage.
It is a bit strange when moving from California to Texas being told you get to shop electric companies. It’s definitely a foreign concept if you only had one choice before. Just enter your Bullard (75703, 75757) zip code once you click on our “check availability” button and you will see some good choices and will be able to order online from there.
I have an Airbnb in Bullard and do handyman work in this area of East Texas. What I have seen regarding electric service in the area is that some parts are controlled by a monopoly electric cooperative by the name of Cherokee County Electric Coop. It is possible you may reside in the part of Bullard that does not have electric choice and if so you will need to contact Cherokee County Electric Cooperative. Our comparison tool will tell you if this is the case once you enter your zip code.
My Experience Finding Bullard TX Electric Providers
My Airbnb is in the part of Bullard that only has access to Cherokee County Electric Cooperative. The house next door to me has Oncor electric poles coming to their house and so they have electric choice. Can you believe that, I am literally next door to a house that can shop for the cheapest Bullard electric company while I am stuck with only one company? It isn’t so bad however, Cherokee County Electric Co-op has kept their electric rates reasonably priced for the 5 years I have used them.
If I lived at my neighbors I would use a website like this to compare rates and order online. Online shopping for electric rates in Bullard is convenient and can be wrapped up in about 5 minutes.
Be Careful With Variable Electric Rate Plans
An electric rate in Bullard that changes indiscriminately is what variable electric rate plans really are all about. The hidden secret among Bullard electric providers has to do with these bad rate plans.
A variable plan is often the way electric companies bump their profit margins up to where they are a thriving profitable retail electric provider. You don’t want to be the one with the surprise sky high electric bill that is funding the success of Bullard electric providers benefiting from your lack of knowledge.
To avoid the potential of 50% – 200% mark-ups on your electric rate it is important to compare fixed rate plans and avoid the variable plans completely. The only time I have ordered a variable electric plan was when I just needed service on but wasn’t shopping for a rate at the time. Variable prices do not have you commit to a contract term so you can cancel at any time without facing an early termination penalty.
When your electric provider sends your bill 30 – 45 days after you used electricity you don’t see that your rate increased in price until you have wracked up about 45 days of electric usage. Often people will see an unpleasant hike in price, not do anything about it, wait another month, see that the price went up even more, then consider calling to do something about it. When you wait 2 months while they creep the electric rate up on you often the electric bill amount is $1,000 or more dollars. Be careful with this, it’s a real headache, and there are plenty of horror stories to prove it.
Why can electric companies indiscriminately raise your variable rate on you, that doesn’t seem fair? A lot of the change in price has to do with the Bullard electric company having you on a price that is not hedged. Hedging your electric rate costs money and so they need you to commit to a contract to give you that insurance.
However, there is no Texas law that says they have to show you how they decide to raise and lower your variable electric rate even if it follows an index. The Bullard electric company can still play fast and loose with how that price increases on you.
Call me if you have any questions about this at: 903-245-4989
A fixed electric rate plan is the best way to order electric service in Bullard. If you have ever been with a monopoly electric company they will have you on a stable rate that does not change much. You are likely familiar with a stabilized electric rate so you can see the benefit of why I am recommending choosing a fixed electric rate contract.
When comparing fixed energy contracts some electric providers will leave off the TDSP charges which are the Oncor pole and wire charges to send the electricity over the lines to your home or business in Bullard. The TDSP charges can make up about 3 – 4 cents of your rate and are non-negotiable. If the TDSP charges are left off your rate plan you are comparing with a different electric company you could make the mistake of thinking one rate is much cheaper than the one that took off these fees in their advertisement.
Our comparison tool shows clear electric rate comparisons for the Bullard area so you can avoid this advertising trick I see sometimes.
My Personal Experience Choosing an Electric Rate Plan Type
I have changed electric rate plans a total of 7 times over the course of my life. Wow! Seven times does not seem like much but considering you can order a plan anywhere from 3 months to 5 years I get how 7 times of switching electric companies over a 20 year span has worked for me.
Many times when I switched I chose a 1 year plan, a few times I chose a 3 year plan, one time I chose a 5 year plan.
The last electric rate plan I chose was a 5 year plan and I am still on that plan. This long term fixed plan expires in two years and carried me through a couple of volatile price spikes in the Texas energy market.
If you look at a natural gas historical price graph it will give you an idea what electricity prices are likely to do in the future. I recommend jumping on any down turn in energy prices and locking into a long term contract at that time. A 1 year fixed agreement is a good way to go almost always but when your contract is coming up for renewal just be sure to lock in at a longer term if prices have dipped down in the market.
As you can see natural gas prices are high but have dipped down and look like they are at a support they will take them higher in the future.
Many experts believe natural gas prices will come down further. If prices drop you can expect 2023 to have some Bullard electric rates to choose from that are cheaper than where they are at now.
The support looks an awful lot like a pivot to go up further so it’s hard to see the potential for a downturn in prices but it could definitely happen.
Transmission and Distribution Service Provider
The TDSP part of your electric company being separate from the company you buy your electric service from does seem odd.
The government forced the separation several years ago to offer electric choice. Your poles and wires company is the monopoly over the wires but not over the price of your Bullard electricity.
The fees from your TDSP provider are past through on your electric bill and there is no negotiation on what these charges will be.
Some electric companies leave these charges off their residential rates to make their prices look better but when you get your bill they will still be there.
Always ask an electric company promising you the best Bullard electric rate if they include the TDSP charges in the advertised rate they are showing you.
ONCOR Residential 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 Bullard 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
There are 3 popular choices and I will start with the the worst plan first. Prepaid electric plans are terrible but a necessity for some. The reason a prepay plan is considered bad is the high price, the weekly deductions and requests to refill your account, and the unconventional billing. Most people that can get on these plans get off as soon as they can. Fixed and Variable plans are the most popular and the safest way to go is a fixed electric rate plan.
Fixed
A fixed electric rate agreement allows you to have price stability anywhere from 1 year to 5 years. The rate will not change and you don’t have to worry about it because your contract agreement is insurance that the rate you agreed on will stay at the same price the entire time.
Variable
A variable plan is a real problem in the industry and there are so many complaints out there regarding them. Many people sign up at an initial price that looks very good. The price goes up because there is no contract agreement stipulating that it must stay at a stable fixed price.
Prepaid Guaranteed No Deposit
Prepaid electric plans are really bad as the price is always very high, they have you pay in advance for your electricity, and the billing is not always easy to reconcile. Prepaid plans do have their purpose and some people desperately need this option. If your moving into a place in Bullard Texas but your credit is terrible the electric provider will ask you for $500 or more as a deposit. Some people just don’t have that kind of extra money and so that is where a prepaid electric provider can really help you.
Average Electric Rates in Bullard
The EIA from the U.S. government has reported on the average rates for Bullard Texas. The average residential electric rate in Bullard 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 Bullard electric rates will come back down some in 2023.
Cheapest Price Electric Companies in Bullard
Check to see who offers the cheapest rates in Bullard and East Texas for your zip code.
Frequently Asked Questions in Regards to How to Compare Electric Rates in Bullard, Texas
How do I pick the best electricity company in Bullard
The Electricity Facts Label and Terms of Service have to be read to truly understand the Bullard electric rate plan. You can call me, Donny (or one of my associates) and I can go over rate plan options for you. In the past I have been confused even after reading the EFL so don’t feel like your alone. I can go over the electricity facts label with you and make sure everything is clear.
Monthly customer fees, fixed prices that change based on if your over or under a certain kWh amount, etc. The EFL explains how your rate may change based on variables you may not have seen in the initial electric rate advertisement. Reading the EFL for each plan or working with an energy consultant that has done that for you are the best way to pick a plan.
How can I change electric providers in Bullard?
I have talked to numerous people that when their electric contract was about to end contacted their electric company to tell them they were choosing a different company. You can change providers without ever needing to inform your previous provider. ERCOT handles the switch and makes sure that your meter ID is unassociated with your old electric provider and put with the new Bullard electric provider. Because Texas uses ERCOT to handle all switches you will never be double billed by two different electric companies. Our website allows you to compare and order electric service in about 5 minutes making it a simple process.
Why So Many Bullard Energy Companies?
Electric competition is big business. Consider that Enron was in the deregulated California electricity market when they imploded. Enron was making a lot of money selling retail electric service and so do all of the Texas electric providers competing in the market. The opportunity is big for these energy companies and the competition is strong. It is important to boil down what the bottom line price with each of these companies is and not fall for the gimmicks.
How to change electric providers in Bullard?
The state has their website called Power to Choose https://powertochoose.org. This website has to be as unbiased as possible so a lot of plans are listed on the site and it can be too much. We have vetted some good electric providers in Bullard and no nonsense electric rate plans to make changing electric providers easy. Use our compare tool to find the Bullard electric provider and plan that suits you and order service in under 5 minutes all online.
Who do people trust to offer the best Bullard 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 Bullard electricity rate plans near them.
Is electricity expensive in Bullard?
In 2021 – 2022 electric rates went up dramatically in Bullard Texas. The beginning of 2022 Bullard electric rates have started to come back down to reasonable prices but are still high compared to a few years ago. It is still important to compare Bullard electric rates but keep in mind price levels are not the same as they were a few short years ago.
What company provides electric service in Bullard?
ONCOR is the transmission and distribution company that sends electricity over the poles and wires but does not sell you the service. Cherokee County Electric Co-op also serves parts of Bullard by controlling the poles and wires and the electricity sent over them. Cherokee Electric Co-op also sells electric service in their territory. Our website sells you electric service while Oncor would fix a power outage. To see if your Bullard residence or business is in the Cherokee or Oncor utility area choose use our compare tool and it will let you know. For green energy please visit our voluntary sustainable energy offer.
Who has the cheapest electric rates in Bullard?
We signed up a commercial business at 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour but these cheaper rates have a lot to do with the size of the company and how they use their electricity. Commercial electric rates will be cheaper than residential rates. If you are a Bullard business you can be in our reverse auction to see who can offer the best electric rates in Bullard. 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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