The short answer
Reliant is cheaper at 2,000 kWh, and TXU is cheaper at 500 kWh. At 1,000 kWh, it's nearly a tie.
- At 500 kWh, TXU's Smart 500 Start 12 (a bill-credit plan) costs $23-$24 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 $66-$78 less a month than TXU's cheapest plan.
- If you'd rather skip bill-credit plans: it's nearly a tie at 500 kWh and Reliant is $6-$10 a month cheaper at 2,000 kWh.
- Which one costs less for you depends mainly on how much electricity you use.
Reliant vs TXU at a glance (Houston)
| Reliant | TXU | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans listed in Houston | 4 | 7 |
| Lowest cost at 500 kWh | $88.50 Basic Power 12 · 17.7¢/kWh | $64.50 Smart 500 Start 12 · 12.9¢/kWh · bill credit |
| Lowest cost at 1,000 kWh | $152.00 Basic Power 12 · 15.2¢/kWh | $154.00 Smart 500 Start 12 · 15.4¢/kWh · bill credit |
| Lowest cost at 2,000 kWh | $236.00 Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 · 11.8¢/kWh · bill credit | $310.00 Simple Rate 12 · 15.5¢/kWh |
| Contract lengths | 12 months, 24 months | month-to-month, 12 months |
| Plan types | fixed rate, bill credit | bill credit, tiered rate, fixed rate, month-to-month |
| Cancellation fee (12-month plans) | $150 | $150 |
| Monthly charge | $0-$9.95 | $4.95-$9.95 |
| Month-to-month plans | None | Flex Forward |
| Solar or green plans | None | Solar Value 12 and Solar Saver 12 |
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 (Campus Choice).
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: TXU is cheaper in all three markets, by $23-$24 a month. On fixed-rate plans only, Reliant and TXU are within $5 of each other in all three markets.
- 1,000 kWh: Reliant and TXU are within $5 of each other in all three markets.
- 2,000 kWh: Reliant is cheaper in all three markets, by $66-$78 a month.
Houston (CenterPoint)
| Monthly usage | Reliant cheapest | Est. bill | TXU cheapest | Est. bill | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | Basic Power 12 17.7¢/kWh | $88.50 | Smart 500 Start 12 12.9¢/kWh, bill credit | $64.50 | TXU by $24 |
| 500 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 17.7¢/kWh | $88.50 | Simple Rate 12 17.7¢/kWh | $88.50 | Nearly a tie |
| 1,000 kWh | Basic Power 12 15.2¢/kWh | $152.00 | Smart 500 Start 12 15.4¢/kWh, bill credit | $154.00 | Nearly a tie |
| 1,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 15.2¢/kWh | $152.00 | Simple Rate 12 16.2¢/kWh | $162.00 | Reliant by $10 |
| 2,000 kWh | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 11.8¢/kWh, bill credit | $236.00 | Simple Rate 12 15.5¢/kWh | $310.00 | Reliant by $74 |
| 2,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 15¢/kWh | $300.00 | Simple Rate 12 15.5¢/kWh | $310.00 | Reliant by $10 |
Dallas-Fort Worth (Oncor)
| Monthly usage | Reliant cheapest | Est. bill | TXU cheapest | Est. bill | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | Basic Power 12 18¢/kWh | $90.00 | Smart 500 Start 12 13.5¢/kWh, bill credit | $67.50 | TXU by $22.50 |
| 500 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 18¢/kWh | $90.00 | Simple Rate 12 18¢/kWh | $90.00 | Nearly a tie |
| 1,000 kWh | Basic Power 12 15.7¢/kWh | $157.00 | Solar Value 12 15.9¢/kWh | $159.00 | Nearly a tie |
| 2,000 kWh | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 12 12.6¢/kWh, bill credit | $252.00 | Simple Rate 12 15.9¢/kWh | $318.00 | Reliant by $66 |
| 2,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 15.5¢/kWh | $310.00 | Simple Rate 12 15.9¢/kWh | $318.00 | Reliant by $8 |
Corpus Christi (AEP Texas Central)
| Monthly usage | Reliant cheapest | Est. bill | TXU cheapest | Est. bill | Lower cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | Basic Power 12 17¢/kWh | $85.00 | Smart 500 Start 12 12.5¢/kWh, bill credit | $62.50 | TXU by $22.50 |
| 500 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 17¢/kWh | $85.00 | Simple Rate 12 16.9¢/kWh | $84.50 | Nearly a tie |
| 1,000 kWh | Basic Power 12 14.7¢/kWh | $147.00 | Solar Value 12 14.9¢/kWh | $149.00 | Nearly a tie |
| 2,000 kWh | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 11¢/kWh, bill credit | $220.00 | Simple Rate 12 14.9¢/kWh | $298.00 | Reliant by $78 |
| 2,000 kWhfixed-rate plans only | Basic Power 12 14.6¢/kWh | $292.00 | Simple Rate 12 14.9¢/kWh | $298.00 | Reliant by $6 |
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.
- TXU Smart 500 Start 12 gets more expensive per kWh as you use more: 12.9¢ at 500 kWh, 15.4¢ at 1,000 kWh and 16.7¢ at 2,000 kWh, a 3.8¢ 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?
TXU lists more plans: 7 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.
- TXU lists 7 plans in Houston, with month-to-month and 12-month contracts. Flex Forward is month-to-month with no cancellation fee. Solar or green plans: Solar Value 12 and Solar Saver 12. Plans with eligibility rules or bundled equipment: Campus Choice.
The 12-month plans from both charge the same $150 cancellation fee. Monthly charges run $0-$9.95 at Reliant and $4.95-$9.95 at TXU, 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 | TXU | Smart 500 Start 12 is $23-$24 a month cheaper at 500 kWh, if your usage stays in the credit window |
| Typical home | about 1,000-1,500 kWh | Close call | Within $5 a month at 1,000 kWh |
| Large home or high summer use | 2,000+ kWh | Reliant | Power Savings 2,000 kWh 24 and Power Savings 2,000 kWh 12 are $66-$78 a month cheaper at 2,000 kWh, if your usage stays in the credit window |
| Renters who may move soon | Any | TXU | Flex Forward is month-to-month with no cancellation fee |
How to choose between Reliant and TXU
Choose Reliant if
- You use about 2,000 kWh a month and it stays close to that every month
Choose TXU if
- You use about 500 kWh a month and it stays close to that every month
- You want a month-to-month plan with no cancellation fee
Learn more: Reliant rates and plans · TXU rates and plans · Reliant vs Constellation · TXU vs Constellation · All provider comparisons
Reliant vs TXU infographic
FAQ
Is Reliant or TXU cheaper?
It depends on your usage. As of November 3, 2026: Reliant is cheaper at 2,000 kWh, and TXU is cheaper at 500 kWh. At 1,000 kWh, it's nearly a tie.
Which is better for an apartment, Reliant or TXU?
TXU. At 500 kWh a month, TXU's Smart 500 Start 12 is currently $23-$24 a month cheaper than Reliant's cheapest plan, in months when your usage stays near that level.
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 $66-$78 a month cheaper than TXU's cheapest plan, in months when your usage stays near that level.
Do Reliant and TXU charge cancellation fees?
Both charge $150 to cancel the 12-month plans listed here early. TXU Flex Forward is month-to-month, with no cancellation fee.
Can I switch from TXU to Reliant, or Reliant to TXU?
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 TXU. Compare everything available in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Corpus Christi.
