Power to Choose vs ChooseMyPower.org: See What PTC Doesn't Show You

What Is Power to Choose?

Power to Choose (PTC) is the official electricity marketplace operated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. It was created to help Texans in deregulated areas shop for electricity plans from licensed retail providers. When you visit the PTC website, you enter your ZIP code and see a list of available plans with rates displayed at a standardized 2,000 kWh per month.

The program has been around since Texas deregulated its electricity market, and it serves an important purpose: giving residents a central place to browse available plans. But the way PTC presents information has some significant blind spots that can lead you to pick a plan that costs more than you expected.

The 2,000 kWh Problem

Here is the core issue with Power to Choose: every single rate is calculated at exactly 2,000 kWh of monthly consumption. That is one fixed number applied to every household in Texas, regardless of whether you live in a one-bedroom apartment or a five-bedroom house.

According to EIA data, the average Texas household uses roughly 1,100 to 1,200 kWh per month. That means the majority of Texans are seeing rates on PTC that don’t match their actual situation. And the gap between the advertised rate at 2,000 kWh and what you pay at your real consumption level can be dramatic.

Many electricity plans in Texas use tiered pricing. A plan might advertise 8 cents per kWh at 2,000 kWh but actually charge 12 cents per kWh if you only use 800 kWh. Some plans offer bill credits that only kick in if you hit a specific threshold — say, a $50 credit when you use between 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. If you fall below that window, you miss the credit entirely, and your effective rate jumps significantly.

Power to Choose has no way to show you this. It shows one number at one consumption level. That is all.

What ChooseMyPower.org Does Differently

ChooseMyPower.org was built to solve this exact problem. Instead of showing you a rate at a fixed consumption level, we show you what you will actually pay based on how much your home uses.

Here is how the two compare side by side:

Rate calculation — PTC shows rates at 2,000 kWh only. ChooseMyPower.org calculates costs at whatever amount your home actually uses.

Cost transparency — PTC displays the advertised rate per kWh. ChooseMyPower.org shows your estimated total monthly cost, including all charges and fees.

Fee breakdown — PTC does not break down TDU delivery charges, minimum charges, or tiered pricing structures. ChooseMyPower.org factors in every line item: base energy charges, TDU delivery fees, minimum bill amounts, tiered pricing, and any credits or discounts.

Plan ranking — PTC sorts plans by the advertised rate. ChooseMyPower.org ranks plans by your actual estimated cost, so the cheapest plan for your home shows up first.

Provider coverage — Both PTC and ChooseMyPower.org show plans from all licensed retail electricity providers in the deregulated Texas market. You are not seeing a limited selection on either platform.

Personalization — PTC applies one number to everyone. ChooseMyPower.org tailors results to your ZIP code, your home, and how much electricity you typically use.

Why the Advertised Rate Is Not Enough

When you shop for electricity using only the advertised rate, you are making a decision based on incomplete information. Two plans can show the same rate at 2,000 kWh but have wildly different costs at 1,000 kWh or 1,500 kWh.

Consider this example: Plan A advertises 9.5 cents per kWh at 2,000 kWh, and Plan B advertises 10.0 cents per kWh at 2,000 kWh. On Power to Choose, Plan A looks like the better deal. But Plan A has a minimum charge of $9.95 per month and a tiered structure that charges 14 cents per kWh for the first 500 kWh. Plan B has a simple flat rate with no tiers or minimums.

If your home uses 900 kWh per month, Plan A could cost you $115 while Plan B costs you $90. The plan that looked cheaper on PTC is actually $25 per month more expensive for your home. Over a 12-month contract, that is $300 you did not need to spend.

This is not a rare edge case. Tiered pricing, minimum charges, and consumption-based credits are extremely common in the Texas electricity market. Without calculating your cost at your actual consumption level, you are essentially guessing.

All the Fees, All in One Place

Your electricity bill is not just the energy rate. It includes TDU delivery charges from the local utility that maintains the power grid in your area, and these charges vary by TDU territory. A plan that looks cheap based on the energy rate alone might end up costing more than a competitor once you add in the full delivery charges.

ChooseMyPower.org includes TDU charges in every cost estimate automatically. We also account for base charges, minimum bill amounts, demand charges where applicable, and renewable energy credits or promotional discounts. The number you see is the number you should expect on your bill.

How to See the Difference for Yourself

The easiest way to understand what ChooseMyPower.org shows you that Power to Choose does not is to try it. Enter your ZIP code, tell us a little about your home, and compare the results with what you see on PTC.

Look at the plan that PTC ranks first for your ZIP code, then find that same plan on ChooseMyPower.org. Check the estimated monthly cost at your home’s actual consumption level. In many cases, the plan PTC ranks as cheapest is not the cheapest for your home.

Texas gave you the power to choose your electricity provider. ChooseMyPower.org makes sure you can see the full picture before you do. Enter your ZIP code and compare plans based on what you will actually pay — not just what the rate says at 2,000 kWh.