If you haven't noticed yet, the electricity market in Texas is confusing and highly competitive. Adding to the confusion is that power companies are constantly coming up with new tricks and gimmicks to entice you into signing up with them. One of these many tricks is the idea of free nights and electricity plans.
Free nights and electricity plans are becoming increasingly popular in Texas. They truly offer free power during certain parts of the day and night and are a decent option for night owls and weekend warriors. However, free nights and weekend plans certainly aren't for everyone, and it's essential to know their whole story before signing up for one. Contact us to learn more or to find an alternate plan.
- What is a Free Nights and Weekends Electricity Plan, and How Do They Work?
- What's the Downside of Free Nights and Weekends Electricity Plans?
- Are Free Nights and Weekends Electricity Plans Worth It?
- What Else Should I Look for in an Electricity Plan?
- The Benefit of Choosing GoodCharlie Energy
What is a Free Nights and Weekends Electricity Plan, and How Do They Work?
As the name indicates, a free nights and weekends electricity plan is where you have periods of free electricity on the nights and weekends. Depending on the type of plan you sign up for, you may qualify for free nights, free weekends, or sometimes both.
With free night plans, you typically get free electricity from 8 PM to 6 or 7 AM Monday through Thursday and sometimes Friday. With free weekend plans, you get free electricity from Friday evening until Sunday at midnight.
Remember that the fine details might vary from company to company, but that's a general idea. Some companies will also add weekend evenings as part of the free night plan.
Why do Companies Offer Free Nights and Weekends Plans
Don't be fooled by thinking that electricity companies offer this type of plan out of the goodness of their heart. They actually offer them because of the daily stress that's on the power grid in Texas. You see, most companies and people use most of their electricity during the day because that's when the work is being done, and people are most active.
As a result, the power grid often comes close to being overloaded, especially on extremely hot summer days. Free nights and weekend plans are designed to combat that by enticing people to use more electricity during the evening and less during the day. The grid has much more capacity than it needs during the evening and on weekends because most businesses don't operate at full capacity on the weekends.
What's the Downside of Free Nights and Weekends Electricity Plans?
The idea of having free electricity during the evening and on weekends sounds great! Right? While this type of plan sounds good on the face of it, it comes with several downsides.
Expensive Electricity During the Day
The main downside of free night and weekend electricity plans is that you'll pay more for electricity during the day. To compensate for the money they lose on free electricity, power companies will jack up their prices during the day. In most instances, you'll pay anywhere from 5 to 10 more cents/kWh for your electricity than those on other types of plans. Therefore, it's important to evaluate when you use the most electricity.
Other Benefits May Not be Available
Companies that offer the benefit of free electricity sometimes don't offer other benefits.
Customer Service is Harder to Reach at Night
The third reason that free nights and weekends electricity plans aren't all they're cracked up to be is because of customer service. If you use most of your electricity during the evening or on the weekend, that's probably when you'll have the most questions, concerns, and power outages. Unfortunately, most REPs in Texas don't have customer service on call 24/7.
Therefore, if you have a power outage, you'll have to wait until morning to contact your power company, losing an entire night of free electricity.
Are Free Nights and Weekends Electricity Plans Worth It?
The only time that free nights and weekends electricity plans are worth it is if that's when you use the bulk of your energy. If you work from home in the evenings, like to stay up late gaming, or are more active during the evening than the day, this plan might be worth it.
It might be a good idea to track and calculate your energy usage and determine when you use the most power for several months. Doing so will give you a good idea if a free nights and weekends plan is worth it for you.
What Else Should I Look for in an Electricity Plan?
If you don't think a free nights and weekends plan is worth it, here are some other things you should look for when choosing your plan.
A Company Who Cares
When choosing your REP, the type of company you're signing up with is the main thing to consider. Do they care about more than just the bottom dollar? Do they have your interests in mind rather than just their own? At GoodCharlie Energy, we prove that we care about more than making money because of our mission statement. We also care about every member of your family, including your dogs and cats.
Benefits You Can Use
If you're a pet owner, GoodCharlie Energy has pack benefits that you can use. They include a $750 pet emergency fund, 24/7 video access to licensed veterinarians, and monthly donations from us to your local animal shelter.
Transparency
In addition to outstanding benefits and a caring attitude, we also offer transparent plans that are easy to read and understand. GoodCharlie Energy makes it a point to avoid hidden fees and costs. Everything you need to know about your potential electricity plan is in plain sight for everyone.
The Benefit of Choosing GoodCharlie Energy
Anyone who contacts us at GoodCharlie and enrolls in one of our fixed-rate electricity plans has instant access to our Pack Benefits. You can also participate in our Ruffural Program and start making a difference immediately.
While providing excellent customer service, electricity rates, and benefits is a big part of what we do, our ultimate goal is to make Texas the best state for a dog to live in. Together, we can make that dream come true.
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