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).
Top 2 ranked
The 2 prepaid plans we'd shop first.
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.
By city
Prepaid plans in major Texas cities
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?
Enter your ZIP and we'll show every Texas plan available on your meter, sorted by true cost at your home's actual usage.