Are you worried about rising energy prices and the increasingly high cost of electricity? If so, you're not alone. Millions of Americans around the country feel the effects of inflation and the increasingly high cost of living. Everything from groceries to rent to gas to eating out is getting more expensive than ever.
Unfortunately, electricity isn't immune from inflation, and power bills are getting higher and higher in Texas. It's becoming increasingly expensive for power companies to generate electricity, so they have to sell it to you for a higher price. However, a few power companies near you still haven't succumbed to jacking up their electricity rates. Contact us at GoodCharlie Energy if you're looking for affordable electricity and reliable plans!
- How Many Power Companies are There in Texas?
- Why Are There So Many Power Companies Near Me?
- Is GoodCharlie Energy a Power Company Near Me?
- What Sets GoodCharlie Energy Apart From Other Power Companies Near Me?
How Many Power Companies are There in Texas?
To date, there are more than 130 retail electric providers in Texas. Retail electric providers are power companies that buy and sell electricity. They're the company to whom you pay your monthly electricity bill, and they're also the company that provides power to your home.
However, while you pay retail electric providers for electricity after they sell it to you, they aren't the companies that create or deliver electricity to your home or business. Retail electric providers are "middlemen" who sell you a service, similar to how other goods and services are bought and sold.
For example, let's say that you purchase a couch at your local furniture store. You might buy the sofa from the store, but they weren't the ones who made the couch. Instead, the store bought the sofa from a separate company that made it and sold it to the store at wholesale price. You then went to the store, purchased the couch from them at retail value, and either delivered it to your home by yourself or paid someone else to do it for you.
This is how electricity works in Texas.
- Power-generating plants create electricity.
- They sell their electricity to retail electric providers at wholesale value.
- Retail electric providers sell electricity to you at retail value.
- Your local utility company ensures electricity makes it to your home undisturbed.
Why Are There So Many Power Companies Near Me?
If you're lucky enough to live in Texas and have previous experience with trying to find the right electricity company, you're probably wondering why there are so many of them. Here's what happened.
Deregulation
In the early 2000s, Texas decided to deregulate the electricity market. Before deregulation, there were only a few electricity companies throughout the state, and you signed up for a power plan with whatever power company operated in your area. The government controlled and "regulated" electricity prices, which meant they were very similar across the board from company to company.
Once Texas deregulated its electricity after the Millenium, everything changed. Instead of there only being one or two power companies near you, there were suddenly dozens. There were even more in some of the larger cities like Houston and Dallas! Thanks to deregulation, anyone who wanted to start their own REP could do so, and they could choose whatever prices they wanted.
The Upside of Deregulation
Many good things came with deregulation. It allowed people to start their own businesses in a competitive market. It also gave Texans the freedom to choose whatever power plan they wanted from various companies. As such, you can save hundreds of dollars annually by signing up for the right electricity plan.
The Downside of Deregulation
On the other hand, deregulation also made it much tougher to find the perfect electricity plan. Before deregulation, even if you couldn't choose the ideal plan, most of Texas's electricity plans were tolerable and decent. With deregulated energy prices, companies can price their product however they like and sneak hidden fees and rates into their plans.
Is GoodCharlie Energy a Power Company Near Me?
While many power companies near you have likely succumbed to gimmicks and tricks with their electricity plans, GoodCharlie Energy isn't one of them. Here are a few things that other power companies may try, but GoodCharlie Energy doesn't.
Hidden Fees
When customers are looking for a new electricity plan, they usually only look at the listed rate and forget everything else. Unfortunately, that's how they fall into a money trap. While the listed rate might be low, many electricity plans have hidden rates and fees such as:
- Delivery fees
- Startup fees
- Overuse fees
- Late payment fees
- More!
Outlandish Tiered Rates
For the sake of full disclosure, all REPs have tiered rates with their fixed-rate plans, including GoodCharlie Energy. The difference between GoodCharlie and the rest is that our tiered rates are much lower than the competition. Some companies have up to 5 or 10 cents between the different usage tiers of their plans. GoodCharlie, however, doesn't exceed 2 to 3 cents.
Poor Customer Service
Finally, GoodCharlie Energy's customer service is second to none. Where other power companies will outsource their customer service duties, GoodCharlie's are performed by Texans who understand what you're going through.
We Care About More Than the Bottom Line
The biggest difference between GoodCharlie and other REPs in Texas is our focus on caring for the community - specifically the dogs and cats of Texas. Along with our goal of having the most affordable electricity rates in Texas, we also have a goal of making Texas the best state for a dog to live in. Hundreds of thousands of animals are euthanized in Texas each year, and we have a goal of putting an end to it.
What Sets GoodCharlie Energy Apart From Other Power Companies Near Me?
If you're looking for a new electricity company in Texas, look no further than GoodCharlie Energy, and here's why.
We have competitive rates and comprehensive plans with no hidden fees.
- Each of our plans is available with electricity from a renewable resource such as wind or solar.
- We're the #1 choice for a REP in Texas by pet owners, thanks to our goal of making Texas the best state for a dog to live in.
- Our list of benefits includes 24/7 emergency video vet access, a $750 pet emergency fund, and a monthly donation from us to a local pet shelter.
- Transparent pricing that's easy to read and understand.
- Fixed-rate plans that you can choose based on your electricity usage.
Switching to GoodCharlie Energy is easy if you're in the market for a new electricity plan. We might be a newer company, but we're quickly becoming one of the best regarding affordable and reliable energy in Texas. Contact us to make the switch today!
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