manfmmd
Premium
join:2003-01-14
Earth
clubs:
1 edit | Just switched electric providers
I was able to switch from TXU to StarTex and go from 16.17 cents per kWh down to 10.9 cents per kWh, a 33% savings. It is a 1 year contract also, which isn't a big deal. Most other companies are charging upwards of 12.4.
BBB also gives them a satisfactory rating:
»www.bbb.org/houston/business-rev···35002923
edit: »www.powertochoose.org
--
If the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, what is the road to Heaven paved with?
If the Democrats win in November and retain the Congress, are they going to bitch about "no checks and balances"? Not. Holding. My. Breath. |
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX | Why was your TXU over 16 cents? Mine peaks at 13. |
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manfmmd
Premium
join:2003-01-14
Earth
clubs:
1 edit | Not sure, there is a certain charge for less than or equal to 400 kWh, over 400 kWh, and a fuel surcharge per total kWh...(these are from a past bill, not the one that is at 16.17)
So say
Base Charge $4.91
400 kWh @ .039391 is $16.00
1671 kWh @ .068808 is $114.98
2071 kWh @ .075012 is $155.35
Total is $291.00
Taxes are $4.37
My combined per kWh charge is 14.05 cents per kWh..(taxes are not included)
In my last bill, my rate was 16.17. It changes from month to month because the total number of kWh's changes. I'll throw the math up here later when I get my hands on the bill for this month.
I'm on what they call "Freedom Plan". |
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McSummation
Mmmm, Zeebas Are Tastee.
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-13
Round Rock, TX
 ·AT&T Southwest
| I'm on the old "just leave me alone and send me electrons" plan. I've resisted all attempts by TXU to get me to change plans because they couldn't convince me they would save me money. "Oh, but sir, if you go to this other plan we can save you money." "Well, if you can save me money, why don't you just charge me that new rate and leave me on alone." "Our tariff doesn't allow us to change your rates without changing the plan." "Aw, BS, just go away and leave me alone." I've been through that scenario several times. Another friend here in Round Rock has had the same conversation with them.
I just take the bottom line on the bill and divide it by the kWh used to get the actual rate I'm being charged. In 2008 it varied from a low of 11.82 in February to 13.10 in October. |
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Flippant
So Much For Subtlety
Premium,Mod
join:2000-06-04
Katy, TX
Host:
Filesharing Software
Earthlink Cable
Texas Gulf Coast
AT&T U-verse
AT&T Southwest
| reply to manfmmd
I changed as well to Startex a month ago. Funny it was my old provider giving me a credit for "lowering" the rate by $0.005. I realized that there had been some huge increases when oil went to $150/bbl that have never been reduced back, and the half penny was all they were going to give back at this point. Well that started me researching and like you I am now saving well over 33% on my electricity rate. In one month you got a slightly better deal than I did. Even with a coupon code I am at 11.2 cents. |
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manfmmd
Premium
join:2003-01-14
Earth
clubs:
| reply to manfmmd
Here are the numbers from the bill I referenced:
Base Charge = 4.91
400 kWh @ $.046854 = $18.74
1462 kWh @ $.076143 = $111.32
1862 kwh @ $.089225 = $166.14
$301.11 / 1862 = $.1617 per kWh
My bill with StarTex would have been 1862 kWh * .109 = $202.96 |
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robbin
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
1 edit | nevermind |
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KC9FOI
join:2007-06-25
Cypress, TX
 ·ViaTalk
·Future Nine Corpor..
2 edits | reply to manfmmd
I just got a fixed rate of 8 cents per kilo watt hour with 2 year commitment. It is some deal my employer worked out with one of the providers for employees of the company and their friends and family. I can offer this to my friends, which I consider the people on DSLreports. If anyone is interested send me your email and I will send you a copy of the contract which you can review, and sign up for if you so choose.
The only down side is I'm not exactly sure when it will expire. I know this offer is good through Thursday, possibly longer but I haven't seen it in writing, which gives relatively little time to decide.
Neither I nor my employer will get any kickbacks for this. I'm just trying to help anyone out who happens to be in the right place at the right time.
If anyone is interested please send me a private message with your email address. I will try to respond with a copy of the contract and/or a link to the website where you can sign up. I will do my best to send it to most, if not all who respond ASAP.
I do not intend to follow up on this post so please don't respond in the thread with your request. Thanks.
--edited to update info as I understand it. |
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Flippant
So Much For Subtlety
Premium,Mod
join:2000-06-04
Katy, TX | You have me crying. 6 weeks ago I would be buying you dinner or something. Alas I now have a 1 year contract or I would be contacting you. Thank you so much for your gracious offer, I hope someone can make use of it. |
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs:
| reply to manfmmd
Here's what I'm working with at the moment:
Monthly Charge $5.31
250kWh x $0.0301750 $7.54
550kWh x $0.0798420 $43.91
183kWh x $0.0504510 $9.23
Fuel Factor $94.84
Would you guys say that it's worth switching to something else now, or are these rates the best I can expect given my usage?
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irc.removed.us - #dslr | DSLR Phishtracker | Email: removed@dslr.net |
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manfmmd
Premium
join:2003-01-14
Earth
clubs: | You are currently at 16.36 cents per kWh(for those figures, it changes depending on your overall kWh usage, the more total kWh's you have, the higher the fuel factor, the higher the cents / kWh)...I would say yes, you could do better. |
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KC9FOI
join:2007-06-25
Cypress, TX | reply to removed
Just PM'd you a link. |
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robbin
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
| reply to KC9FOI
said by KC9FOI  :I just got a fixed rate of 8 cents per kilo watt hour with 2 year commitment. It is some deal my employer worked out with one of the providers for employees of the company and their friends and family. I can offer this to my friends, which I consider the people on DSLreports. If anyone is interested send me your email and I will send you a copy of the contract which you can review, and sign up for if you so choose. Thanks for sending me the contract info to review. It turns out that it is not that great of a deal. They do not include Transmission and Distribution Service Provider charges in the 8 cents per kilowatt quote. It turns out that depending on your usage and the area you live in the actual delivered cost varies from an estimated low of 11 cents to a high of 13.36 cents per kilowatt (which is still fairly good pricing). The other thing about the offer your company negotiated is that anyone can get the same price off of Tara's website with a 1 year commitment. So it looks like the only thing that is a deal is that it can be locked in for 2 years. I did not call them, they may provide that option also if you ask directly.
The biggest problem I have with all of this is what were the politicians thinking when they made buying electricity so confusing for so many?  |
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs: | What would you recommend going with instead? I'm OK with signing a 12 month contract, but going with a 24 month is too much of a gamble for me. |
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robbin
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
| I was trying to get something cheaper for my mom and the 8 cents sounded great. In my area it is still regulated. My business is provided by City of Austin and my home by the Pedernales Electric Coop. I say that just to make it clear that I haven't done a lot of shopping around. Mom currently pays 14.2 and she is 18 months into a 2 year contract. She did really shop around!
The contract KC9FOI offered is is from Tara Energy. They look like pretty good prices -- it is just not a super deal! The trick is this extra charge over the 8 cents they are charging. The amount of the charge evidently depends on who maintains the power lines in what they are allowed to charge by the PUC. Go to the following link and they will give you an estimate of the actual rate depending on your area. It appears that the fixed rate plan for 12 months is the cheapest (and the same prices as the two year plan offered by our friend).
»https://www.taraenergy.com/Tara06/view+p···ces.aspx |
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs:
| 
Tara Energy |
According to »www.powertochoose.org/ StarTex has a cheaper promo rate (maybe same one Flippant got in on) but all of the fine print is a bit overwhelming. I'm considering just signing up with Tara and enjoying the modest discount on the KWH rate, rather than driving myself nuts trying to understand all of this. 
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KC9FOI
join:2007-06-25
Cypress, TX
·ViaTalk
·Future Nine Corpor..
| reply to robbin
said by robbin :The biggest problem I have with all of this is what were the politicians thinking when they made buying electricity so confusing for so many? Right. I'm all for competition, but I liked it better in Illinois where all you had to figure out was how to pay Commonwealth Edison, check or CC.
And thanks for pointing that out to me on the fact that they do offer something very similar on the Tara website. They made a big stink at work like this was some sort of bad ass, "insider" offer. Still, I probably wouldn't have found it otherwise and it will be cheaper than what I'm doing now. |
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removed
Crisis Management Squad
Premium,VIP
join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs:
| reply to removed
Well, I'm just about to make the jump to Tara Energy's 12 month package. I see that there are a few cheaper plans out there, but most seem to be month to month (probably to jack up the rate during summer) or require a lengthy contract.
I'll be making the change tonight, so please post back if you guys manage to find something better. 
Thanks!
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irc.removed.us - #dslr | DSLR Phishtracker | Email: removed@dslr.net |
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Flippant
So Much For Subtlety
Premium,Mod
join:2000-06-04
Katy, TX | reply to manfmmd
I have received my first 2 bills with Startex. Drumroll please. . . my effective rate is $0.115 my savings from what I would have been paying is $124 over those 2 months. No complaints so far from me. |
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Fobulous
Premium
join:2002-08-14
Missouri City, TX | reply to manfmmd
I dunno, i'm sticking with Reliant for now because i earn American Airline Miles for every month i stay with them, and i need to stay at least 14 months with them. They charge a modest 12.3 cents.. |
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