TrueCost does not share personal registration information with REPs unless you are enrolling in a plan with that company. You then give us the authorization to do so. We do not share an individual’s shopping preferences with REPs either. We may, however, note trends in preferences for plan options/features that are based on inputs from numerous shoppers. This is done in an effort to help the REPs create plans that are more consumer-friendly and meet market demands and needs.

No. TrueCost is completely funded by CenterPoint Energy and does not receive money from the smart meter surcharge or other regulated charges.

There are commercial and government-supported websites that offer some of the features found on TrueCost. However, TrueCost is the first to offer unique features and benefits like matching plans based on your home or small business' past electric usage data.

The CenterPoint Energy Electric Price Index (the Index) is a numerical average of a broad selection of publicly available residential electric plans. The data is collected each business day and the Index is published weekly on this website each Thursday. Learn more about how the Index is calculated.

• New retail electric providers must apply and be licensed by the PUCT before they can sell electricity
• The PUCT can (and does) fine retail electric providers for breaking the rules and can even revoke their licenses
• The PUCT specifies what information must be disclosed on documents like Electricity Facts Labels and Terms of Service
• The PUCT regulates sales practices for online, phone, and door-to-door electric sales

TrueCost currently offers plans from retail electric providers to consumers in the greater Houston area who have retail electric choice.

TrueCost lets you shop for a plan, select one and switch – all in a few steps and on one website.

•  TrueCost calculates the charges in the fine print that impact your monthly bill. You see all the taxes, fees and pass-through charges that impact your bill before you enroll.
•  You can compare the estimated total annual cost of various electric plans using your home or small business' past usage data.  
•  You can select electric plan features that include price, green-energy options, customer ratings, deposit requirements, termination fees, contract length and reward offers.
•  You’ll receive confirmation emails on your order’s status after enrolling.
•  You’ll receive email reminders when your current plan’s contract is about to expire.
•  You can follow electric plan price trends using CenterPoint Energy’s Electric Price Index.

No. However, we have invited all retail electric providers serving greater Houston to join us and continue to reach out to them. As TrueCost matures in the marketplace, we intend for the number of electric plans and retail electric providers to grow.

TrueCost is a free and easy-to-use electric plan shopping service that sorts plans based on preferences that you rate as important and provides price estimates and information based on your home or small business' past energy use.

The retail electric providers pay us a flat fee for each consumer who signs up for their plans through the website. Our fees are not based on up-selling you certain electric plans.

No. Instead, we’ve created an open marketplace that brings together retail electric providers and consumers who are shopping for electric plans and provide consumers with powerful shopping tools that help them find their best plans based on their past electric usage and personal preferences.

TrueCost may offer electric plans with rates that are more competitive than what you’re currently paying. But it also lets you use your home or small business' past electric usage data to analyze plans found on our site. We do the math for you including incorporating information about taxes, fees and pass-through charges so you can make educated comparisons between plans. 

No. It is a free service.

Electricity deregulation allows multiple companies to compete for business in an electric market. When Texas deregulated electricity, it allowed customers to purchase electrical service from a Retail Electricity Provider (REP) that purchases power from a power plant.  They also take care of billing and customer service. 

The power itself is still transferred over the same power lines from the local wires and poles company.  The switch should be smooth for customers, as it puts the choice of electricity provider in the hands of the consumer.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) regulates many activities of electric companies.  Here are some examples:

• New electric companies must apply and be licensed by the PUCT before they can sell electricity
• The PUCT can (and does) fine electric companies for breaking the rules and can even revoke their licenses
• The PUCT specifies what information must be disclosed on documents like Electricity Facts Labels and Terms of Service
• The PUCT regulates sales practices for online, phone, and door-to-door electric sales.

Besides regulating competitive electric companies, the PUCT also sets the rates for the the Transmission and Distribution Utility (aka TDSP or poles-and-wires company) that deliver your electricity.

The TrueCost Blog uses Facebook comments.  To participate, you need a Facebook account and need to be logged in. You can choose whether your comments appear on your Facebook wall by checking/unchecking the box when you comment.
 
Notifications about discussions will follow the notification rules that you've set up on your Facebook account.  You can also report abuse to the moderator by clicking on the top right corner of a comment.

All Public Utility Commission of Texas-certified  and active electric companies in your service area are welcome to join TrueCost. Those now on the site have agreed to participate and we continue to reach out to all Retail Electric Providers (REPs) to share their plans on TrueCost. As TrueCost matures in the marketplace, we intend for the number of electric plans and providers to grow.

Yes! TrueCost currently serves residential and small business customers within the CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC, service territory. 

The cents-per-kWh rate shown for plans on TrueCost may differ from what is advertised elsewhere and shown in the applicable Electricity Facts Labels (EFL). TrueCost adds up all available plan details (including base energy cost, estimated taxes, additional fees and even incentives) to calculate an estimated per-kWh price.  These add-ons are not included or required in the advertised "1,000 kWh" prices.

Additionally, instead of basing our per-kWh cost on a standardized, average usage of 1,000 kWh a month, we allow  customers to estimate or upload their own historical usage to get even closer to an estimated true cost of their future plan.  

TrueCost recommends that you shop using monthly or annual costs instead of kWh pricing.