The Best Electric Rates & Plans in Abilene, Texas 2024

Your Abilene electric rate may be pretty low, but with a number of electricity companies in the market, the rate offered by your local utility company may not be the lowest one. With the average electricity rates lower than the national average, you may save up to 20% on your next energy bill, with as little as 15 minutes of your time. 

First things first, before even looking into plans in Abilene, it is important to understand how electricity rates in Abilene are formed and what the factors that affect your electricity rates are. Besides the weather, power, and grid prices, there are also other factors, such as your energy habits, energy use, and the type of plan you have opted for. Let’s consider them all in more detail. 

Abilene Electricity Rates

Your distribution service provider (or the utility company) is not the only provider there is. In fact, the Abilene energy market is deregulated, meaning that many companies use the same electric infrastructure to deliver power to you. Many energy providers working in the state and the Abilene area mean rough competition, low energy prices, and more power options than in any other type of electricity market. Here are some of the most popular Abilene electric rates: 

It is clear that energy plans in Abilene are many: these are just the top 20 of them. With an average energy price of $0.1446 per kilowatt hour, the average rate in this city is some 8% lower than in the rest of the US. However, there is still a need to be smart with how you approach the energy rate you will be paying, as Abilene is known for its high energy usage, which can eat away at any possible savings due to a low average rate. 

Average Electric Bill in Abilene, Tx

In fact, an average Abilene household uses as much as 1,245 kWh of electricity a month – more than 300 kWh more than an average US home. This is thanks to the local climate and sheer home size – Texas is known for large homes. This high energy use translates to an average energy bill of around $170 per month, or $2,200 a year. Choosing a different provider or a plan, and asking for a smart meter to couple with your solar panel can help you save hundreds a year. 

Abilene Electric Companies

Of course, all these plans have to be offered by someone, and if your local utility company cannot sell you energy plans directly, they can still sell electricity through energy providers. It is here that your electricity bills can get much lower, as a separate provider has a lot of plan options (to suit different customers), and there are a lot of providers (to compete and keep the prices low). Here are some of the most popular energy providers in the area: 

• 4Change Energy, 
• Amigo Energy, 
• Cirro Energy, 
• Constellation, 
• Direct Energy, 
• Discount Power, 
• Flagship Power, 
• Frontier Utilities, 
• Gexa Energy, 
• Just Energy, 
• New Power Texas, 
• Payless Power, 
• Pulse Power, 
• Reliant, 
• TXU Energy, and 
• Tara Energy. 

Factors That Affect Electricity Rates

At the end of the month, the electricity bill you pay does not only depend on the electricity plans that are available in your area. All energy providers sell the same electricity, and the cheapest electricity rates are the result of timely purchases and an understanding of how different factors affect electricity rates. With not much further ado, let’s consider some of them: 

• The price of fuels used in energy generation, 
• Power plant prices, 
• Transmission and distribution system prices, 
• Local area regulations, and 
• The local weather conditions. 

Fuels

First things first, the price of fuels is one of the biggest determiners of energy prices in any energy plan. Fuels are almost always used to produce electricity and the fuels that are used are coal, oil, or natural gas. Some power plants also use nuclear fuels, but these belong to very safe and internationally controlled markets that private companies often do not have access to. These fuels may also include biofuels and biomass, as well as residential waste (paper and organic waste). 

As we are aware, political instability and supply and demand can elevate the prices of any fuel, effectively increasing the prices of electricity that every energy provider can offer to you. In fact, energy providers have very little say in how your electricity bill is paid, as their own expenses only account for a small fraction of the total cost of your electricity. 

Power Plant Prices

Furthermore, once the fuels are secured, it is necessary to burn them somewhere. By burning these fuels, energy is released that is then used to generate electricity. This is always done in power plants, and all of these cost a lot to build, maintain, and operate. Not only do the buildings cost, but the generation capacities, manpower, and management cost as well. 

Of course, renewable energy plants cost the least. They offer renewable energy at a fraction of the cost of that of conventional power plants, and all energy providers offer these plans. Renewable energy capacities also cost less to run and less to maintain, with most of the expenses going to cleaning the solar panels, inspecting the moving parts in wind turbines, or even releasing and cleaning the mud that can accumulate at the bottom of artificial lakes. 

Transmission and Distribution Area System

Once the energy has been generated, it is time to deliver it to your home. All electricity plans do this the same way – by using the local grid and the transmission and distribution area system. Probably the biggest man-made machine, this system is complex and is comprised of energy generation capacities, energy transmission and distribution lines, and energy transformers, as well as the power lines that actually bring the energy to your home. 

This system is very expensive to build and expand. The US generally has 99%+ of electricity coverage, but there are still some parts of the rural US that have not been electrified. In addition to these costs, the grid also has to be fixed and maintained, and all the damage caused by the fallen trees and traffic accidents has to be fixed as well 

Area Regulations

Your local area regulations also have a say in how much you will be paying with your energy plan. These regulations are there to ensure fair play and all energy providers who would like to up their prices have to make sure that all the electricity rates are still in compliance with local regulations. These bodies also enable control and screening, to ensure that you do not overpay for your electricity service, but they cost to run. 

Weather Conditions

Weather conditions also have a say in what your energy costs will be. They can influence the prices in several ways, with the most obvious being that temperature extremes you may experience during the winter and the summer will increase energy demand and drive the prices up. On the other hand, spring and autumn in Abilene, TX, are known to bring lower energy prices and better energy plan deals your local electricity providers may offer to you. 

On the other hand of side of the spectrum, energy supply is also influenced by temperature extremes. The closer t the extremes the temperature gets, the lower the efficiency the power plants operate with. During the colder part of the year, this can even stop or slow down fuel delivery due to snow on the roads and frozen natural gas pipes. 

When it comes to renewable energy sources, the situation is clear as well. Sunny days see an increase in solar energy production, while windy days show the same effect with wind energy. Autumn, winter, and spring bring in more precipitation, boosting hydro energy production, while at the same time, winter sea storms can boost energy generation in tidal and wave energy plants. 

Types of Electricity Plans in Abilene, Texas

So Abilene electricity rates are affected by all the aforementioned factors. However, there is more to it than meets the eye – the type of energy plans can also influence Abilene’s electricity rates. This is a part of the reason why all electricity providers have such varied offers – they all have to account for the different pros and cons of each type of energy plan. Among the most popular types of electricity plan options offered by every energy provider are: 

• Fixed-rate energy plans, 
• Variable-rate energy plans, 
• Prepaid energy plans, 
• Business or commercial energy plans, and 
• Green energy plans. 

Fixed-Rate Plans

A fixed-rate plan, as the name suggests, fixes your electricity rate for a definite period of time – the contract term. This type of energy plan will easily help you pay a fixed cost per kWh of electricity you use, and a price that is just a bit higher than with other types of energy plans helps pay for the peace of mind that you will be protected from energy price fluctuations. 

In the Abilene electricity market, almost every energy provider has this type of energy plan, as they are one of the most popular options there are. A fixed-rate energy plan can be signed for a duration of anywhere between 6 months to 3 years and even 5 years with some energy providers. Fixed plans in Abilene are very popular – and for a good reason. 

Variable-Rate Plans

On the other hand, variable-rate plans do not offer such protection. They are very likely to help you save money during the spring and autumn part of the year. However, during the summer and the winter, these plans will cost more, and the added cost can sometimes even eat away at the savings you made during the remainder of the year. 

With variable-rate plans, your energy bills will vary a lot during the year as the electricity prices change in the wholesale market. So, cheap electricity during the spring and the autumn, when the temperatures are more moderate. However, always be aware of sky-high bills that some Texas households have received during the winter of 2021 and the power outage that took place there. 

Prepaid Energy Plans

Prepaid energy plans are a unique type of plan for two reasons. Firstly, there is no contract term. Secondly, these plans have prepaid energy, which means that you need to know your energy usage in detail before committing to a plan like this. 

The thing is that since the energy is prepaid, there is no reason for a contract term. The plans function that way that you prepay a certain amount of energy credits that you will be using that month. As you use energy, the credits on your balance are reduced, and you get to see how many you have left either on the web platform or an app. As soon as all the credits have been used, the energy is cut off. To prevent this from happening, you should always prepay a bit more energy than you actually need. 

With these plans, there is no early termination fee, no deposit, no credit history check, and no headaches that come with switching electricity plans when moving. These plans cost a bit more, but people who move a lot (such as students) can enjoy the many benefits that these plans have to offer. 

Business Energy Plans

Business energy plans or commercial energy plans, on the other hand, can provide your business with affordable electricity rates. These rates are usually lower than those offered to residential customers. The cheapest electricity rates are usually reserved for commercial customers, especially as these use a lot of electricity, so it can be delivered to them at discounted prices. 

It is difficult finding business electricity plan rates and options online. Rather than doing so, you can check out Abilene electricity rates for commercial customers by calling energy companies working in the area and asking for a custom rate. These rates are highly individual, as every electric provider has to take their own factors into consideration. You can contact multiple providers, get their competitive rates then compare rates to see which electric company would work the best for you. 

Green Energy Plans

Green energy plans offer renewable Abilene energy to all residential and commercial customers working in the area. These plans are usually a bit costlier than other types of energy plans, but they are also better for the environment and can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Even if there is no appropriate renewable energy plant in the vicinity, your energy provider will purchase RECs to your name, helping offset the carbon released for your own energy consumption. 

Energy Deregulation in Texas

A part of why Abilene residents can enjoy this cheap energy rate is due to energy deregulation. Deregulation simply means that the state of Texas has recognized that a deregulated energy market can provide one with more opportunities to save and with more space for innovation. A deregulated energy market can provide a lot of people with a lot of benefits, and the Texas energy market has been deregulated since 2002. Here are some of the benefits: 

• Many Abilene electricity providers to choose from, 
• Many energy plans to choose from, 
• Better customer service, 
• Varied energy rates, 
• Varied innovative approaches and freebies are not available to customers in regulated energy markets. 

How To Find the Best Energy Plan?

If you are aware of these benefits, you may want to start exploring all the different energy plan options that electricity companies offer in your area. Electricity rates in Abilene are not high, but you may still want to consider changing the energy plan you are on right now, as it can help yous have a lot in the long run. Here is a step-by-step guide you need to find the best energy plan for your energy needs: 

1. Be aware of your energy needs and habits, 
2. Be aware of how much energy you use in different parts of the day and the year, 
3. Choose the basic type of energy plan that would work for you, 
4. Head over to ElectricRate and enter your ZIP code, 
5. When you enter your ZIP code, you will be able to see all the energy plans offered in your area, so use the filters to the side to choose:
   1. Energy plan type, 
   2. Contract length, 
   3. The kind of energy you want to use (renewable vs. non-renewable). 
6. After you enter your ZIP code, you will be able to browse the list and choose the plans you like the best, 
7. See what companies offer those plans, 
8. Check them out on BBB.org (Better Business Bureau), and 
9. Choose 2-3 that you like the most. 

How To Switch Your Electricity Provider?

However, before you actually make the switch, you should contact your current provider to see if they can match the offer by the new provider. If yes, then perfect; sign the new contract, and you are all set. If not, you should contact the new desired provider, check if all the details match their online description, and ask them to make the switch. You will need some basic information, such as your name, address, and customer number, so make sure to have your last monthly bill at hand. 

Abilene Power Outages

In case you experience power outages, always remember that you should contact Abilene Utilities – in this case AEP North. The emergency line is 1-800-242-9113. Besides this, you may experience gas issues (contact ATMOS Energy at 1-888-286-6700), and water or garbage service issues (contact the City of Abilene municipality office). 

About Abilene, Texas

If you are considering moving to Abilene, Texas, you should know that the place is inhabited by 125k people. It features a 200-acre Zoo and a 12th Armoured Division Museum. It is also the 28th largest city in Texas and among the most liveable cities in the state. Abilene also features 243 sunny days, much more than the US average of 205. Not only is the city great for outdoor activities, but it also enables you to save by going solar – with an average 10-year payback period, there is barely a better deal than this. 

FAQs

Conclusion

The Abilene ZIP code area has a low energy price. However, there are more ways to save, such as improving the energy efficiency of your home, investing in insulation, and purchasing Energy Star-rated appliances. Abilene low rates will take care of everything else for you as long as you choose the best electric plan for your energy needs. 

Updated on 09-12-23