FAQ

In Texas, the “Transmission and Delivery Unit (TDU)” companies are responsible for maintaining the electricity wires, poles, checking and replacing your electric meters. TDUs run the infrastructure through which you receive your electricity.

In Texas, there are only six main TDUs operating in the deregulated areas: CenterPoint, AEP North, AEP Central, Oncor, Texas-New Mexico Power, and Sharyland.

To find out which TDU delivers electricity to your home, simply check your electric meter. Your electric meter will have the name and logo of that TDU.

Power to Choose is the official website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) that contains all the information on rates and plans available in the electricity market. Its goal is to help consumers compare the pros and cons of the various suppliers that serve their area and thus find the best option for their needs.

Power to Choose is an unbiased and objective resource, but it can be confusing and difficult to understand. Ladybug Energy uses the same database and the same rates and plans as Power to Choose, but displays the information in a much friendlier and simpler way so it’s easy for you to quickly identify the best rates and opportunities.

No, because each geographic has only one TDU. For example, if you live in Houston, CenterPoint will be your TDU.

Yes, in most of Texas you can freely switch electric companies as many times as you like. Ladybug Energy has a free service to help you find out which companies serve your area just by entering your zip code.

Changing your electricity company does not have any penalty. However, you may have to pay an extra fee if you cancel your current contract early.

In short, deregulation of the energy market is giving the consumer the power to choose their electricity supplier freely. Texas has deregulated its electricity market in 2002 and is currently one of the 14 fully deregulated states.

In a regulated market, consumers cannot choose who to buy energy from and are forced to buy from a single local company whose rates are set by the government. In a deregulated market, many different companies may offer many different plans and rates, and consumers can choose which ones best suit their needs. Consumers can also switch providers as many times as they want.

In Texas, there are currently 130 of these electric providers, called Retail Electricity Providers (REP).

Electricity is currently fully deregulated in 14 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington DC) and partially deregulated in three others (California, Michigan, and Oregon).

Natural gas is fully deregulated in 11 states (California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington DC) and partially deregulated in five others (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Texas).

A Retail Energy Provider (REP) is a company approved by the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUCT) to provide energy to consumers (both residential and business). Also known as light companies, power companies, or electricity suppliers, REPs do not produce the energy, nor do they own or maintain the infrastructure necessary for its transmission or distribution.

Instead, they buy the electricity directly from power generators and then resell it to consumers. In Texas there are about 130 different REPs that compete against each other with a wide range of plans and rates.

Although more than 80% of Texans enjoy deregulation of the electricity market, that is, they have power to choose their supplier, the rest live in areas served by electric cooperatives or where municipalities own the utilities. Some major cities, such Austin (except the north side), San Antonio, and El Paso, are in this condition.

If you live in one of those, you will not be able to change providers

In simple words, electricity shopping is the act of buying electricity from an energy provider for consumption. In the deregulated areas of Texas, you will find plenty of Retail Energy Providers (REPs) to shop for electricity from.

You can find out what plans are available in your area by visiting the Ladybug Energy home page and entering your zip code in the bar given. After that, a list of the electricity plans with best rates will be provided to you.

To pay less for electricity, you need to consume less energy by figuring out which appliances in your home consume the most electricity. If you feel that your electricity bills are high despite your low consumption, read your electric meter manually and submit the readings to your provider every month.

With over 400 cities in Texas that are deregulated, there are about 130 electric companies. Electric companies are also better known as the Retail Energy Providers (REPs)
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At Ladybug Energy we only work with the best Texas REPs, based on their track record, history, and recommendations. Some of them are: Reliant Energy, Pulse Power, Cirro Energy, Gexa Energy, and Payless Power.

Switching your electricity provider can help you save hundreds of dollars annually. Electricity suppliers vary their rates all the time, and you may be able to find a supplier with a much better rate than the one you are using now.

If you think that your current electricity provider is too expensive, at Ladybug Energy we can help you switch to a provider that offers top-notch service and a budget-friendly plan..

If you’re moving to a new area, you can choose a provider that offers the best plan for your needs.

You can easily change your electricity provider anytime if you live in a deregulated area.

To change your electricity provider, visit our home page and enter your zip code to find out the best plans available in your area. Then simply select the plan that is the most suitable for you. After this, you will have to sign up with your new electricity provider and provide them the required details.

Once you’ve signed up, the ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) will inform your previous provider about the switch. It takes around seven business days to switch your electricity provider.