The short answer
Reliant is cheaper at 2,000 kWh, and Constellation is cheaper at 500 kWh and 1,000 kWh.
- At 500 kWh, Constellation's 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) costs $17-$21 less a month than Reliant's cheapest plan.
- At 1,000 kWh, Constellation's 12 Month Usage Bill Credit (a bill-credit plan) costs $29-$37 less a month than Reliant's cheapest plan.
- At 2,000 kWh, Reliant's Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 and Power Savings 2,000 kWh 12 (bill-credit plans; which one depends on the market) cost $16-$26 less a month than Constellation's cheapest plan.
- If you'd rather skip bill-credit plans: Constellation is $13-$21 a month cheaper at 1,000 kWh and $26-$44 a month cheaper at 2,000 kWh.
- Which one costs less for you depends mainly on how much electricity you use.
Reliant vs Constellation at a glance (Houston)
| Reliant | Constellation | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans listed in Houston | 4 | 10 |
| Lowest cost at 500 kWh | $88.50 Basic Power 12 · 17.7¢/kWh | $72.00 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) · 14.4¢/kWh |
| Lowest cost at 1,000 kWh | $152.00 Basic Power 12 · 15.2¢/kWh | $123.00 12 Month Usage Bill Credit · 12.3¢/kWh · bill credit |
| Lowest cost at 2,000 kWh | $236.00 Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 · 11.8¢/kWh · bill credit | $262.00 12 Month Usage Bill Credit · 13.1¢/kWh · bill credit |
| Contract lengths | 12 months, 24 months | 12 months, 24 months |
| Plan types | fixed rate, bill credit | bill credit, fixed rate |
| Cancellation fee (12-month plans) | $150 | $150 |
| Monthly charge | $0-$9.95 | $0 |
| Month-to-month plans | None | None |
| Solar or green plans | None | 12 Month GREEN (No Min Usage Fee) |
Lowest cost = the cheapest plan from each provider at that usage, as an estimated monthly bill. Plans for EVs, students and A/C bundles aren't counted as "cheapest" because not every home can sign up for them (11 Month A/C Alert & Service for 2 units, 12 Month Electric Vehicle FreeCharge, 12 Month Electric Vehicle FlexCharge, 24 Month Electric Vehicle FreeCharge and 24 Month Electric Vehicle FlexCharge).
Which is cheaper right now?
It depends on how much electricity you use. Here's the cheaper provider at each usage level, across Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Corpus Christi:
- 500 kWh: Constellation is cheaper in all three markets, by $17-$21 a month.
- 1,000 kWh: Constellation is cheaper in all three markets, by $29-$37 a month.
- 2,000 kWh: Reliant is cheaper in all three markets, by $16-$26 a month. On fixed-rate plans only, Constellation is cheaper in all three markets, by $26-$44 a month.
Houston (CenterPoint)
| Monthly usage | Reliant cheapest | Est. bill | Constellation cheapest | Est. bill | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | Basic Power 12 17.7¢/kWh | $88.50 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 14.4¢/kWh | $72.00 | Constellation by $16.50 |
| 1,000 kWh | Basic Power 12 15.2¢/kWh | $152.00 | 12 Month Usage Bill Credit 12.3¢/kWh, bill credit | $123.00 | Constellation by $29 |
| 1,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 15.2¢/kWh | $152.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 13.9¢/kWh | $139.00 | Constellation by $13 |
| 2,000 kWh | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 11.8¢/kWh, bill credit | $236.00 | 12 Month Usage Bill Credit 13.1¢/kWh, bill credit | $262.00 | Reliant by $26 |
| 2,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 15¢/kWh | $300.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 13.7¢/kWh | $274.00 | Constellation by $26 |
Dallas-Fort Worth (Oncor)
| Monthly usage | Reliant cheapest | Est. bill | Constellation cheapest | Est. bill | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | Basic Power 12 18¢/kWh | $90.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 14.7¢/kWh | $73.50 | Constellation by $16.50 |
| 1,000 kWh | Basic Power 12 15.7¢/kWh | $157.00 | 12 Month Usage Bill Credit 12.7¢/kWh, bill credit | $127.00 | Constellation by $30 |
| 1,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 15.7¢/kWh | $157.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 14.3¢/kWh | $143.00 | Constellation by $14 |
| 2,000 kWh | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 12 12.6¢/kWh, bill credit | $252.00 | 12 Month Usage Bill Credit 13.5¢/kWh, bill credit | $270.00 | Reliant by $18 |
| 2,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 15.5¢/kWh | $310.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 14.1¢/kWh | $282.00 | Constellation by $28 |
Corpus Christi (AEP Texas Central)
| Monthly usage | Reliant cheapest | Est. bill | Constellation cheapest | Est. bill | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | Basic Power 12 17¢/kWh | $85.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 12.9¢/kWh | $64.50 | Constellation by $20.50 |
| 1,000 kWh | Basic Power 12 14.7¢/kWh | $147.00 | 12 Month Usage Bill Credit 11¢/kWh, bill credit | $110.00 | Constellation by $37 |
| 1,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 14.7¢/kWh | $147.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 12.6¢/kWh | $126.00 | Constellation by $21 |
| 2,000 kWh | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 11¢/kWh, bill credit | $220.00 | 12 Month Usage Bill Credit 11.8¢/kWh, bill credit | $236.00 | Reliant by $16 |
| 2,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 14.6¢/kWh | $292.00 | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) 12.4¢/kWh | $248.00 | Constellation by $44 |
Estimated bill = the plan's average price per kWh at that usage ?- kWh. That price comes from the plan's Electricity Facts Label (EFL) and already includes the utility's delivery charges. Your bill depends on your exact usage, so check the EFL for the plan you pick. "Nearly a tie" means within $5 a month.
How prices change with your usage
The plans that are cheapest at a typical 1,000 kWh behave differently as your usage moves. In Houston:
- Reliant Basic Power 12 gets cheaper per kWh as you use more: 17.7¢ at 500 kWh, 15.2¢ at 1,000 kWh and 15¢ at 2,000 kWh, a 2.7¢ swing. It's a fixed-rate plan with a $9.95 monthly charge, which matters less as usage goes up.
- Constellation 12 Month Usage Bill Credit gets cheaper per kWh as you use more: 16.3¢ at 500 kWh, 12.3¢ at 1,000 kWh and 13.1¢ at 2,000 kWh, a 3.2¢ swing. It's a bill-credit plan, so its price depends on whether your usage lands in the credit window.
If your usage swings between seasons, for example 700 kWh in spring and 2,000 kWh or more in August, a bill-credit plan can cost much more in the months you miss its credit window. A fixed-rate plan is easier to predict. Use your last 12 bills to check where your usage really falls.
Which has more plan choices?
Constellation lists more plans: 10 in Houston, compared with 4 for Reliant.
- Reliant lists 4 plans in Houston, with 12- and 24-month contracts. Every plan it lists needs a contract.
- Constellation lists 10 plans in Houston, with 12- and 24-month contracts. Every plan it lists needs a contract. Solar or green plans: 12 Month GREEN (No Min Usage Fee). Plans with eligibility rules or bundled equipment: 11 Month A/C Alert & Service for 2 units, 12 Month Electric Vehicle FreeCharge, 12 Month Electric Vehicle FlexCharge, 24 Month Electric Vehicle FreeCharge and 24 Month Electric Vehicle FlexCharge.
The 12-month plans from both charge the same $150 cancellation fee. Monthly charges run $0-$9.95 at Reliant and $0 at Constellation, and they're already in the estimated bills above.
Which fits your home?
| Home | Typical usage | Better fit right now | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment or small home | about 500-800 kWh | Constellation | 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) is $17-$21 a month cheaper at 500 kWh |
| Typical home | about 1,000-1,500 kWh | Constellation | 12 Month Usage Bill Credit is $29-$37 a month cheaper at 1,000 kWh, if your usage stays in the credit window |
| Large home or high summer use | 2,000+ kWh | Reliant | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 and Power Savings 2,000 kWh 12 are $16-$26 a month cheaper at 2,000 kWh, if your usage stays in the credit window |
How to choose between Reliant and Constellation
Choose Reliant if
- You use about 2,000 kWh a month and it stays close to that every month
Choose Constellation if
- You use about 500 kWh a month
- You use about 1,000 kWh a month and it stays close to that every month
- You want the lower fixed-rate price, with no bill credit to hit
Learn more: Reliant rates and plans · Constellation rates and plans · Reliant vs TXU · TXU vs Constellation · All provider comparisons
Reliant vs Constellation infographic
FAQ
Is Reliant or Constellation cheaper?
It depends on your usage. As of November 3, 2026: Reliant is cheaper at 2,000 kWh, and Constellation is cheaper at 500 kWh and 1,000 kWh.
Which is better for an apartment, Reliant or Constellation?
Constellation. At 500 kWh a month, Constellation's 12 Month (No Min Usage Fee) is currently $17-$21 a month cheaper than Reliant's cheapest plan.
Which is better for a large home?
Reliant. At 2,000 kWh a month, Reliant's Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 and Power Savings 2,000 kWh 12 are currently $16-$26 a month cheaper than Constellation's cheapest plan, in months when your usage stays near that level.
Do Reliant and Constellation charge cancellation fees?
Both charge $150 to cancel the 12-month plans listed here early.
Can I switch from Constellation to Reliant, or Reliant to Constellation?
Yes. In areas of Texas with retail choice you can switch providers at any time. If you're under contract, check your current plan's cancellation fee first. Your utility, and the delivery charges in your bill, stay the same whichever provider you pick.
How we compare
Rates come from each plan's page on PowerChoiceTexas.org on November 3, 2026, for Houston (CenterPoint), Dallas-Fort Worth (Oncor), Corpus Christi (AEP Texas Central). For each provider and usage level we pick its cheapest plan that any home can sign up for, and estimate the bill as that plan's average price per kWh times usage. Prices include the utility's delivery charges. Plan pages round prices to 0.1¢, so an estimate can be off by about $1 at 1,000 kWh. Rates change often: enter your ZIP code for the prices at your address. PowerChoiceTexas.org is not affiliated with Reliant or Constellation. Compare everything available in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Corpus Christi.
