Once electricity became deregulated in the United States for certain states, everyone was relieved that they were no longer held under the local utility companies monopoly. A lot of customers end up overpaying for electricity because they are unaware of the processes.

Here are ways that you can effectively shop for electricity providers in Texas:

1. Don’t be scared to switch- Switching electricity providers is easier than you think it is. Whether you enroll online or over the phone just make sure you don’t have an outstanding balance before you switch providers.
2. Low Rates- If you find yourself overpaying for electricity that is definitely a warning sign that you should switch electricity providers.
3. Fixed Rate or Variable Rate- Decide if you want to lock in your rate for a whole year or go contract free with a variable rate. Variable rates change monthly according to the market. Fixed rates have security, but are part of a contract.
4. Know your usage- If you look at previous bills you can see your average kilowatt usage. Let’s say you use an average of 1000 kwh, finding a plan and look at the Electricity Facts Label to see how much the rate will be if you use 1000 kwh, also keep in mind for 2000 kwh usage for the summer usage.
5. Read the Electricity Facts Label, Your Rights as a Customer, and Terms of Service- An electricity customer should also be knowledge of their power to choose companies.

The idea is that once you have a low electricity rate; you will start seeing differences in your bill. Smart shopping for electricity helps customers be aware of their electric provider with their power to choose.