The state of Texas has offered consumers the power to choose their electricity provider since 2002. This means that if you’re a Texas resident and you’re not happy with the service your power company has been offering, you can get different service. You can choose from companies that offer better quality customer service, renewable energy sources, and many other features that your current provider may not have. Let’s take a look at the details.

Before deregulation was put into effect, only one utility would manage power distribution, transmission and sales in an area. That meant you had no other options. Today, the same company you used to use maintains the distribution and transmission of the electricity, but other companies handle sales and billing. That means that you can work with the business that offers what you want. The reliability and safety of energy distribution are overseen by the Public Utility Commission, to prevent problems in the long run.

Keep in mind, the entire state of Texas doesn’t necessarily have this option. The good news is that about 75% do, which means the electric company doesn’t have complete control over those bills. In fact, places like San Antonio and Austin still have the same rules as year’s past. If you’re trying to figure out what side of the fence you’re on, just speak with your city utility or co-op to get a concrete answer.

Even though this law has been in effect for just about eight years, the future still looks brighter. Even though deregulation can help with customer service issues or prices, the main benefit will be having the option to use renewable resources. In fact, if you take a Sunday cruise around the state you would find that there are tons of wind farms being built to fight constant air and water pollutants.

Texans are encouraged to shop for good prices and good service, and it’s easier than it’s ever been. After all, there are plenty of informative websites out there that give you the information you need to decide which energy supplier is right for you. The most advanced sites let you compare power prices in real time without needing to leave the website, and can even place orders. These orders go right to the electric company you decide will be the best choice for your situation.

Once you’ve made all the comparisons, picked a new electricity provider and had your order accepted by the company, you should expect to receive a terms of service agreement from them, as well as some information listing your rights as one of their customers. There’s no need to get in touch with your current provider – that’s all going to be handled by the new one. You’ll get a notice of your change request in the mail, and the change of service will happen the next time you have your meter read. You’ll get bills from the old company until you’ve paid in full, and once that final bill is paid, you’ll start getting ones from the new provider.

It’s a wonderful thing to have choices, and this is all it takes to have one with your electric companies. The new company’s electric will be just as reliable as the old since everything happens in the same frequency. What you will find is that change isn’t something to be afraid of in regards to your Texas electric. You will get the rates, how the energy is produced, and the support you need to make life easier. So you can see why having more control over this is important for you and your family.

The first thing to do like we mentioned earlier is to figure out your options. Your service can only get better thanks to the competitive market, which makes this an exciting change for everyone. Plus, when people are able to switch to renewable resources, the environment will be a better place for everyone.

Author: Jerry Dyess has been in the Texas Electricity business for the past 7 years. He has published many articles on Texas Electric rates.