Midland Electricity Rates

Contents

1 Midland Electricity Rates
2 Oncor Utility Company Operates in Midland
3 Contact Oncor for Power Outages
4 Difference between a Utility Company and a Retail Energy Provider
5 What will Change on my Electric Bill?
6 How to Choose a Retail Energy Provider
7 Do I need a long-term or short-term Energy Plan?
8 Fixed vs. Variable Energy Plans
9 Green Energy Plans
10 View by City
11 Clean Energy
12 Electricity Rates

Since 2002, when legislation was approved to deregulate the majority of Texas’s electricity markets, Midland residential and commercial customers have the power to choose their own Retail Energy Provider (REP). Before energy choice, the utility companies operating within ERCOT had a monopoly over the delivery and supply (generation) of electricity in their service areas. This meant if you were living in Midland before energy deregulation, you were not allowed to shop around for a lower supply or generation rate.

Thanks to the legislation that was passed, widely known in the state as Texas Senate Bill 7 (SB7), Retail Energy Providers (REPs) are allowed to enter the market and compete for your business. As with any sector of the free market, the increase in competition drives down prices which is good news for the consumer. Texas electricity rates are now some of the lowest in the country and one of the many driving factors that have made Texas an economic powerhouse.

Midland is part of the Permian Basin in Central Texas. Due largely to the oil boom, the population in the city increased from 110,000 in 2010 to above an estimated 150,000 in 2019. Midland is known for oil and natural gas, and rightly so. The city’s economic activity is centered around oil and natural gas, ranking second in the state for production by the barrel of oil equivalent (BOE).

Oncor Utility Company Operates in Midland

If you recently moved to Midland, then you have noticed your electric bill comes from Oncor. Midland is located in the Oncor service area. Oncor is the utility company responsible for maintaining the lines and wires to efficiently and safely deliver the electricity to your home or business. These charges will show up under the delivery portion of the electric bill. This represents the regulated portion of the bill overseen by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The customer cannot shop around for another utility company.

Contact Oncor for Power Outages

If you experience a power outage or any disruption of service, then you will need to contact Oncor. Even if you switch Retail Energy Providers, Oncor is still responsible for fixing issues with power outages since they control and maintain the infrastructure.

Contact Information: 1-888-313-4747

Difference between a Utility Company and a Retail Energy Provider

If you’re new to energy choice, then you may be trying to figure out the difference between Oncor, the utility company in Midland, and a Retail Energy Provider. To understand the difference then we need to take a look at the electric bill. The electric bill is split between two sections, the delivery charges, and supply charges.

Delivery charges – The delivery charges represent the regulated portion of the electric bill. These costs are charged by the utility company and overseen by the state. This charge represents the costs to maintain the infrastructure needed to deliver the electricity to the point of service. Given the logistics involved, it will be impossible to choose another utility company for your delivery charges.

Supply charges – The supply charges represent the deregulated portion of the electric bill. This is the cost of generating the electricity the customer is estimated to use during the term of the energy contract. The customer in a deregulated energy service area has the power to shop around for a lower supply rate offered by a Retail Energy Supplier.

What will Change on my Electric Bill?

Single billing is the most common method of billing for all deregulated service areas. This means that even after switching energy providers, the customer will only receive one electric bill from the utility company that will incorporate both the delivery and supply charges. The only thing that will change is the lower supply rate that the customer pays! Although some energy providers offer a duel billing option that allows the customer to receive a separate bill from the chosen Retail Energy Provider.

How to Choose a Retail Energy Provider

There are a growing number of price comparison sites that allow you to compare energy suppliers side by side. The official price comparison site of the Public Utility Commission of Texas is PowertoChoose.org. This site allows you to shop and compare energy prices from energy providers that are licensed to supply services in the state of Texas.

We are also dedicated to helping customers shop for the best Retail Energy Providers that meet your specific needs. We know not everyone is alike and we strive to provide superior customer service to get you the best possible rate and to answer all your questions. Contact ElectricRateSelect and one of our energy advisors will be happy to guide you through the process.

When shopping for a Retail Energy Provider there are several questions you may need to ask yourself.

Do I need a long-term or short-term Energy Plan?

The difference between a long-term and short-term energy plan may be the cancellation fee the customer ends up paying if they switch energy providers too soon. If you’re constantly on the lookout for a lower rate, then you may be better off sticking with a short-term plan. However, if you wish to lock in a rate and forget about having to worry about the energy bills every month, then you’re better off going with a long-term plan.

Fixed vs. Variable Energy Plans

A fixed-rate energy plan does exactly what it says, it stays fixed through the duration of the energy contract. For those seeking budget certainty, a fixed-rate plan may be right for you. Controlling the energy costs with fixed-rate products means decreasing the usage every month. However, most fixed-rate plans come with a cancellation fee if the customer switches energy providers before the expiration of their term.

Variable rates tend to fluctuate on a month-to-month basis. The supply rate on a variable rate energy plan can change at the sole discretion of the energy provider. Customers that are constantly on a lookout for the lowest possible rate may benefit from variable rates. Most Retail Energy Providers do not charge a cancellation fee with variable rates as they are offered on a month-to-month basis.

Green Energy Plans

One of the major benefits of energy choice is the power to choose the sources in which the electricity you are estimated to use is generated. More energy providers are offering their customers 100% renewable energy plans. This means the electricity generated comes from environmentally friendly sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower. As technology improves, we can expect these plans to be more affordable but for now, expect to pay a premium going green. Green energy plans are often more expensive than conventional plans that derive the energy from sources such as coal, natural gas, and nuclear power.