As the seasons change and the cooler weather begins, electricity costs are not as high. Though many people still use electricity to heat their homes, the overall costs are still significantly lower. From holiday Christmas lights, Halloween lights, or even spending more time in the kitchen; during the fall season there is always an opportunity to lower your electricity bill. During the fall season is the best time to get locked in a lower electricity rate; especially if you live in Texas. The electricity companies have lower rates between January – Late March and from September to December. If you are in a contract the worst case scenario is that you do not want to be ending your contract during the summer months. If you are on a contract free month to month plan, you are at a bigger risk because there is no certainty on what your rate will be for that particular month. Example: Your electricity rate for the month of August could be 14 cents, and then the next month September you could be paying 9 cents. The month to month plan is based on market rate, and fluctuates up and down each month. Fixed rate or variable rate: Customers fall into one or two categories; fixed contract customers or variable month to month customers. Variable customers take the risk with the electricity market price, while fixed customers lock in their rate for the length of the contract; which adds more security. A variable rate might be a great deal with the first couple of months, but goes up especially during summer. Fixed rates are a great security blanket knowing your rate won’t change for the length of the term you choose. Customer Support: Does the company have a helpful customer service base? Make a list of what questions you might want to ask a customer service representative, and see what solutions they can provider you based on your electricity requirements. Customer support representatives will be very crucial in your relationship with your energy provider so making sure that you are comfortable with them will help you in the long run. Monthly Fees: It is very crucial to know your electricity providers fee structure. Essentially when choosing an electricity provider you should be informed of the early termination fee and the deposit amount if required. Also, you should ask if there are any hidden or late fees for late bill payments. Renewable electricity products: When opting for a “renewable electricity” product you should know how much of the product is actually renewable. Some companies will have a renewable electricity product, but only have 12% of it actually renewable. A renewable electricity product that is 100% renewable will always be a little pricier. Refer to the Electricity Facts Label to see the percentage of clean energy source.