Plan type · Free time-of-use
Free time-of-use electricity plans in Texas.
Free electricity during specified hours — usually 8 PM-6 AM weeknights, all day weekends. Daytime rates are subsidized higher to fund the free window. Math only works if you can shift load.
Top 4 ranked
The 4 free time-of-use plans we'd shop first.
| # | Provider & plan | Rate | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nights Free Plan- 12 Amigo Energy · 3.5/5 | 15.6¢ / kWh | 5.3 | View deal |
| 2 |  Weekends Free Plan - 24 Tara Energy · 3.8/5 | 15.8¢ / kWh | 5.4 | View deal |
| 3 |  Truly Free Weekends 100% Solar 12 plan Reliant · 4.0/5 | 17.2¢ / kWh | 5.0 | View deal |
| 4 |  Free Nights & Solar Days 12 (8 pm) TXU Energy · 4.1/5 | 18.9¢ / kWh | 5.1 | View deal |
Decision frame
Right plan for the right home.
Best for
- Households that work late-night/weekends
- EV owners charging overnight
- Heavy laundry/dishwasher use after 8 PM
Watch out for
- Daytime rates are typically 14-20¢/kWh — much higher than fixed
- Weekend hours sometimes start at 6 PM Friday, not 12 AM Saturday
- Free hours don't apply during ERCOT emergency events
Providers
4 retailers offering free time-of-use plans.
By city
Free time-of-use plans in major Texas cities
2026 Texas market context
Wherefree time-of-use sits in the market right now.
Time-of-use (TOU) plans — including Free Nights, Free Weekends, and Free Days — are a small but specific segment of the Texas market. The math only works if you can genuinely shift 40%+ of your usage to the free window. TXU, Reliant, and Just Energy (via Amigo and Tara) dominate this category. Most TOU plans run a 15-25¢/kWh daytime rate to fund the free off-peak window.
Common gotchas
Free hours don't apply during ERCOT emergencies
When ERCOT declares Emergency Energy Alert (EEA) levels, the free-hour benefit can be suspended. This is in the EFL fine print.
Weekend hours sometimes start Friday evening
Plan names suggest 'weekends free' from Saturday morning, but some plans start the weekend window at 6 PM Friday and end it at 11 PM Sunday. Read the schedule carefully.
Daytime rates are punishing
Free Nights plans often charge 15-22¢/kWh during the day to fund the free overnight window. If you can't shift your usage, you'll pay 30-50% more than a fixed-rate plan.
Smart meters required for TOU billing
Texas has near-universal smart meter coverage, but if your meter isn't reporting hourly intervals (rare but happens), TOU billing falls back to estimated splits — usually unfavorable to you.
Best fit
EV owner in Dallas charging a Model Y overnight (8 PM - 5 AM Free Nights window), running dishwasher and laundry after 8 PM, family in bed by 10.
EV charging adds 250-400 kWh/month at zero rate. Even at a punishing 18¢/kWh daytime rate, the household nets a 30% lower overall bill vs. a flat-rate plan.
Worst fit
Work-from-home household running AC and home office during the day, mostly idle at night — picked Free Nights based on marketing.
75%+ of usage falls in the punishing daytime rate. Total bill ends up 20-30% higher than a standard fixed-rate plan would have been.
Practical next step
Pull your smart-meter hourly data from SmartMeter Texas (free with your ESI ID). Calculate what % of your usage is in the free window. Below 35-40%, skip TOU — it's a losing bet.
Ready to pick a free time-of-use plan?
Enter your ZIP and we'll show every Texas plan available on your meter, sorted by true cost at your home's actual usage.