Best Electric Company in Houston? Prices vs. Complaints
· Updated
There is no official “best” electric company in Houston, but the state does publish two things you can combine: prices and complaints. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) rates every provider on its complaint rate, and Power to Choose lists every plan. Crossing them on October 19, 2026: the providers with the fewest complaints offered simple fixed plans at 12.4 to 14.9 cents per kWh. Some of the very cheapest simple plans, at about 11.9 cents, came from providers in the highest-complaint group. Whichever you pick, CenterPoint Energy still delivers your power and fixes outages.
Houston providers with the fewest complaints, and their prices
The PUCT’s scorecard (March–August 2026) sorts providers into five roughly equal groups by complaints per 1,000 customers. Five circles means the lowest complaint rate; four, lower than average. Below is each top-rated provider’s cheapest simple fixed plan in Houston (77002) — plans whose 500 and 2,000 kWh prices are close to the 1,000 kWh price, so no usage-based bill credits:
| Provider (plan) | Complaints | ¢/kWh at 1,000 | Cancel fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gexa Energy (Eco Choice 12) | ●●●●○ | 12.4 | $150 |
| Southern Federal Power (Easy Out Fixed 15) | ●●●●○ | 12.6 | $99 |
| Spark Energy (Choose 12) | ●●●●● | 13.0 | $100 |
| Revolution Energy (Stars and Stripes 12) | ●●●●● | 13.2 | $200 |
| BKV Energy (Daisy 12) | ●●●●● | 13.7 | $20/mo. |
| Constellation (Simple Switch 11) | ●●●●● | 13.9 | $50 |
| Champion Energy (Champ Saver-12) | ●●●●● | 14.1 | $150 |
| TriEagle Energy (Simple Savings 12) | ●●●●○ | 14.2 | $20/mo. |
| Direct Energy (Autopay Texas 12) | ●●●●○ | 14.6 | $150 |
| Good Charlie (GoodEnergy 12) | ●●●●● | 14.8 | $20/mo. |
| Reliant (Power On 18) | ●●●●○ | 14.9 | $180 |
TXU Energy and NEC Co-op Energy also score five circles, but on October 19 neither had a simple fixed plan listed for Houston: TXU’s only listing was a free-nights plan at 19.1 cents, and NEC’s a variable plan at 16.6. When a free-nights plan pays off: free nights electricity in Texas.
For comparison, the median 12-month fixed plan in Houston was 12.9 cents. At 1,000 kWh a month, the gap between 12.4 and 14.9 cents is about $25 a month.
Cheapest isn’t always best
The cheapest simple fixed plans in Houston on October 19 were 11.8 to 12.2 cents. One of them, from AP Gas & Electric (11.9 cents), comes from a provider in the scorecard’s highest-complaint group. So do Chariot Energy and the prepaid providers Payless Power and Pronto Power.
And the plans at the top of the price list — 6 to 7 cents at 1,000 kWh — jump to 19 or 20 cents at 500 kWh because of bill credits. We explain that trap in cheapest electricity plans in Texas.
How to read the complaint scorecard
Per the PUCT’s own notes:
- It’s a six-month rolling average of complaints per 1,000 customers, compared with other providers.
- It counts every informal complaint investigated, whether or not the company was at fault.
- Scores of small providers can swing month to month on just a few complaints.
- It is only one measure of customer service; the PUCT also suggests checking your local Better Business Bureau.
You can see each provider’s score next to its plans on Power to Choose.
How to pick a provider in Houston
- Check your monthly kWh on past bills, including summer months.
- On Power to Choose, enter your ZIP and compare prices at your usage, not just 1,000 kWh.
- Check the complaint score of the providers you like.
- Open the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) for the cancellation fee, minimum-usage charges and contract length.
- Sign up with the new provider — it handles the switch through ERCOT. You don’t need to call your old provider. The switch takes about seven business days with no gap in service, and you have three business days to cancel.
If you’re 65 or older and current on your electric bills, no provider can require a deposit: see no-deposit electricity in Texas.
Who to call in a Houston power outage
CenterPoint Energy, not your electricity provider. CenterPoint owns the poles, wires and meters across the Houston area, so switching providers doesn’t change reliability. Report outages online at centerpointenergy.com/outage or call 713-207-2222. If you see a downed line, stay at least 35 feet away and call the same number.
Will Venezuelan oil lower electricity bills in Texas?
With the new U.S.-Venezuela oil contracts, many expect energy in Texas to get cheaper. For electricity, the direct effect is small: the Texas grid (ERCOT) makes almost all its power from natural gas (43%), wind and solar (36%), coal and nuclear, per the EIA for January to September 2025; oil is barely used to generate electricity. Venezuelan crude does reach Texas Gulf Coast refineries, and through them gasoline, which hasn’t fallen yet either: will Venezuelan oil lower U.S. gas prices?. What lowers your bill today is picking the right plan.
What this page can’t tell you
- Tomorrow’s prices. These are from October 19, 2026; plans change daily.
- Which provider is right for you. That depends on your usage. This page doesn’t recommend any provider.
The same comparison for Dallas: best electric company in Dallas.