Hi! I’m Keela McGraw, Arlington Texas Today co-founder and CearnalCo Realtor. Interested in homes for sale in Arlington? I’d love to help you find your next home. Click here to search current homes for sale in the area.When it comes to buying and/or owning a home, several decisions have to be made.
Some decisions are large. Some are small.
Some decisions will save you money. Others will cost you money…if you don’t choose correctly.
Managing your home utilities is a choice that is often overlooked. But when it comes down to it, you can save a bundle of money with a little bit of work. Especially with choosing an electric company.
This is due to a state law that passed over a decade ago.
In 1999, the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 7. Senate Bill 7 deregulated electricity in Texas. Deregulation gave consumers the option to choose between several electric companies in their market.
This is different from several other states where you typically only have one choice for electricity. People who relocate to the area are often surprised about this.
Cities and cooperatives that owned their own electric company did not have to opt-in to this law. An example of a local city that owns its own electric company is Denton. The City of Arlington does not own or operate an electric company. Therefore, residents can choose from a number of electric companies.
Of course when we have choices, you may need help deciding what company you should use.
The best way I’ve found to search for electric companies in Arlington TX is through PowertoChoose.org.
After Senate Bill 7 passed, the Texas Public Utilities Commission created the website. PowertoChoose.org allows consumers to enter their home zip code to compare electric companies.
PowertoChoose.org offers several options to narrow your search including:
- Estimate Use
- Price/kWh
- Contract Length
- Pricing and Billing
- Plan Types (fixed vs variable vs indexed)
- Company Score/Consumer ratings
You can use any or all of these options to determine which electric company best suits your needs.
Once you decide between electric companies in Arlington TX, you can click the “Sign Up” button on the company’s listing or call its phone number to become a customer. Some companies may require a require a credit check and/or deposit. Activation of service typically occurs within a few days. So the process is pretty darn quick and painless.
Do you have additional questions about electric companies in Arlington TX? Let us know in the comment section and I’ll be happy to help.
Photo credit: Kalexanderson