Are Reliant and TXU Good Companies?

When shopping for new electricity plans in Texas, you may notice there are dozens of electricity companies working in this state. All electricity providers work hard to offer the cheapest electricity rates, but only a handful of electric companies can give you the best electricity plans. You may also have noticed that TXU Energy and Reliant Energy offer some of the best electricity plans in the state. 

Let’s compare TXU vs. Reliant and see which electricity provider is right for you. Reliant vs. TXU is an old debate, as both companies offer low electricity rates and perks, such as free nights, free weekends, and solar days. Many of their plans also include 100% solar energy. 

When choosing your power provider, you should also compare their plan options and rates offered in your area, as different areas can have different transmission and delivery costs. Both TXU and Reliant are companies with a strong presence in the market and affordable electricity rates. Both electric companies have been in the Texas electricity market for 20 years now. 

What’s The Difference Between TXU and Reliant? 

TXU Energy is one of the longest-standing electricity providers in Texas. TXU Energy is widely recognized as a synonym for a lights company. It boasts its low rates, discounts, and innovative online billing solutions. Reliant Energy offers reliable electricity service and a variety of plans for every lifestyle and budget. 

While TXU is one of the longest-standing retail providers in the world and the oldest one in Texas, Reliant was only formed in 2000, just a year before the energy deregulation. TXU has a traditional and proven ways to sell electricity. Reliant, on the other hand, brings fresh and innovative solutions to the Texas energy market. 

Comparison of TXU and Reliant

TXU Energy

TXU Energy is a Texas-based energy provider delivering electricity to both residential and business customers. They offer some of the lowest electricity rates in the state and are known for their electricity plan options suited to every pocket. They donate to those who cannot afford an energy plan and have, since 1983, donated over $84 million.

History of TXU Energy

TXU Energy was formed in 2002 during the energy market deregulation. The first predecessor of TXU Energy was established in 1882, and it was the Dallas Electric Lighting Company. In a way, this is the oldest electricity provider in the Texas electricity market. 

The Best Features of TXU

One of the biggest benefits that TXU offers to its customers is the average billing. Under this kind of energy plan, your monthly bill is always the same, regardless of how much electricity you spend. There are no extra fees to apply for average billing, and your total energy use per year is paid in 12 equal monthly amounts. 

Pros and Cons of TXU

Some of the biggest Pros of TXU electricity provider include: 

• Renewable electricity rates, 
• Free nights and free weekends with some plans. Free nights and free weekends may also charge if you spend too much electricity during this time of the day, so make sure to check that out, as some other providers may not charge extra for higher usage, 
• 60-day trial period – after this, you can cancel your service with no early termination fee, 
• A/C & Heat Protection – with no coverage limit, great for hot Texas summer days, 
• Home Protection Plan – offered to all of their customers, these plans give you insurance in case of a lightning strike or appliance malfunction, 
• TXU Mobile App – one of the most advanced on the market, the app allows you to pay your bills, share them with others, view your energy usage, and much more. 

Some of the cons of TXU Energy include: 

• General customer dissatisfaction, 
• Short disconnection period in case of tardy payments, 
• Occasional dissatisfaction with customer service. 

Reliant Energy

Reliant Energy is another Texas-based electricity provider working hard to keep the Texas electricity market happy with its power service. They are known for their reliable service, great customer support, and bringing smart energy solutions and some of the cheapest electricity rates to their customers. 

History of Reliant Energy

Reliant Energy is an electricity provider based in Houston, Texas. The company was formed during the 2002 energy deregulation in Texas. Since then, they’ve been providing Texas power to more than 1.5 million customers at competitive electricity rates. 

Best Features of Reliant

One of the best features of Reliant is that this new electricity provider offers payment plans for all those who may have delayed or tardy payments. Under the payment extension, you can delay payment, and special terms are applied to those who are seriously ill. In deferred payment plans, your amount owed can be paid back to the electric company in the form of installments on your monthly electricity bill. 

Pros and Cons of Reliant

Some of the biggest pros of choosing fixed-rate plans or variable-rate plans from Reliant are: 

• 24/7 Customer Support, 
• Free nights and free weekends. Under Reliant Energy, they are truly free, meaning you do not pay delivery fees either, 
• Multilingual Website, 
• Competitive pricing, 
• Volunteering practices instilled in the corporate culture, 
• Generous bill credits, and 
• Online tools to help you track and understand your energy usage. 

Some of the cons of choosing Reliant as your electricity provider include: 

• High cancellation fees, 
• General customer dissatisfaction, 
• Servicing a smaller area than TXU energy. 

FAQs

Bottom Line

TXU vs Reliant is a big question in Texas right now. While TXU is an old company with millions of satisfied customers and decades of a strong presence in the Texas electricity marketplace, Relian is a new provider of energy. Reliant is also among the more innovative providers. 

Reliant Energy offers many benefits with its affordable pricing for all contract lengths. If you want to switch your electricity services, it is best to use Electricrate. Simply enter your ZIP code and compare the different services and plans offered in your area. 

You can also enter your ZIP code to find out about freebies and perks. Be aware of your usage and compare the plans and rates offered with your plan. Be aware that upon a call, competition can often match your per kWh rates. 

Updated on 09-12-23