Residential Electricity Frequently Asked Questions

Home Electricity Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: Who to Call in Case of a Power Outage in Texas?

For deregulated Texas utilities by areas

Oncor, Dallas/Fort Worth: 1-888-313-4747

http://www.oncor.com

​Centerpoint, Houston: 1-800-332-7143

https://www.centerpointenergy.com

AEP Central and AEP North, South Texas/The Valley: 1-866-223-8508
https://www.aeptexas.com

TNMP (Texas New Mexico Power): 1-888-866-7456
http://www.tnmp.com

Q: Same-day energy service for my home?

A: Usually it takes about 3 hours, although it could be more or less. We have heard of clients whose electricity was up and running in less than 30 minutes. It all depends on how busy the grid is. If we received your call after 5:00 pm CST, then the power will be connected by the next business day.

Q: Same day electricity needs and extra payment?

A: No. The priority service or same-day connection fee is FREE with your initial payment. In DFW ONCOR, CenterPoint (Houston Area), AEP North, and AEP Central, it is FREE to connect on the same day!

Ask for other money-saving plans and even bigger savings. Up to 23% from regular plans.

Electricity Billing

Q: What are the Consequences If You Don’t Pay Your Electricity Bill?

• Higher energy rates
• Extra fees for disconnection and reconnection of the service
• Interest fees
• Late payment fees, past due fees

Q: What to do if you can’t afford to pay?

• Think before you act, do something. Doing nothing can be way worse.
• Before your past due date, call the energy company and explain the situation.
• Ask for an extension or payments, ask for a payment plan, and ask for deferred payment plans. In a few words, ask for help. All energy companies are willing to help, they want their customers to stay active.
• Ask for help, you can ask for government assistance. Surely, it may take some time but you can get it.

LIHEAP. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Q: How does prepaid energy billing work?

Prepaid:

A: It’s very simple. We will send you a text message showing our Customer Care number 855-722-7199 and all you need to know about your account, including the balance, usage, and approximate usage left.

Postpaid:

A: A monthly statement will arrive at your mailbox, if you opt for paperless, you will get an email every month.

Q: What can you do if I need a billing statement or proof of payments?

A: Every time you make a payment you will receive a text or email about that payment. You can also request a payment history, we will send it via email. This email will include all your recent payments, daily balance, and your name and address.

Q: How can I get proof of service at my residence?

A: In a like manner, we can send an email with your information and account status. This email will include; payments, balances, usage, name, and address.

Q: With prepaid electricity, how long does it take to turn the power on?

A: For new customers with a regular connection it will take 3 business days. In the case that you need SAME-DAY SERVICE, we can rush the order and connect your energy service the same day for FREE. This applies to requests received before 5:00 pm CST, Monday-Saturday.

Q: Prepaid electricity charge a deposit?

A: No. Our prepaid electricity supplier will not charge you a deposit. There is a payment to make before you can start your electricity service. This payment is not taken as a deposit, what you pay is to buy electricity that you will use from the moment your energy service start.

Q: Why do postpaid companies ask for a deposit? Prepaid Vs. Deposit.

A: This is a way companies make sure you stay with them for a long time. If you leave and break the contract they will then charge you a penalty out of the money you put down as a deposit. There are more reasons but this is the main one. With Prepaid we will never ask for a deposit, we ask you to buy the energy in advance.

Q: With prepaid electricity, is my personal information safe?

A: Remember that with prepaid energy we won’t run your credit or ask for your social security or driver’s license numbers. These things are not needed to establish your electricity with us. If the customer asks for postpaid electricity service, a credit assessment will be performed, and for this, the social security number or ITIN # will be asked.

Q: What is “true electricity”?

A: This means that after we receive daily meter readings for all of our customers, you are billed for exactly what your kilowatt usage was. Some postpaid power companies use historical usage to bill you, meaning that if you were not living at this premises last year you will then be billed for what whoever was living there was using a year ago.

The prepaid electricity companies we are affiliated with will not do historical usage data research, you will be billed for what you used. Contract Fix Rate Plans will send you a statement telling you how much you are using in the period. We know that reading an energy bill is not easy, but we can help you understand what each detail in your bill means.

Q: What is FLEX-PAY? – Prepaid Only

A: Flex-Pay is a way to break up large payments so that you can budget your power and finances. With Electricity Express you don’t have to wait for a bill to arrive at the end of the month which then must be paid by the beginning of the next month when your largest bills are due. With Flex-Pay you can make several payments during the month, enabling you to decide when to make your electricity payments.

Q: Where can I pay my energy bill?

A: We suggest making payments without any additional charge either online or by phone using our automated system. We are in many bill payment locations, including Fidelity Express, ACE Cash Express, PLS, and most 7-Elevens. Check out this tool to find your nearest payment center.

Q: Prepaid electricity will not send an energy bill, but I need a statement for address verification purposes, how can I get it?

Prepaid Electricity Billing

A: With our GREEN philosophy we do not send paper bills, however, you receive an energy usage text or email notification every day, if you need proof of residence you can request a statement and we will send it to you via email and so on you can print and show. This is free of charge, just call #ElectricityExpress –  to our Customer Care number 855-722-7199 or the number on your message during business hours, this must be requested by the account holder, otherwise, we will not provide any information, this is to secure the customer’s information.

With Postpaid energy services, you will get a monthly bill.

Q: Besides the kilowatt-hour, I’ve been quoted, what other fees should I expect?

A: Electricity Express wants to make things simple and hassle-free, our bilingual sales department will explain to you what is a bundled price, this means that delivery charges and surcharges are included, this is very important; postpaid companies will quote you the lowest price per kilowatt-hour and without telling you the most important charges like delivery charges, FCC, usage, etc. This is how they can come up to 7 or 8 cents per kilowatt-hour but when you add all those fees you end up paying a very similar price to us, ad we never asked you your social security number (prepaid electricity). There is a daily service charge of about $0.40 (40 cents) per day, 100% of electric companies charge this. The standard connection is free, with no fees for that! The base energy charge is around $9.95 per month. (depending on the product).

Q: How long have you been in the energy business?

A: Electricity Express is a broker that has been in the utility business since 2005, we used to sell home phones, cable, wireless, etc. Promoting electricity since 2008, 5 years ago we found that Payless Power is the best option for no deposit, no credit check, no contract (and more features) energy services in Texas. Since then we have not moved our eyes toward another energy provider, we believe that Payless Power is here to stay and as long as they stay we will. There are a lot of brokers out there that are not truly committed to their provider, #ElectricityExpress is 100% sure that Payless Power does the right thing.

For customers looking for postpaid energy services, we got contracts with other magnificent companies like Frontier Utilities.

Q: My electricity was cut while I was away and now it’s too late to call customer service, what can I do?

A: As explained 4 questions above, make a payment online or through our automated system using your phone, the electricity will be re-established in less than 2 hours, our systems will detect the payment and your power will be back on in no time. Remember to cover all charges and fees.

 

About SWITCH HOLDS

 

Q: What is a SWITCH HOLD on a meter? Why is this complicated to understand? (coming soon… I will be creating a whole page on this topic, stay tuned)

A: In a few words is like this; when a resident lived on certain premises and left an unpaid bill and never notify the electric company he/she was moving out. Since the electric company does not know he/she moved out, they are waiting for a payment or a settlement.

The old electric provider will do “as it’s best” to collect such debt. By PUC (Public Utility Commission) it is within the law to apply a SWITCH HOLD in order to keep any other company or electric provider to establish service without their consent so that the company has control of the meter and in the case, the customer wants to switch providers he/she will not be able until he/she settles the debt.

What does all this have to do with you if you are a new resident/tenant? Well, if the other electric provider does not know you are a new “move-in” or new resident, the SWITCH HOLD on the meter will not be removed unless you can prove that you are a new resident at that specific address.

Here is how to remove the switch hold; by now, you must have an account number with us Electricity Express, you will need it and ask for the ESI ID for the premises you are moving in, get to your leasing office or landlord and get a copy of the lease agreement, or CD (Closing Disclosure) if the premises was purchased. It has to be typed, not handwritten or any kind of modifications, all dates, signatures, and addresses must be in order. Ask us, your electric provider, for a “New Occupant Statement” form emailed or faxed, and your leasing agent or landlord must fill it out. Gather all this, add your account number on all pages, and send it to us. Amen. All this is just to be safe with PUC regulations and tell the other company that another provider and resident is moving in.

Q: How long it takes to remove a switch hold?

A: The utilities work on switch holds until 11 am. If the documents were received and worked by 11 am, the switch hold will be removed and an electricity connection will take place that same day. If the documents were received after 11 am, then the utility will start working on the switch hold removal until the next business day. So, if you act quickly, a switch hold can be removed in less than 24 hours.

Q: Is there any cost to remove a switch hold?

A: No, this ordeal does not cost you anything. However, time and patience are what matter here.

Q: Are summer energy rates higher?

A: This is a myth, while in the summertime we use more electricity not necessary for the electricity prices to go up. I do happen that energy companies raise their rates in the summer, however, it is good to have a good energy-saving plan in effect at all times.

Q: How often the energy rates can change?

A: If you have an agreement, the rate should stay the same for the rest of the agreement. If you are in a variable rate or no agreement plan, your rate can change at any time. However, prepaid electricity has been steady for energy rates for years. Prepaid electricity rates vary very little.

Q: How is it that saving water will save energy?

A: It takes energy to heat and transport water. Most water heaters are electric. Save water and you will save energy and pay less for electricity.

Q: Would it help me to save energy if I change the windows of my home?

A: Yes. Definitely is a good way to make your home more efficient. I know it is a big investment but a good set of new windows can save you 30% of your electric bill.

Solar Panels

Q: Having a solar panel system is really free?

A: No. Going solar is not free at all. This is a marketing strategy.

Q: What is the cost to have a solar panel system in my house?

A: Well, every house is different, every house consumes a different amount of electricity. The cost of a solar system depends on the size of the system, this depends on how much energy you want to offset from your consumption. A solar system can range from $15,000 to $45,000 dollars.
You can have an idea of the cost of a solar panel system for your house by making the average spend per month then multiplying by 12 months then by 12 years.

Q: Why it’s said that a solar system installation is free?

A: The correct way to say this would be that there is no extra spending by having a solar system.

Q: What would be my electricity bill after installing a PV system?

A: In the case that the solar system offsets +100% of the energy used by the house, your electricity bill will be $0.

Q: Are there any other electricity charges involved after the solar system is running?

A: There is a small fee charged by the utility which is the INTERCONNECTION fee, depending on the utility, this fee can range from $15 to $25 dollars per month.

Q: Do the PV system must be paid in full or can be financed?

A: We offer to finance it to all our customers, however, you can ask your bank for a “home improvement loan” which may get you a better rate or we can offer a cash option and forget all loan fees.

Q: How do the “solar tax credits” work?

A: As of 2023, there is a federal tax credit of 30% of the total cost of the solar system, we suggest that you use that money to pay part of the loan so you can stay at the monthly installments agreed on our presentation.

Q: Do the tax credit will stay forever?

A: No, it will be reduced by 2% each year for the next 3 years, then it will go away.

Q: What does Net Metering mean?

A: Net Metering is a billing method used to determine the difference between the energy generated by a solar system and the energy consumed by a house. The energy produced minus energy consumed equals your net electric bill. Here is a post that explains Net Metering in detail.

Q: Do I get paid if I produce more energy than what I consume? 

A: No, if you have excess energy pushed to the utility, the utility will save that energy and will give it to you in credits when you need it. This is traded as energy credits, not as cash.

 

Using Your Air Conditioner

Q: When is recommended to turn off the thermostat of our air conditioner?

A: We highly recommend checking the weather conditions prior to making this energy-saving trick. a) with the chance that comfortable temperatures are forecasted for 3+ days. b) assuming that the humidity is between 30 to 50 %.

Q: For what reason does the A/C assist with the moistness?

A: The A/C system assists with keeping our home dry. Too dry or too sticky is terrible for our homes. Assuming that it’s excessively dry, it could make underlying harm to the house and structure. Then again, too sticky can cause shape and furthermore influences the underpinning of your home.

Q: To save electricity, how often should I change my A/C filter?

A: Depends on the quality of the filter that you use. A high-quality filter should be replaced every 3-4 months. Low-quality filters may need to be replaced every month or less.

Q: How can my ceiling fan help me to save energy?

A: The ceiling fans have a setting that changes the spinning direction to make the air circulates downward or upward. In the summertime, make the ceiling fan push the air down. In wintertime, make the ceiling fan push the air up. Save electricity with the help of your ceiling fan.

Q: How much money I can save if I use the ceiling fans?

A: Well, that depends on the temperature you set your thermostat. Also if your heating system uses natural gas or is electric. However, savings can range from $200 – $500 a year.

Q: How often should I service my A/C?

A: It is recommended to call a technician every 6 months, however, you can clean and maintain the A/C by yourself.

Q: What kind of maintenance can I do for my A/C?

A: Aside from changing the filters, you can clean the coils and condensers, check if there are any leaks, check the pressure, and check the freon levels.

Q: How does a maintained A/C impact my electricity bill?

A: If an A/C is not well maintained, you may not notice but it can be running nonstop for hours, this can add a couple of hundred dollars to your monthly budget of electricity.

Q: How can I know if the A/C needs maintenance?

A: You will notice that the A/C is running continuously, and the air coming from the vents is not cold enough, if you use prepaid electricity, you will see a huge increase in your energy consumption (something you will not notice if you have traditional electricity service with a monthly statement.

Q: When is good to turn off the A/C to pay less for electricity?

A: Usually, we leave it in “AUTO”, however, if you know that there will be mild temperatures forecasted, I suggest turning the A/C off. This is a good idea if the A/C will be off for more than 3 days.

Q: Why do we need to change the A/C filter every 3 months?

A: Every season change brings different temperatures and we are more likely to keep the doors open, this brings dust and particles. There are some air filters designed to be changed more often because the material will not collect dust and particles. If we do not change the A/C filter it will take more energy and time for the A/C to reach the desired temperature. Pay less electricity with good airflow in your A/C.

 

Q: If it says “no deposit required”, why do I have to pay to start a new service?

A: For the prepaid electricity service, the energy is paid in advance, what the customer is paying is for the electricity that will be used in the next few days.

Q: How much is recommended to pay to start a prepaid electric service?

A: As of 09/25/21 the minimum to start a prepaid electric service is $40, however, I strongly suggest adding to the account at least what you think you will use in a month or so.

Q: How often do I have to add money to the account?

A: Well, this is up to you. Check the daily balance and you will see when to add more money to the account. The more money you add to the account, the fewer times you have to add money. The less you add to the account the more times you have to add money.

Q: Prepaid electricity will show my electricity savings?

A: Yes. With the daily text notifications, you can know how many kWh you use the day before and the one before that. This way you will know if your energy-saving efforts are working or not.

Q: Do Christmas lights use a lot of electricity?

A: It depends, LED lights are the most energy-efficient way to decorate your home with Christmas lights.

Q: How can I reduce energy usage during Christmas?

A: Change to LED lights, let the natural light of the day avoid using artificial light in your home, save hot water, do not turn off the heating unit, or change the thermostat temperature drastically.

 

Remember that with prepaid electricity you can measure your energy savings. See how much electricity you use every day with prepaid electricity with Payless Power, which sends you a daily text with your energy usage.

Q: What is the best solution when a power outage occurs?

A: I can recommend having a PV system with a backup battery. However, if that is too much of an investment, a power generator will help you.

Q: How long does a power outage can last?

A: Usually, a power outage lasts for a few minutes, nevertheless, depending on the grid to fix the problem, it could last 3-4 hours.

Q: What personal information is required to get prepaid electricity?

A: Prepaid electricity will only ask for basic personal information which is, name, address, date of birth, and a cellular phone number.

Q: How long would take to connect an electric service?

A: After paying for the electricity you will be using and if the electrical meter has no issues, it can take about 30 minutes to connect the residential electricity service.

Q: Which electronics or appliances are suggested to stay connected at all times?

A: Washer, dryer, stove, microwave, internet, Wi-Fi, and non-smart TVs.

Q: Which electronic devices should not be connected at all times?

A: Phone chargers, small kitchen appliances like coffee makers, mini ovens, blenders, etc. Computers and monitors, videogame consoles, or any entertainment equipment.

Q: Do I have to give my SS# to begin an energy service?

A: No, since we don’t perform credit checks we won’t request a SS#, driver’s license, or ITIN.

About Your Credit

Q: Is it necessary to run my credit?

A: No, if you opt for prepaid electricity, we will not check your credit.
In the case that you would like to have a postpaid energy service, yes, a credit assessment will be required.

Q: What is needed to run a credit check?

A: To do a credit verification, your social security number or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) will be required.

Q: Why do energy companies ask for good credit to start an electricity service?

A: It’s all about the customers’ credibility if the customer will stay with the energy company throughout the contract and pay the energy bills.

Q: Can an electricity supplier damage someone’s credit?

A: No. No utility service can damage your credit, however, they can sell your debt to a collection agency. If this is the case, you don’t owe the energy company anymore, now you owe the collections agency.

 

Q: Why the energy rates posted on this website are different than what the live agent is offering me?

A: This can happen for several reasons.

Sometimes we receive information about the new electricity rates too suddenly and we are working to update the energy rates.

Each area or utility has different delivery charges.

The page or blog you are reading it’s outdated or reflects an old promotion.

We work hard to give true and up-to-date information, however, sometimes the market changes too fast for us.

Q: Is this a real electricity company or a scam?

A: We are not the energy company, we are a BROKER (agent) working with Payless Power (REP# 10110) and Frontier Utilities (REP# 10169). We do not have to increase the energy rates or change the rules for customers. Our call centers are based in Texas.

Q: How can I know I’m getting scammed by a sales agent?

A: Several things you can ask or look for to avoid a scam.

• Does the energy company really exist?
• Ask for their website.
• Are they only on social media?
• What is their physical address or PO Box?
• What is their REP or PUC certificate number?
• Do the payments go to an actual energy company or to a person?

Note: No payments should go to a person or a payment app like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, etc. All energy companies must have a website and a PUC number. All electricity companies must have a physical address.

Q: What are the best thermostat temperature settings during winter months?

A: First, try to install a programmable thermostat. This will help you to change the temperatures throughout the day effortlessly.
The best temperature settings throughout the day are like this:
Wake: 68°F
Away: 60°F
Return: 68°F
Sleep: 65°F

Q: Would I save electricity if I turn off the heating system or the thermostat?

A: No. Is strongly suggested not to turn off the heating system. It will waste more energy because the system will not stop until it reaches the desired temperature.

IMPORTANT: When in a winter blizzard, leaving faucets dripping and the heating system on helps to avoid the pipes and faucets freezing and breaking.

Q: For what reason is essential to keep the cupboards open during frosty temperatures?

A: Water lines can rush in frosty temperatures. It’s enthusiastically suggested that during frigid temperatures not switch off the warming framework. Simultaneously, it’s essential to leave cupboards (where water pipes are found) open to forestall the water line to explode.

Q: For what reason is essential to leave fixtures dribbling during a freeze?

A: We should comprehend that water extends when freezes. Standing water freezes quicker than running or moving water. Along these lines, we enthusiastically suggest leaving hot and cold water taps dribbling.

 

Home Automation

Q: What is Home Automation?
A: Techniques and technology that will make the home safer and more energy efficient.

Q: How much does home automation will cost?
A: Usually, automation systems come in stages, you can start with a $150 thermostat. However, if you want to go “all-in”, you can invest about $5,000.

Q: What are the most used energy-efficient gadgets?
A: Thermostats, light switches, and appliances.

Q: How much would I save per year with an energy-efficient home?
A: From $200 to $1,000 depending you your level of automation.