GoodCharlie Blog

Prepaid Electricity in Dallas: Is It Right for Me?

Written by Daryl Lawrence | Dec 15, 2022 3:40:46 PM

When it comes to choosing the right electricity plan in Dallas, there are seemingly endless options to choose from. You have hundreds of fixed-rate and variable-rate plans, flat-rate plans, and now, even prepaid electricity plans. While prepaid electricity plans might sound good in theory, they’re rife with possible problems and issues. 

So, if you reside in Dallas and are trying to choose the right electricity plan, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about prepaid Dallas electricity plans, as well as if it’s the right choice for you. Finally, we’ll discuss your alternatives and why you should contact us at GoodCharlie Energy for a first-class fixed-rate electricity plan. 

 

  1. What is Prepaid Electricity in Dallas? 
  2. How Do Prepaid Electricity Plans in Dallas Work? 
  3. Is Prepaid Electricity in Dallas Right for Me? 
  4. Why Is GoodCharlie Energy the Best Alternative to Prepaid Electricity in Dallas? 
  5.  

What is Prepaid Electricity in Dallas? 

Prepaid electricity in Dallas works the same way that a prepaid phone or internet plan would. You pay for electricity before you use it and do your best not to go over the limit. Prepaid electricity plans are on a month-to-month basis, which means there’s a lot of flexibility and no commitment on your end. You can decide at the start of every new month if you’re happy with your plan or if you want to pursue an alternative. 

While the structure and setup of prepaid electricity in Dallas is unique, the actual electricity doesn’t change. You’ll still purchase electricity from a retail electric provider who purchases it from a power-generating plant. Your REP will then work with your local utility company to ensure that electricity makes it to your home. Your utility company will also work to restore power in case of an outage. 

How Do Prepaid Electricity Plans in Dallas Work? 

Here’s how the process works. 

  1. You sign up for a prepaid electricity plan. 
  2. You determine at the start of each month how much electricity you are going to use. 
  3. You pay for the electricity before you use it, which eliminates any liability for the electricity company. 
  4. You use your allotted electricity, being careful not to go over the limit. 
  5. If you go over the limit, there are additional penalties and fees involved. 
  6. At the end of each month, you decide whether or not to purchase more electricity from the same company, or if you want to pursue a new electricity plan. 
  7.  

 

Is Prepaid Electricity in Dallas Right for Me? 


To determine whether or not prepaid electricity in Dallas is right for you, you should make a list of pros and cons. Or, you can check out our comprehensive list below! 

Pros of Prepaid Electricity 

Flexibility 

The biggest advantage of prepaid electricity is that the plans are very flexible. Because you pay for electricity before you use it, you can simply decide that you don’t want to buy more electricity. You purchase it on a monthly basis, which means that you can opt in or out of the plan at the end of each month. 

No Commitment 

Because prepaid plans are on a monthly basis, you don’t have to sign a contract locking you in for several months or years. 

No Down Payment or Deposit

Because you’re paying for electricity in full before you use it, there’s no down payment or deposit. Additionally, since there’s no risk to the power company, they usually don’t require a credit check or background check. 

Cons of Prepaid Electricity

Higher Rates 

The biggest disadvantage of prepaid electricity is that it often comes at a higher rate than traditional electricity plans. Unlike fixed and variable-rate plans, prepaid plans don’t have usage tiers where you pay more or less depending on your usage. Therefore, to compensate, they charge a higher overall rate. On average, people pay two to three cents more for prepaid electricity than they do for traditional plans. 

No Additional Benefits 

Another downside of prepaid electricity plans is that they usually don’t come with any additional perks or benefits. The reason for this is that there’s no guarantee that you’ll re-enroll in your plan at the end of the month. As a result, power companies don’t want to give you a bunch of discounts, gifts, and benefits when you might choose a new plan after one month. 

Power Outages

While higher rates and no benefits are big disadvantages on the money side of things, there are also safety considerations in play. In recent years, thousands of people on prepaid electricity plans throughout Texas have had their power cut off without warning when they exceed their monthly allowance. 

Power companies aren’t obligated to give you notice or warning when you’re about to have your power cut. They also don’t have to warn you when you’re approaching your monthly limit. You’ll simply have power one second, and have it terminated the next. If this happens on a weekend, you’ll likely be out of power until the following Monday, which could be dangerous if there are extreme temperatures involved. 

Why Is GoodCharlie Energy the Best Alternative to Prepaid Electricity in Dallas? 

If you don’t think that month-to-month electricity is right for you, you should consider a fixed-rate plan from GoodCharlie Energy. We’re one of the newest and best retail electric providers in Texas, and we exclusively offer fixed-rate electricity plans. We also like to keep things simple, which means we offer three plan options to our customers when they live in one of our service areas. 

Fixed-rate plans from GoodCharlie offer more stability, reliability, and lower rates than prepaid electricity in Dallas. We also have outstanding rewards and benefits, especially for Texans who own and love pets. We offer things like 24/7 video vet access, a $750 pet emergency fund, and more! Here are a few other reasons to consider enrolling in a plan with GoodCharlie. 

 

  • Unmatched Pack Benefits that are geared towards helping your pets stay safe. 
  • A dedication to making Texas the best place for a dog to live in. 
  • Outstanding customer service and a handy blog to answer all your pet and electricity questions. 
  • We’re partnered with several of the top animal shelters in Houston and send monthly donations their way. 
  • Renewable energy options on each of our plans. 

 

To date, we’ve donated nearly $50,000 to animal shelters and have impacted the lives of more than 300 animals. We’re truly a company that cares about more than the bottom line, and we’d love to partner with you. Contact us to make the change to GoodCharlie and start saving money and lives today!