Welcome to Houston—land of humidity, hometown pride, and electric bills that spike like the summer heat index.
Whether you’re new to H-Town or just tired of guessing which electricity plan won’t wreck your wallet, Watt Panda is here to break it all down—without the fluff, fine print, or fake 9¢ promises.
🗺️ First Thing’s First: Houston Is Deregulated
That means you get to choose your electricity provider.
(Not something most states can say.)
Here’s how it works:
- You live in CenterPoint territory (your utility company—more on that in a sec).
- You choose your electricity provider (like Reliant, TXU, Gexa, etc.).
- But every provider offers dozens of plans—most with tricky pricing tiers, hidden fees, and “gotcha” contract terms.
That’s where Watt Panda comes in. We dig through it all and find what actually works for you.
💡 How Electricity Works in Houston
Role | Who Handles It |
---|---|
Power delivery | CenterPoint Energy (not optional) |
Retail provider choice | You pick (Watt Panda helps!) |
Plan contract terms | 12, 24, or even 36 months—varies |
TDU delivery charges | Always included in real Watt Panda quotes |
Your bill is split between:
- What you pay your provider (the plan you choose)
- What you pay CenterPoint to deliver it (set by the state, no negotiation)
🛑 Common Houston Plan Traps
🚩 “Too good to be true” rates
You’ll see 8¢ or 9¢/kWh plans, but those prices only apply if your usage hits a very specific number (like 999–1001 kWh). Go under or over? Boom—now you’re at 18¢.
🚩 Minimum usage penalties
Use too little power and you get charged more. Insane, we know.
🚩 TDU fees not included
These fees (from CenterPoint) get buried in the fine print—but they can add 4–5¢ per kWh to your actual cost.
🚩 Auto-renewal price hikes
Month 13 arrives and suddenly your 12¢ rate becomes 19¢. Because you forgot to cancel—and they knew you would.
💡 Watt Panda Pro Tip: We factor in all of this before you sign, so you don’t get played.
🔌 What Makes Watt Panda Different?
Feature | Watt Panda | Power to Choose | Energy Ogre |
---|---|---|---|
Real people + tech combo | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❓ Somewhat |
Transparent rate matching | ✅ TDU fees included | ❌ Usually hidden | ❌ You don’t see details |
Cost to use | $0 forever | Free (but risky) | $10/month |
Contract fine print review | ✅ Always | ❌ Good luck | ❌ Not always shown |
We don’t sell electricity—we negotiate, decode, and protect you from predatory plans for free. All you do is upload your bill and relax. We’ll handle the hard stuff.
📦 Just Moved to Houston? Here’s What to Do:
- Don’t default to the first name you recognize (Reliant’s marketing is strong, but that doesn’t mean they’re cheapest).
- Upload your address or bill at www.wattpanda.com.
- We’ll tell you what plan fits your usage, your home, and your habits—not some generic average.
Bonus: We’ll even help set up the switch so you don’t go a single night without power (or A/C… because no, thanks).
🐼 Bottom Line for Houstonians
- CenterPoint brings the power, but you choose who sells it to you
- Ads lie—your bill tells the truth
- Watt Panda keeps providers honest, plans clear, and your wallet happy
📩 Want the best plan for you without the headache?
Upload your bill at www.wattpanda.com and we’ll handle it from there.
Power up, Panda style. ⚡🐼