ChooseMyPower

Plan type · Prepaid

Prepaid electricity plans in Texas.

Pay-as-you-go electricity. No credit check, no deposit, no monthly bill — you load money and watch your balance daily. Service shuts off if your balance hits zero (with a grace period).

Compare all 2 plans Or call (877) 867-1477
Lowest rate 18.7¢ per kWh at 1,000 kWh
Average 18.7¢ across 2 plans
Highest 18.7¢ per kWh at 1,000 kWh

Top 2 ranked

The 2 prepaid plans we'd shop first.

# Provider & plan Rate Score
1
Payless Power

12 Month - Prepaid - No Deposit & No Credit Check

Payless Power · 4.2/5

18.7¢

/ kWh

 5.2 View deal
2
Payless Power

6 Month - Prepaid -No Deposit & No Credit Check

Payless Power · 4.2/5

18.7¢

/ kWh

 5.2 View deal

Decision frame

Right plan for the right home.

Best for

  • No or thin credit history
  • Avoiding deposits (typically $100-$400)
  • Tight budgeting — see exactly what you use each day

Watch out for

  • Per-kWh rates are usually 1-3¢ higher than postpaid
  • Disconnect risk if balance runs out
  • Some plans charge daily base fees that drain low balances

Providers

1 retailers offering prepaid plans.

Payless Power

Payless Power

4.2/5 · 2 plans

By city

Prepaid plans in major Texas cities

Prepaid in Houston Prepaid in Pasadena Prepaid in Sugar Land Prepaid in The Woodlands Prepaid in Pearland Prepaid in League City Prepaid in Baytown Prepaid in Conroe Prepaid in Missouri City Prepaid in Beaumont Prepaid in Dallas Prepaid in Fort Worth Prepaid in Arlington Prepaid in Plano Prepaid in Irving Prepaid in Garland

Compare

Prepaid vs. postpaid — which one fits?

PrepaidPostpaid
Credit check NoneRequired (SSN + credit pull)
Deposit None$100-$400 if credit is thin/low
Same-day connection Yes, standardYes if before TDU cutoff
Billing Daily debits from balanceMonthly bill
Rate vs. best-in-market 1-3¢/kWh higherBest rates in the market
Contract term Month-to-month6, 12, 24, or 36 months typical
Disconnect risk Zero balance = off, minutes to restoreNon-payment triggers 10-day disconnect notice
Best fit No credit / thin file / prefer daily budget visibilityEstablished credit / want lowest rate

How to sign up

Same-day prepaid power — what to have ready.

  1. 1

    Service address + ID

    Providers need to verify you and geolocate your meter to the right TDU (Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Central, AEP North, TNMP). Most prepaid REPs do not require an SSN or credit check.

  2. 2

    Starter balance ($30-75)

    Load a starter balance by credit/debit card or e-check. That balance covers your first days of usage; you top up whenever it runs low.

  3. 3

    Same-day activation

    Most prepaid REPs connect within 2-4 hours weekdays when the request lands before the TDU cutoff (roughly 3-4pm Central). Weekends and holidays are next business day.

  4. 4

    Set balance alerts + autopay

    Configure alerts at $20 / $10 / $5 and turn on autopay reload. Zero balance = power off, with only a short grace window — alerts are what keep the lights on.

  5. 5

    Monitor daily usage in the app

    Prepaid plans expose daily usage. Most customers cut consumption 5-10% just by seeing the cost in real time.

Common questions

Quick answers on prepaid plans.

How does prepaid electricity work in Texas?
You load a balance (usually $30-75 to start), and your service draws down that balance daily as you use power. The provider sends alerts when the balance runs low. If it hits zero, service disconnects until you refill — reconnection is automated and typically takes minutes. No monthly bill, no credit check, and no deposit.
Can I really get electricity in Texas without a credit check?
Yes. Prepaid plans are designed to skip credit checks entirely because the provider never carries a balance on your account — you have already paid. No SSN required by most prepaid providers, no credit inquiry, and no deposit. It is the fastest path to power for anyone with thin credit, bad credit, or a preference not to run their credit.
What happens when my prepaid balance runs out?
Service disconnects — usually within a few minutes of hitting zero, but some providers give a small grace window of a few hours. Reconnection is automated: add funds via the app or website and power comes back on within minutes. There is no reconnection fee on most prepaid plans if the outage is short (under 24 hours). Set balance alerts and turn on autopay reload to avoid this.
Are prepaid electricity rates higher than regular plans?
Yes, usually 1-3¢/kWh above the best postpaid rate. On 1,200 kWh/month that is $12-36/month more, or $144-432/year. The premium exists because prepaid customers churn faster and cost more to service. Prepaid still wins for anyone who would otherwise pay a $200-400 deposit (money tied up for 12+ months), but if you can pass a standard credit check, a postpaid plan is cheaper.
How fast can I get connected on a prepaid plan?
Same day in most cases. Prepaid providers can typically activate service within 2-4 hours of enrollment on weekdays when the request lands before the TDU cutoff (about 3-4pm Central for Oncor and CenterPoint). Weekend and holiday requests activate the next business day. If it is a move-in day or a disconnect situation, enroll early — before noon is safest.
Can I use autopay with a prepaid plan?
Yes, and you should. Every prepaid provider supports autopay reload — when your balance drops below a threshold you set (typically $10-20), the app charges your card and adds funds automatically. This is the single most important setting for prepaid customers because it prevents unexpected disconnects. Combine it with SMS or email alerts.
Can I switch from prepaid to a regular postpaid plan later?
Yes, and you probably should after 6-12 months of clean payment history. Once you have paid reliably on a prepaid plan, most postpaid providers will approve you without a deposit — and the standard postpaid rate will be 1-3¢/kWh lower than what you are paying today. Prepaid works well as a bridge, not a permanent home. Shop the switch when you have built the payment record.

2026 Texas market context

Whereprepaid sits in the market right now.

Prepaid is roughly 5-8% of the Texas residential market and growing — driven by households with thin credit who can't pass standard REP credit checks, plus renters and short-term residents who don't want a deposit. Per-kWh rates run 1.0-2.0¢ above postpaid; the premium funds operational overhead (daily balance management, frequent disconnect/reconnect logic) plus a small risk margin.

Common gotchas

  • Disconnect risk is real

    When your prepaid balance hits zero, service disconnects automatically — usually after a 12-24 hour grace period that varies by REP and time of year. PUCT rules prevent disconnects during heat advisories and freeze warnings, but otherwise disconnects happen.

  • Daily base fees drain low balances

    Some prepaid plans charge a daily base fee ($0.20-$0.50) regardless of usage. If you load $40 and use only 4 kWh that week, the daily fee can drain your balance faster than the kWh charges.

  • No grace period on rate hikes

    Prepaid rates aren't fixed by contract — many REPs can change the rate with 14 days' notice. The PUCT requires notice but doesn't require your consent.

  • Reload friction during emergencies

    If you can't get to a payment kiosk or your bank during a power-out or storm, your prepaid balance can run out at the worst possible time.

Best fit

College student renting a small Stephenville apartment, no credit history, needs power for a 9-month lease.

Avoids deposit (typically $150-$250 for thin credit), avoids the 12-month commitment, and the small apartment usage means daily charges stay under control.

Worst fit

Houston family of five in a 2,500 sq ft home using 1,800 kWh/month, paying 1.5¢/kWh above postpaid market.

On 1,800 kWh that's $27 extra per month — $324 per year of prepaid premium. If credit history allows postpaid, this household is leaving real money on the table.

Practical next step

If you can pass a standard credit check or pay a refundable deposit, postpaid is almost always cheaper. Try a postpaid REP first — only use prepaid as a fallback.

Ready to pick a prepaid plan?

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How enrollment works

You pick the plan here. Enrollment finishes on our secure checkout — same rate, no markup. If you'd rather skip the ZIP entry, Live Link pulls your real usage from Smart Meter Texas in about 30 seconds. Same plans, same checkout, less typing.