Last updated: October 28, 2026. Sources checked: October 28, 2026 (PUCT delivery-rate reports, the full Power to Choose offer list from October 27, 10 plan EFLs re-downloaded and unchanged, and EIA retail sales data through August 2026).
Power to Choose shows each plan’s price at exactly 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. Real homes don’t land on those numbers, and on a bill-credit plan a few kWh either side of the threshold can move one month’s bill by more than $100. This calculator takes the numbers printed on a plan’s Electricity Facts Label (EFL) and prices it at your own usage, one month or a full year.
GridPenny is written from Rosenberg in Fort Bend County, where my family moved in 2025, so CenterPoint is the default delivery utility. Oncor, both AEP Texas areas and TNMP are in the drop-down.
Key takeaways
- In the Power to Choose list for CenterPoint’s area on October 27, 2026, the five lowest 1,000 kWh prices all came from bill-credit plans, at 6.2¢ to 8.4¢. At 500 kWh the same five cost 18.9¢ to 20.6¢ (Power to Choose export).
- We ran the average 2025 Texas home (13,317 kWh, from EIA data) through three 12-month plans. A $125-credit plan labeled 6.9¢ came to $1,582.81 for the year, $12.09 more than a plain plan labeled 11.8¢ (GridPenny calculation).
- Home size flips the result. Using 25% less, the credit plan cost $509.17 more a year; using 25% more, it cost $234.75 less (GridPenny calculation).
- The average Texas home used 1,670 kWh in August 2026 (EIA), just past the 1,644 kWh point where that credit plan stops beating the plain one.
The calculator
Texas electricity plan cost calculator
The plan numbers filled in are an example copied from one CenterPoint bill-credit plan's EFL on October 27, 2026, and the 12 months are the 2025 Texas average. Replace them with your plan's EFL and your own usage.
| EFL check | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average price (¢/kWh) |
These three should match the top row of the plan's EFL, to the tenth of a cent. If they don't, an input is off.
Estimates before sales tax and the gross receipts reimbursement. Doesn't cover time-of-use plans, tiered energy charges, prepaid fees or one-off charges.
If the calculator doesn’t load (it needs JavaScript), you can do the math by hand: monthly bill = base charge + delivery fixed charge + kWh × (energy charge + delivery per-kWh charge), minus the bill credit if your usage qualifies, plus any minimum-usage fee. Divide by kWh for the effective price.
How to use it
- Open the plan’s EFL. Every Power to Choose listing links to one. Our EFL guide walks through each line.
- Copy the energy charge (¢ per kWh) and the base charge ($ per month). Some EFLs call the energy charge the “energy rate” or “contract price”.
- If there’s a bill credit, enter the dollar amount and the usage where it starts. Read the wording closely: “at least 1,000 kWh” and “more than 1,000 kWh” differ at exactly 1,000, so tick the box if the EFL says “more than” or “greater than”. A credit with an upper limit goes in the “stops above” box. An autopay or paperless credit that applies every month is a credit starting at 0 kWh.
- Add any minimum-usage fee and the usage it applies below.
- Pick your delivery utility and compare its numbers with the delivery lines on the EFL. If they differ, type the EFL’s numbers to check the label, then switch back to see the bill at current rates.
- Enter 12 months of usage from your bills or from Smart Meter Texas. The “EFL check” row should match the top of the EFL to the tenth of a cent. If it doesn’t, an input is off.
| Calculator box | What the EFL calls it | On the GridPlus 12 EFL |
|---|---|---|
| Energy charge | Energy charge, energy rate, contract price | 12.42¢ per kWh |
| Base charge | Base charge, base monthly charge, customer charge | $0 per billing cycle |
| Bill credit | Usage credit, bill credit, service fee credit | $125 per billing cycle when usage >=1000 kWh |
| Minimum-usage fee | Minimum usage charge or fee | N/A |
| Delivery | TDU or TDSP delivery charges | $4.9 per billing cycle and 6.5333¢ per kWh |
Example: here is how that plan adds up at 1,200 kWh. Energy: 1,200 × 12.42¢ = $149.04. Delivery: $4.90 + 1,200 × 6.5333¢ = $4.90 + $78.40. Credit: −$125.00. Total $107.34, or 8.9¢ per kWh, before sales tax. That is an estimate from the EFL terms, not a real bill.
Delivery charges built into the calculator
Every provider in a delivery area passes through the same TDU charges, so the calculator fills them in. These are residential rates effective October 1, 2026, from the rate report each utility files with the PUCT, re-downloaded Oct 28, 2026 and unchanged. The full CenterPoint breakdown is in our CenterPoint delivery charges explainer.
| TDU | Fixed per month | Per kWh | Delivery at 1,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| CenterPoint | $4.90 ($2.11 + $2.79) | 6.5333¢ | $70.23 |
| Oncor | $4.06 ($1.48 + $2.58) | 6.0295¢ | $64.36 |
| AEP Texas Central | $3.24 ($1.27 + $1.97) | 5.7¢ published; 5.7175¢ used* | $60.42 |
| AEP Texas North | $3.24 ($1.27 + $1.97) | 5.6¢ published; 5.603¢ used* | $59.27 |
| TNMP | $7.56 ($1.70 + $5.86) | 7.7710¢ | $85.27 |
A catch in the fine print: four of the ten EFLs we checked still list CenterPoint delivery at 6.413¢ per kWh instead of 6.5333¢. Three are AP Gas & Electric labels dated October 27, 2026 and one is a Think Energy label dated October 15. The PUCT’s EFL rule lets a fixed price change to reflect actual TDU charges (16 TAC §25.475), so price those plans at the current rate. At 1,000 kWh the difference is about $1.20 a month.
Most of the EFLs also warn that some cities add a TDU underground facilities cost recovery charge that isn’t in the label prices. If your city has one, the calculator won’t include it either.
GridPenny analysis: how the effective price swings with usage
We downloaded the full Power to Choose offer list on October 27, 2026 and kept the 179 English-language residential listings in CenterPoint’s area. 13 are flagged for minimum-usage fees or credits. We compared them with the 139 plain fixed-rate plans (no credits or fees, no time-of-use pricing, not prepaid).
| Median of each group | 500 kWh | 1,000 kWh | 2,000 kWh | Typical swing between the three |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill-credit or minimum-usage plans (13) | 19.8¢ | 9.9¢ | 13.8¢ | 13.0¢ |
| Plain fixed-rate plans (139) | 13.6¢ | 13.1¢ | 12.8¢ | 0.7¢ |
A plain plan’s price hardly moves with usage. The typical credit plan swings by 13.0¢ and only looks cheap in the 1,000 kWh column. To see what that does to a real usage pattern, we picked three 12-month CenterPoint plans from the October 27 list whose EFLs already use the current delivery rate. We name them only because their EFLs let us check the math. This is a one-day snapshot, not a recommendation, and these offers may have changed by the time you read this.
- Chariot Energy GridPlus 12: 12.42¢ energy charge, $125 credit at 1,000 kWh or more. Label: 19.9¢ / 6.9¢ / 12.9¢. Early termination: $15 for each month left.
- Spark Energy Sure Saver 12: 11.39¢, $100 credit when usage is “greater than 1,000 kWh”. Label: 18.9¢ / 8.4¢ / 13.2¢. Early termination: $100, waived if you move and give a forwarding address.
- True Power True Value 12: 4.82¢, no base charge, no credit. Label: 12.3¢ / 11.8¢ / 11.6¢. Early termination: $300. At 11.8¢ it tied for the lowest 1,000 kWh price among plain 12-month plans that day.
| Monthly use | GridPlus 12 | Sure Saver 12 | True Value 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $99.67 (19.9¢) | $94.52 (18.9¢) | $61.67 (12.3¢) |
| 999 kWh | $194.24 (19.4¢) | $183.95 (18.4¢) | $118.32 (11.8¢) |
| 1,000 kWh | $69.43 (6.9¢) | $184.13 (18.4¢) | $118.43 (11.8¢) |
| 1,001 kWh | $69.62 (7.0¢) | $84.31 (8.4¢) | $118.55 (11.8¢) |
| 1,200 kWh | $107.34 (8.9¢) | $119.98 (10.0¢) | $141.14 (11.8¢) |
| 1,500 kWh | $164.20 (10.9¢) | $173.75 (11.6¢) | $175.20 (11.7¢) |
| 2,000 kWh | $258.97 (12.9¢) | $263.37 (13.2¢) | $231.97 (11.6¢) |
| 2,500 kWh | $353.73 (14.1¢) | $352.98 (14.1¢) | $288.73 (11.5¢) |
The credit plans only win inside a window. GridPlus 12 beats True Value 12 from 1,000 to about 1,644 kWh; Sure Saver 12 wins from 1,001 to about 1,522 kWh. Fall one kWh short and the gap goes the other way: at 999 kWh GridPlus costs $75.92 more than the plain plan, and at exactly 1,000 kWh Sure Saver costs $65.70 more. Overshoot in a hot month and the higher energy charge takes over: at 2,500 kWh GridPlus costs $65.00 more.
Texas summers already push past the top of the window. EIA’s figures put the average Texas home at 1,583 kWh in July 2026 and 1,670 kWh in August (EIA). At 1,583 kWh GridPlus 12 comes in $4.69 under the plain plan; at 1,670 kWh it’s $1.92 over.
Over a full year
One month doesn’t settle it, so we priced a whole year. The middle profile is the average Texas home in 2025: residential kWh divided by customers, month by month, from EIA retail sales data, which runs from 807 kWh in April to 1,508 kWh in August. The other two profiles scale every month by 25% down or up, our stand-ins for a smaller and a bigger home.
| Usage profile | GridPlus 12 | Sure Saver 12 | True Value 12 | Months the credit paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25% less (9,989 kWh) | $1,702.05 | $1,649.16 | $1,192.88 | 2 of 12 |
| Typical (13,317 kWh) | $1,582.81 | $1,645.65 | $1,570.72 | 8 of 12 |
| 25% more (16,648 kWh) | $1,714.15 | $1,842.67 | $1,948.90 | 12 of 12 |
For the typical home it’s close to a tie: GridPlus 12 cost $12.09 more over the year, an effective 11.89¢ against 11.79¢, even though its label says 6.9¢ against 11.8¢ at 1,000 kWh. The smaller home reached 1,000 kWh in only 2 months and paid $509.17 more on the credit plan. The bigger home earned the credit every month, stayed inside the window in 10 of them, and saved $234.75.
A bill-credit plan is a bet that your usage stays in a narrow band, and the 1,000 kWh column hides how narrow it is. On these numbers, unless most of your 12 months fall between about 1,000 and 1,600 kWh, the plain plan is the safer pick. Leaving early costs money too: six months in, GridPlus 12 would charge $90 to cancel (6 × $15), Sure Saver 12 $100 and True Value 12 $300, going by each EFL.
We tested the calculator against 10 real EFLs
A calculator is only worth using if it reproduces the label. We entered the terms from ten CenterPoint EFLs, using each label’s own delivery figures, and compared the three averages. All ten matched to the tenth of a cent. We re-downloaded all ten on October 28 and none had changed.
| Plan (EFL) | Terms entered | EFL ¢ at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 | Calculator, unrounded | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chariot Energy GridPlus 12 | 12.42¢; $125 credit at ≥1,000 kWh | 19.9 / 6.9 / 12.9 | 19.93 / 6.94 / 12.95 | Yes |
| Spark Energy Sure Saver 12 | 11.39¢; $100 credit above 1,000 kWh | 18.9 / 8.4 / 13.2 | 18.90 / 8.41 / 13.17 | Yes |
| AP Gas & Electric SimpleSaver 12 | 12.397¢; $125 credit at ≥1,000 kWh; delivery 6.413¢ | 19.8 / 6.8 / 12.8 | 19.79 / 6.80 / 12.80 | Yes |
| AP Gas & Electric SimpleSaver 3 | 11.797¢; $125 credit at ≥1,000 kWh; delivery 6.413¢ | 19.2 / 6.2 / 12.2 | 19.19 / 6.20 / 12.21 | Yes |
| True Power True Value 12 | 4.82¢ | 12.3 / 11.8 / 11.6 | 12.33 / 11.84 / 11.60 | Yes |
| AP Gas & Electric True Classic 12 | 5.097¢; delivery 6.413¢ | 12.5 / 12.0 / 11.8 | 12.49 / 12.00 / 11.76 | Yes |
| Gexa Energy Gexa Eco Choice 3 | 3.32¢ | 10.8 / 10.3 / 10.1 | 10.83 / 10.34 / 10.10 | Yes |
| SmartEnergy SmartGreen 3 | 2.78¢ + $4.95 base | 11.3 / 10.3 / 9.8 | 11.28 / 10.30 / 9.81 | Yes |
| Think Energy Think Basic 3 | 3.0¢ + $4.95 base; delivery 6.413¢ | 11.4 / 10.4 / 9.9 | 11.38 / 10.40 / 9.90 | Yes |
| Rhythm Digital Choice 3 | 3.926¢; $5 autopay credit | 10.4 / 10.4 / 10.5 | 10.44 / 10.45 / 10.45 | Yes |
Two things turned up. Spark’s EFL says the $100 credit applies “if your monthly usage is greater than 1,000 kWh”, but its printed 1,000 kWh price of 8.4¢ only works if the credit is paid at exactly 1,000. Read strictly, that column would be 18.4¢. The calculator’s “more than” box lets you test both readings; ask the provider before counting on the credit at exactly 1,000.
Second, an autopay credit like Rhythm’s $5 works as a credit that starts at 0 kWh, with conditions. Rhythm’s EFL drops it in any billing cycle where you turn off autopay or paperless billing, don’t keep a valid email on file, or your latest invoice is overdue.
What to do next
- Get 12 months of your own usage. Download it from Smart Meter Texas or copy it from your last 12 bills, and note your highest summer month.
- Shortlist three plans on Power to Choose, at least one of them a plain fixed-rate plan. Open each EFL, run all three through the calculator with your 12 months, and compare the yearly totals rather than the 1,000 kWh column.
- Before you enroll, read the contract term, the cancellation fee and the exact credit wording on the EFL (here’s how), and save a copy of the EFL with its version number.
FAQ
Why won’t my real bill match the calculator exactly?
EFL prices, and this calculator, leave out sales tax and the gross receipts reimbursement. Your billing cycle won’t match a calendar month, some cities add an underground facilities charge, and delivery rates can change during a contract. Expect a small gap, not a big one.
What effective price counts as good?
In the October 27 list, the median plain fixed-rate plan in CenterPoint’s area showed 13.1¢ at 1,000 kWh and the lowest plain 12-month plans showed 11.8¢. For wider context, EIA’s average Texas residential price for August 2026 was 15.91¢ (U.S.: 18.16¢), but that average covers every utility and isn’t an EFL price, so compare yearly totals across plans instead.
Does it work outside the Houston area?
Yes, for Oncor, AEP Texas Central, AEP Texas North and TNMP customers. It doesn’t apply to city-owned utilities or co-ops where you can’t pick a provider; our move-in guide shows how to tell which you have.
Can it price free nights or other time-of-use plans?
No. Those plans charge different rates by hour, so you’d need your usage split by time of day. Our free nights guide covers that math.
Are bill-credit plans a scam?
No. The terms are on the EFL and the math works as written. They suit homes whose usage stays inside the credit window and cost more for homes that drift out of it.
How we got these numbers
Delivery rates come from the October 1, 2026 rate reports each utility files with the PUCT. Plan terms come from ten EFLs linked in the October 27, 2026 Power to Choose export; we downloaded the reports and EFLs that day and again on October 28 and found no changes. The calculator adds the base charge, the delivery fixed charge, and energy and delivery per kWh, then subtracts any credit you qualify for and adds any minimum-usage fee, the same way the EFLs describe their prices.
The plan comparison uses three 12-month plans listed on October 27, 2026, priced with CenterPoint’s current delivery rate held constant for a year. The typical-year usage is EIA’s 2025 Texas residential sales divided by customers for each month, which includes city utilities and co-ops; the July and August 2026 figures are computed the same way. The 25% smaller and larger homes are our own scaling of that profile, not survey data. Taxes are excluded throughout. Offers change daily, and naming these plans isn’t a recommendation.
Sources
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: TDU delivery rates and rate reports for CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP Texas and TNMP, as of Oct 1, 2026. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- PUCT Substantive Rule §25.475 (EFL and contract disclosures). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Power to Choose and its full offer export, snapshot of Oct 27, 2026: 179 English-language residential listings in CenterPoint’s area.
- Electricity Facts Labels for the ten plans in the validation table, linked there, fetched Oct 27, 2026 and re-checked Oct 28, 2026.
- U.S. EIA electricity retail sales data: Texas and U.S. residential sales, customers and average price by month, 2025 to August 2026. Checked Oct 28, 2026.