So why are prepaid electric companies evil and for that matter why are payday loans, cash advance stores, and unsecured credit card companies evil also?

For some even the rental furniture stores like Aarons furniture leasing is considered of the devil. Many people simply don’t get it as to why people would have such hatred and disdain for these companies.

It is very simple really…you see if Aarons is charging someone $5 a month to lease a lamp but that person only makes a $500 a month that $5 a month is a lot of money for that person.

For that guy who makes $500 a month and has an unsecured credit card he is paying off that has a 22% interest rate where he only makes minimum payments on of $50 a month it begins to add up.

Before you know it $200 – $300 in payday loans, credit card bills, and rental furniture has bit into this guys income enough to the point he must start borrowing money from family and friends.

Now in America we have food stamps so at this point the guy still may be in government housing and have food stamps for basic food needs.

Now when it comes time to turn on the electricity at the government housing he can either ask for government assistance with help in paying the deposit or make quick work of it by going with a prepaid electric company.

So how are prepaid electric companies lumped in with the evils of Payday loan companies and the like?

Well with prepaid electricity you often pay an estimate in advance on what the company believes you will owe them in electric service charges.

As of 2012 things in Texas are much more promising for prepaid electricity because the usage is calculated accurately in real time and sent over the air waves.

This means instead of relying on the evils of false estimates a real recording and charging towards actual electric usage can occur.

In the past some fly by night prepaid electric companies would over-estimate, take your prepayments, eventually go out of business and keep your over payments and your last prepayment.

To close your doors and take your money is truly evil but I must tell you not all prepaid companies do this.

A couple things to pay attention to when deciding on a prepay electric company are:

• How professional the website looks like.
• How long have they been around
• Are they clear about the charges or rate you will pay?
• Do they offer a fixed rate offer
• Do they display a customer facts label prior to signing up with them?

In summary these businesses have been complained about because some think they prey on the poor and needy people that cannot afford to rent a lamp monthly or buy prepaid electricity at inflated prices. In reality these companies are nothing more then a cheaper more effective banking alternative. I remember several times not paying close attention to my bank account, buying a snickers bar at a gas station and being charged a $35 overdraft penalty by Bank of America for a $1.50 purchase is a 2333% interest rate. If you think about the alternative to traditional electric companies asking you for a large deposit that you could never pay the prepaid electric company is really offering a cheap no hassle way of signing up quick, often with a competitive electricity price and you don’t to fork over rent and food money as a deposit.

In Dallas Texas there are several cheap discount electric companies but most of them have a deposit requirement based on a credit score requirement.

Unfortunately none of these Dallas Texas electric companies that offer a cheap fixed electricity price will let you know their credit score criteria a head of time.

The reason has to do with how these electricity providers make money. They operate based on large volume and thin margins. If a Dallas TX electric company has a great rate they have to be extra strict on the credit score criteria so they don’t take on too many people who may default on their electric bill.

I personally have a brother I love who has a terrible credit score and will swear up and down that he will pay his car note if I were to cosign but as soon as I do something like that he defaults the first month and I get stuck with the bill.

Texas electric companies have the ame challenge of avoiding the irresponsible older brother who can never seem to pay his bills.

The best way to get a good electric rate in Dallas with no or atleast a low deposit is to compare prices among several. Eventually one of these electric companies will offer a respectable rate and deposit amount.

Saving Energy Costs Through Energy Efficiency in Dallas

Air leaks around doors and windows can be a huge source for wasted energy and money.  It is really quite a shame that so many people suffer from higher Dallas, Texas electricity service bills when the solution to this problem is so very simple. 

Just use a candle to go around your home, stopping in front of areas where air leaks are likely to occur.  If the flame flickers use a bit of caulking or weather stripping to seal the area and move on to the next place. 

You may be surprised at just how much extra you were needlessly paying for your electricity service every month.

Another great way to get that Dallas, Texas electricity service bill down is to obtain a lower rate through ElectricRates.  Just use our online comparison tool to start shopping. 

Enter your zip code, select your service type, and ElectricRates will provide you with and easy to read chart of all Dallas, Texas electricity service providers and their rates.  Any additional fees and surcharges are already averaged in to the final rate you see, so you know exactly what the deal is before you buy.

You can order your new service online through ElectricRates or give us a call toll free at 1-800-971-4020 if you have a few questions you’d like answered before you commit to anything. 

Our energy consultants are friendly and knowledgeable about the Dallas, Texas electricity service market and will be happy to assist you in any way possible.

When ordering electric service for your new place in Dallas Texas you many times can get frustrated in the process. You may have just paid a deposit to your Dallas landlord and now you have to come up with a deposit to pay your Dallas TX electric company.

Rather than fight with a Dallas TX electricity company that has asked you for a deposit I recommend just shopping and comparing electric rates in Dallas online.

An electric provider will not change their mind on waiving a deposit once your credit score has been checked. Because there is no wiggle room with an electricity provider you will have better luck working with the DHHS and Lite up Texas.

Our energy consultants can help you get your deposit waived or simply find a cheap enough deposit with an electric company you can live with. If you qualify the government will assist in getting your Dallas TX electricity deposit waived.

If you don’t qualify for government assistance we can help you find a cheap rate and a low deposit amount. You can call us at 1-800-971-4020

Your Dallas Electric Utility Situation Currently Can Change For The Better

Chances are that you are paying entirely too much for your Dallas, Texas electricity service every month.

Many people are aware that they have a choice in their provider, but simply lack the means to do anything about it.

ElectricRates is changing that by providing Dallas, Texas residents with a simple and easy way to research the local electricity market and discover which companies offer the lowest rates.  The answer lies in our convenient online comparison too.

Simply enter your zip code and service type into ElectricRates online comparison tool to start shopping for the best deal on Dallas, Texas electricity service.  We’ll provide you with an easy to read chart that includes every Dallas, Texas electricity service provider and their rates.

We even calculate any additional fees and surcharges into the final rate you are shown so that there are never any surprises when the new bill arrives.

When you find the deal you’re looking for you may order your new service right online through ElectricRates.

There’s never been an easier way to save money on your electricity service.  If you find you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to call us toll free at 1-800-971-4020 and an energy consultant will be happy to give you all the information you desire.

In the meantime, try implementing a few energy saving techniques to maximize your monthly savings.  Make sure to turn your stove vent off shortly after you’ve finished cooking so your heated or cooled air doesn’t escape to the great outdoors.

Prepaid Electricity Service in Houston is Not Always The Best Choice

In the future prepaid electric service in Houston will be a very good development and in fact their are prepaid electric companies now but most of them have high priced electric rates as the trade off.

If you have a smart meter installed at your home or apartment there are some traditional electric companies that may be able to set you up with a low priced electricity rate that does not have a deposit.

The reason a traditional electric company that works with a smart meter will offer you a better rate is because they can see your usage in real time and offer you a better rate because you pay for exactly what you use.

The way Houston electric companies that offer prepaid electric service are doing things now they have to estimate usage from the previous tenant at your service address.

The smart meter prepaid electric service is the way to go but unfortunately the smart electric meters are being rolled out rather slowly in the Houston Texas Centerpoint utility area.

Once Centerpoint electric utility speeds up this process more people will be able to order prepaid electric service at an affordable per kilowatt hour rate.

Until than I recommend comparing multiple Houston electricity providers in an online comparison chart and finding the cheapest among them.

Try signing up and ordering your electric service online as these electric companies will usually let you know if you were approved or declined for credit.

Once you get a deposit amount you can live with paying and rate that is cheap go ahead and pay the deposit and sign up.

There is a compromise you must make between choosing to go with an exorbitant high prices electric rate with a typical prepaid electric company in Houston or a reasonable low deposit amount with a low priced traditional electric company like TXU Energy, Direct Energy, First Choice Power, Green Mountain, or Reliant Energy.

Comparing Houston Electricity Rates online To Find The Best Rate

In today’s economic climate, there are many things that you simply do not have any control over. The price of gas is enough to make you sick, the cost of groceries seem to go up every time you go to the grocery store, and even the price of leisurely activities make what was once enjoyable now a source of stress. The good news is that there are things you can do in at least some areas of life to lower your bills. One such example is obtaining a lower Houston, Texas electricity service rate through ElectricRates.

Simply use ElectricRates online comparison tool to get started. All you need to do is enter your zip code and service type and ElectricRates will provide you with a complete list of all Houston, Texas electricity service providers and their rates. After you’ve studied the list for a few minutes you can choose the company offering the best deal and even order your new service right online through ElectricRates. Saving money doesn’t get much easier than this!

If you have any questions at all we welcome you to give us a call toll free at 1-800-971-4020. Our energy consultants are experts on the Houston, Texas electricity service market and will be happy to assist you in any way possible. We’ll even give you a few energy saving tips to take your savings to the max. For example, switch off your lights every time you leave a room, even if only for a few minutes.

The art of Finding a No Deposit Electricity Company in Dallas

In Dallas TX you really have a lot of choices when it comes to picking a Texas electricity company. The negative is that almost all of them will ask you for a deposit unless you have a certain credit score.

The whole credit score thing is a guessing game though and no electricity provider will tel you up front what their magic number is so you can confidently sign up and know you will have electric service turned on right away.

The main alternative to getting around this hitch is to go with a no deposit prepaid electricity company in Dallas. The problem with a prepaid electricity company is that their rates are generally much higher in price than a traditional electric company.

Although the traditional Dallas TX electricity provider will want a deposit if you fall under a credit score number their rates will be quite a bit cheaper than a prepaid electricity company.

In most circumstances you will save quite a bit more money by finding an electric company that has a small deposit than avoiding a deposit altogether and choosing a prepaid electric supplier.

So please take our recommendation and shop around first before you settle with a prepaid no deposit electricity provider. You will save a lot of money this way and will not have the headache of trying to get off of a prepaid companies service.

Energy Efficiency Tips To Further Lower The Price of Your Dallas Texas Electricity Costs

If you have furniture or other items blocking your heating and cooling vents and registers then you are paying way too much for your Dallas, Texas electricity service every month. By simply rearranging your furniture you can optimize the efficiency of your heating and cooling unit and save money month after month. It doesn’t have to be a drastic change; just make sure air can circulate freely from the vents into your room.

Continuing service with a high cost Dallas, Texas electricity service provider is also a guaranteed way to pay too much for your electricity. Use ElectricRates online comparison tool to start shopping for a better deal on your electricity service. Simply enter your zip code and service type and ElectricRates will show you a list of all Dallas, Texas electricity service providers and their rates. When you find a better deal than the one you are getting now you can order new service right online through ElectricRates.

Please do give us a call toll free at 1-800-971-4020 if you have any questions at all. ElectricRates wants you to be confident in the decision you have made and if you have unanswered questions you won’t be. Our expert energy consultants will be happy to explain how the Dallas, Texas electricity service market operates and help you to find the provider that is best suited for you. With ElectricRates as your number one resource for up to date information, there is no need to keep paying more than you have to every month.

Comparing Electric Rates with TXU Energy

If you have been shopping for an affordable electric rate you may have checked out TXU Energy rates only to discover that their prices are much higher than quite a few other Texas electric companies. Another problem is that TXU Energy rates usually require a deposit if you do not meet their credit score requirement. TXU’s electric rates are not the worst available priced plan but they definitely are not even close to being the cheapest. It is important to choose an energy provider that has good customer service and accurate billing. TXU currently has an accurate billing system and their customer service is easy to get in touch with when calling them on the phone. There are several other Texas electric companies we believe match TXU Energy in regards to customer service and accurate billing. Since you have several other choices that match TXU Energy on customer service and billing you only have to decide if you want a lower electric rate than what TXU Energy is offering.

TXU or Bounce Energy?

For many Texans this debate on whether to switch from TXU Energy after their TXU electricity contract ends has already been settled. Many have switched from TXU to a lower priced electric rate. If you would like to additionally avoid a electric service deposit you will find a unique plan with a company by the name of Bounce Energy. Their phone number is listed at the top of this page and you can learn more about Bounce Energy’s electric rates by visiting their page below. They used to offer a no deposit plan although this is no longer available any longer. Bounce will check your credit and give you a no deposit or low deposit choice based on what your credit shows.

Bounce No Deposit Electricity Plan is no longer available

One of Bounce’s electricity rate plans rewarded a customer who may have had a low credit score by putting them on Bounce’s cheapest available electric rate plan. If a bad credit customer paid their bill on time the first 3 months they also could be put on the cheapest plan. Unfortunately this Fresh Start plan is no longer a choice. Their strategy was to take a high risk customer and convert them to a good paying customer by rewarding them with a cheaper electric rate. When people chose Bounce Energy as their Texas electric company they could achieve a cheaper electric rate than what TXU Energy rates were priced at and could avoid a deposit. This is no longer a plan but base on credit you can still get a low price with Bounce Energy. Although the guaranteed no deposit electricity plan is no longer an option with Bounce Energy you still have other choices based on credit.

The electricity rate plans offered on this site are void of hidden fees and gimmicks meant to deceive the customer. Our no deposit electricity plan rates we offered are no longer available.

The initial rate was a little high the first 3 months but if you paid your bill on time during the first 3 months, Bounce electric company proactively lowered your electricity rate to their cheapest plan they offer. Right now their cheapest plans are in North and West Texas are very competitive however they no longer offer their no deposit plan any longer.

In the Houston area the cheapest rate plan beats several competitively priced providers and based on credit you may still qualify for no deposit. These electric rates can change weekly so keep in mind that at the time you are reading this article Bounce Energy could have higher or lower rates depending on what the energy markets are doing.

On the No Deposit electricity guaranteed rate plan your rate was a little higher the first 3 months but then came down dramatically.

This is no longer a plan offered by Bounce but at the time it was the best alternative for those needing electric service with no deposit. If you paid your electricity bill on time during those first 3 months Bounce proactively put on Bounce Energy’s cheapest electricity plan.

It was important for customers to pay their electric bill on time during the beginning 3 months they were with Bounce. In the past you could take advantage of the chance to get on their standard electric plan they reserve for good credit customers but it now based on credit like it is with most Texas electricity companies.

Many people have called us explaining that their apartment or the previous tenant told them to call TXU Energy to have their electric service turned on in their name. They recently purchased a home or are renting an apartment and so they call TXU Energy only to then be asked for a large deposit. Sometimes the deposit amounts we have heard of have been as large as $400. Not all of these people had the worst possible credit score but of course it wasn’t great either. This type of deposit is not uncommon among most electricity providers.

If you are one of these people that have been asked by TXU Energy or another provider to come up with an outrageous deposit amount to have electricity service turned on in your name then we want to make the recommendation that you try a no deposit guaranteed electricity plan. At this time however Bounce has discontinued their no deposit rate plan. This old rate plan Bounce Energy once offered would have gotten your electricity service turned on in your name without the worry that you will have to save up for a large electricity deposit. We are currently recommending Bounce Energy for their standard electricity rate plans based on credit. They will check your credit and based on what they find you may still qualify for a no or low deposit plan. You can call an energy consultant at 1-800-971-4020 and learn more about their electricity plans and if you want a fixed or variable rate.

Quick Move in Needed for Houston Apartment

If you live in Houston and or are moving into a new home or apartment it is critical that you pick an electricity company that can turn your electricity on in your name quickly. Your apartment in Houston probably requires that you get the electricity service turned on ASAP in order to guarantee you will have no interruption in service.

Some Houston electricity companies promise they will get you turned on right away but then they fail you on credit and you end up having your electric service switch canceled. If you had told the apartment landlord that you had the electric service switched into your name they probably proceeded to call Centerpoint Energy or their electric provider to have the service disconnected in their name. If they put a turn off request in before you put a turn on request in you will have no power for a few days.

Don’t Let Your Power Get Turned Off by Signing up With the Wrong Electric Provider

The point of this article is to make sure this scenario does not happen to you when moving into a Houston Texas apartment or home. Your electricity service switch or move in request needs to be approved right away so you know for sure that electric service will be turned on in your name. We did have a plan available with Bounce Energy called the Express Move Plan that offered a no deposit option. Unfortunately the no deposit aspect to this plan has been discontinued likely because of too many low credit score customers defaulting on their first month electric bill.

Until we have a guaranteed no deposit electric company in Houston to go with I encourage you to call this number: 1-866-945-8937. Our energy consultants can help in getting you assistance by contacting the department of health and human services. The government can help you pay any deposit that may be required or have it waived completely.

Please call us first to see what options we can find for your situation.

Fast Move in Without Interruption in Electric Service

When switching or choosing a new move in with Bounce on the Express Move Plan you will guarantee that your electric service is turned on as fast as the utility can drive out and flip the meter on. The Express Move Plan many times only needs to move the service from someone elses name into your name insuring that the electric service remains on but is switched to your name. You can sign up with Bounce Energy on their Express Move Plan by calling 1-800-971-4020

No Deposit Choices and Fast Move In

If you need to be sure that no deposit will be required when signing up on the “Express Move Plan” you once had a choice with Bounce Energy called the “Fresh Start Plan” which would also make sure that Bounce Energy turns your power on regardless of what your credit score is but unfortunately this plan is no longer available. This was a guaranteed no deposit electricity plan but you now have to meet certain minimum credit score requirements to avoid a deposit with Bounce Energy. The only criteria was that you had a valid credit card on file with them so they could deduct your electricity bill charges each month. You would receive a traditional bill but they would auto draft your electricity charges from your card instead of waiting to receive a check. Since this plan was mainly for those with bad credit it allowed Bounce to make sure they received payment on time each month. If you did not have a credit card unfortunately there was no way you would have been able to get on this electric service plan.

If you need to sign up with a no deposit electricity company in Texas without getting into something you will regret later on in the service agreement then we want to help compare them for you. By knowing what each no deposit electricity company offers it will help you make an informed decision before you make your move in or switch to a Texas electricity company. So lets look at a few no deposit energy service companies.

No Deposit Guaranteed – Traditional Billing

• Bounce Energy
  This no deposit electricity company guaranteed that no deposit will be required when signing up for their electric service but they have since discontinued their No Deposit Fresh Start Plan. The TDSP charges were bundled into their electric rate and although your credit was checked they were able to enroll at no deposit when necessary. The first 3 months the electric rate was higher than their normal lower priced plans but if you paid your electric bill on time during those 3 months they would proactively lower your electricity rate to the lowest electricity service plan they offer. Right now their No Deposit Plan has been discontinued in several Texas cities including the Houston area, Dallas area, and North Texas area. Bounce has very low rates for those electricity service customers ok with having their credit checked. The prices right now are in the 9 – 10 cents per kWh range in the Houston area and 8-9 cents a kWh in the Dallas and North Texas area. Some of these electric rates are variable but Bounce tries to keep them in line with the energy market prices instead of raising them on you indiscriminately. You also are billed for the electric service you use instead of having to prepay in advance. We recommend Bounce Energy over the other no deposit electricity choices below even though they may ask you for a deposit. Learn more about Bounce Energy
  or call an energy consultant at 1-800-971-4020

Prepaid Electricity Companies

• DPI Energy, Legal Name: Current Power and Light LLC, DPI Holdings Inc.
  First month electricity price is very low, 2nd month they raise the price higher.
  After the first month you pay
  19.5 cents a kWh on their month to month rate plan
  17.5 cents a kWh on their 3 month fixed rate plan
  16.0 cents a kWh on their 6 month fixed rate plan
  Additional charges:
  Monthly charge $5.99
  Applicable taxes:
  City Sales Tax:
  Texas Utilities Gross receipts Tax:
  The sales guy said they do not charge TDSP charges which I do not see how this could be true as all providers have to pass through TDSP charges.
  Check for additional TDSP charges on your bill