Help with Dallas Electricity Plans

[ctinct]

Ugh. So confused right now. My daughter is moving to Dallas next month for grad school, and she has asked me for help on picking out her electricity plan. She has to go with TXU in her apartment complex, but we are having a difficult time deciding on which plan she should use. We have choices here in CT, but only on the electricity provider. This whole "nights free", or "free from 7-10" , or "3% back " is driving me crazy.

I'm not even sure what we should figure as an average kW usage for her, as we don't have central air or electric heat here. I am very seldom any where near 1000 kW hours a month, but I figure she might be. She will be in a two bedroom all electric apt. She and her roommate will be gone weekdays from 8-5.

Are there any Dallas residents willing to share what their average kW usage is for a two bedroom apartment during various times of the year, and any advice on picking a TXU plan would be greatly appreciated, too.
Thanks.

 

[Jfsag123]

I am in Dallas and have TXU, though I don't have one of their particular plans, just a flat rate. Not in a 2 bedroom apartment, but a 3 bedroom house. Our kW usage during the winter months averages 550-700 per month and tops out in the summer around 1500-1600 when we have to run the A/C a lot. However, there are 4 of us and we always leave the A/C on because of our dog. YMMV.

As a fellow Dallas grad student, welcome to your daughter.

 

[descovy]

City Data has the best forums! Have you checked the Dallas Forum?

Here's a similar question. Or feel free to add your own

http://www.city-data.com/forum/dallas/2404316-how-many-kwh-will-i-use.html

 

[cbissone]

I'm not in an apartment, nor do I have TXU, but I would recommend staying away from their "free" anything plans. They tend to charge a higher rate during the usage hours. We have a choice where I am, which is not far from Dallas, but if she is forced to go with TXU just get a straight forward plan at the lowest rate. Not sure if I can link the comparison website, but you can compare different rates for different plans with different companies or specific ones. Just google 'power to choose' and you'll find it. You'll need the zip code.

Deregulation in Texas has created an abundance of providers, and it can get overwhelming. Most are ok, and the above site does have ratings with the ones listed. Just took a look myself and see rates have dropped way down as low as 4.1c/kwh. That's as low as I've seen it around here.

 

[supersnoop]

She shouldn't be stuck with TXU. TXU services the deregulated energy market in Texas. She should be able to choose any plat at www.powertochoose.com. Note that the "price per kwh" is based on 1,000 or 2,000 kwh usage, so look out for high base charges and low per-kwh charges. Odds are she'll use less that 1,000 kwh per month.

 

[ctinct]

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately her apt. building requires she use TXU, because I did see some good rates with some other companies. We have it narrowed down to three choices. Definitely NOT going with the free nights plan. The rates with that one are really high. People must just hear the word "free " and fall for it. I wish I had a crystal ball to predict what her usage will be.

Jfsag123, she will be at TWU. Any chance that is where you are?

 

[supersnoop]

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately her apt. building requires she use TXU, because I did see some good rates with some other companies. We have it narrowed down to three choices. Definitely NOT going with the free nights plan. The rates with that one are really high. People must just hear the word "free " and fall for it. I wish I had a crystal ball to predict what her usage will be.

Jfsag123, she will be at TWU. Any chance that is where you are?

You're getting bad information. Texas has a deregulated energy market and TXU is a retail provider. The apartment cannot dictate which retail electric provider she selects. (I did some consulting work for TXU during deregulation).

Her usage in an apartment will likely be in the 600-800 kwh range, with peaks during the day.

I should add, TWU is in Denton and most of Denton is covered by CoServ, and electric cooperative not subject to deregulation. There may be a requirement to use CoServ, but there cannot be a requirement to use TXU.

 

[descovy]

• Well I will chime in. I have the TXU free nights plan for my 2700 sq ft house in Houston. Last months bill in Houston heat was $82. To cool a 2 story single family house with No shade trees. Average for my neighbors is $200-$300/mo.

It works if you are willing to play the game. As in changing your habits to suit the plan.

I run the dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer all after 9pm. Most days I just prep during the day and push the buttons at 9. I charge the electronics (iPad, computer, etc) at night. I run the AC at night at 68, at 6am it shuts off and it takes until 5pm or so for the house to get up to 78.

Most days our house is empty 7am-4pm. So we use very little power during the expensive time. But it's summer now so my 3 kids are home watching TV etc... Still never break $90 for a decent sized house.

The plan sucks if you don't make any changes. For example I used to do my laundry all day once a week. Now I do one load a night during free time. But I'm not a night owl and still made it work for me!

 

[descovy]

She shouldn't be stuck with TXU. TXU services the deregulated energy market in Texas. She should be able to choose any plat at www.powertochoose.com. Note that the "price per kwh" is based on 1,000 or 2,000 kwh usage, so look out for high base charges and low per-kwh charges. Odds are she'll use less that 1,000 kwh per month.

Actually apartments CAN be sub metered in Dallas. Not all do, but they are certainly allowed to. Sub metered apartments all must use the same electric provider.

 

[supersnoop]

Actually apartments CAN be sub metered in Dallas. Not all do, but they are certainly allowed to. Sub metered apartments all must use the same electric provider.

But if you're submetered, you wouldn't be selecting a plan, would you? The more I think about it, the more I convince myself this is in CoServ's territory.

 

[ctinct]

You're getting bad information. Texas has a deregulated energy market and TXU is a retail provider. The apartment cannot dictate which retail electric provider she selects. (I did some consulting work for TXU during deregulation).

Her usage in an apartment will likely be in the 600-800 kwh range, with peaks during the day.

I should add, TWU is in Denton and most of Denton is covered by CoServ, and electric cooperative not subject to deregulation. There may be a requirement to use CoServ, but there cannot be a requirement to use TXU.

She will be in Dallas. Main campus is in Denton, but there is a pt school and nursing program in Dallas. You may be right about not being tied to TXU, though. She showed me her lease, and it says something like "neighborhood info. Electric provider TXU, cable Time Warner", etc. I told her they probably get some sort of referral bonus for TXU, not that it HAS to be TXU. She is going to call tomorrow to clarify.

We are doing all of this long distance. She had a roommate she has never met, in an apartment she has never seen, although the roommate is from Texas and found the apartment. It's a leap of faith for sure!

 

[supersnoop]

She will be in Dallas. Main campus is in Denton, but there is a pt school and nursing program in Dallas. You may be right about not being tied to TXU, though. She showed me her lease, and it says something like "neighborhood info. Electric provider TXU, cable Time Warner", etc. I told her they probably get some sort of referral bonus for TXU, not that it HAS to be TXU. She is going to call tomorrow to clarify.

We are doing all of this long distance. She had a roommate she has never met, in an apartment she has never seen, although the roommate is from Texas and found the apartment. It's a leap of faith for sure!

In the days before deregulation, TXU was the sole provider. Then TXU split into two companies, TXU (retail) and Oncor, the regulated wire provider. They probably mean that the old TXU still manages the wires. But I think they changed their name again.

 

[bananasplitkids]

I remember moving to Dallas after college and being overwhelmed with all the choices. I currently stay in a 2 bedroom apartment and the my last three bills we used 371 - Apr, 412 - May, and 583 - June kilowatts. When looking over the various plans make sure you look at all the details, many have a minimum of kilowatts you must meet or you pay an additional fee for the month.