If you’re new to Texas, you’re about to be blown away by the number of energy companies there are in our fair state. Not only are there a ton of energy companies, but there are many different types of energy companies. You’ve got your retail electric providers, utility companies, solar farms, wind farms, nuclear power plants, and more.
To help you make sense of how the electricity and energy markets work in Texas, we’ll break things down in a way that’s easy to understand. We’ll look at the three different types of energy companies, and then delve into the different types of companies in each category. Let’s get started!
- Energy Companies versus Electric Companies
- Different Types of Energy Companies
- Solar Energy Companies
- Renewable Resource Energy Companies
- Green and Clean Energy Companies
- Conclusion
Energy Companies versus Electric Companies
The first thing to understand about electricity in Texas is that there’s a difference between energy companies and electric companies. While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, energy company usually refers to companies that create electricity out of various forms of energy. These include entities that produce solar, wind, and nuclear power, as well as gas, oil, and coal companies.
Electricity companies, on the other hand, usually refer to retail electric providers who buy electricity from energy companies and sell it to residential and business customers throughout Texas. The reason that people often get confused when discussing electricity versus energy companies is that the terms are used interchangeably.
To give you an idea of the sheer amount of energy and electricity companies in Texas, here’s a rundown of the numbers.
There are more than 130 retail electric providers that buy and sell electricity.
There are more than 500 companies that create electricity from renewable resources such as wind, water, and the sun.
There are more than 100 gas and oil companies that dig, mine, and drill for fossil fuels.
There are only two major nuclear power plants, but they contribute nearly 10% of the state’s electricity.
Different Types of Energy Companies
While there are more than 1,000 different energy companies in Texas, there are three main categories you can place them in.
Power Generators
Power generators are the energy companies that produce electricity out of fossil fuels, nuclear power, or renewable resources. There are more power generators in Texas than any other type of energy companies.
Retail Electric Providers (REPs)
REPs, like GoodCharlie Energy, are electricity companies that you buy your electricity from and to whom you pay your monthly bill. REPs buy electricity from power generators at wholesale cost and sell it to residential and business customers at a profit.
Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs)
TDUs are the utility companies that make sure electricity make it from power generators to your home or business. They’re the energy companies that keep the world of electricity spinning and in order. There are only six different TDUs in Texas and they’re responsible for the power lines, poles, meters, and underground cables that carry electricity. They’re also responsible to restore electricity if there’s a power outage.
Solar Energy Companies
Texas ranks in the top of the country in many different categories, and solar power is one of them. In terms of energy potential, Texas ranks in the number one position in the country. There are currently more than 500 solar farms that are dedicated to producing electricity out of the solar energy. Additionally, more than 200,000 homes and businesses in Texas receive their electricity from solar power.
Nuclear Power Plants
Texas is attempting to move away from nuclear power plants because of the danger they present and the damage they cause to the atmosphere. To date, however, roughly 10% of all of Texas’ electricity comes from nuclear power plants.
Renewable Resource Energy Companies
While solar power is definitely a type of energy from a renewable resource, we wanted to give it its own dedicated category. While there are more solar power plants than any other type of renewable energy plant in Texas, they can’t hold a candle to wind farms. Wind farms are responsible for supplying over 15% of all the electricity in Texas, making it the top wind power state in the nation.
In an effort to further the cause of renewable energy, GoodCharlie Energy is proud to offer several renewable resource electricity plans. When you sign up for a renewable electricity plan, 100% of your monthly bill is directed towards the creation and research of renewable energy. Signing up for this type of plan may also include additional perks and benefits.
Fossil Fuel Energy Companies
While Texas is also trying to move away from using fossil fuels to create electricity, it’s still far and away the top energy source. There are hundreds of coal, gas, and oil companies in Texas, and they’re responsible for producing well over half of the electricity in Texas. There’s more stress now than ever on using renewable resources to produce electricity, but fossil fuels are still the most common and affordable method of doing so.
As you can see, there are hundreds of energy and electricity companies in Texas. While they all have the same goal of either producing or selling electricity, REPs are the ones that you get to choose.
Conclusion
As with most things, the best electricity prices are typically offered by the best companies, which are REPs with your interests in mind rather than just their own. GoodCharlie Energy is one of those few companies. While we might be a new REP, we have years of experience in the world of Texas electricity. We also have the mission of looking out, not just for you but for every member of your household, including your dogs.
In fact, we offer our customers a pet emergency fund, 24/7 vet video access, and a promise to support local shelters. Our goal is to provide you with the best electricity rates and service in Texas and make sure that dogs in Texas are safe and cared for. If you want the best electricity rates in Texas and care about dogs as much as we do, look no further than GoodCharlie Energy.
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