Energy provider spotlight: Reliant Energy

Reliant Energy is a Houston-based retail energy provider (REP) that has powered millions of homes and businesses across the Lone Star State. This provider is a member of the NRG Energy family and is also among the top Texas electricity companies featured on the Choose Energy marketplace.

Reliant Energy prides itself on a deep involvement in its communities, as well as affordable service and free usage options. The Choose Energy review system scored this provider a 4.0 out of 5.

Curious about what sets Reliant Energy apart? Read on to learn the energy rates and plans offered by this Texas energy provider.

Texas energy prices change throughout the year and normally spike during the summer months. Energy demand increases when it’s hot outside because residences and businesses rely more on their air conditioners. Here are some of the best Reliant Energy plans offered in Texas this summer.

Basic Power 12 plan

This is the lowest rate that Reliant Energy currently offers on the Choose Energy marketplace. At 11.1 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), our energy experts estimate this plan would have an average bill of $111 each month.

The Basic Power 12 plan is a fixed-rate plan, meaning the price you pay for every kWh of energy you use will stay the same each month. Fixed-rate plans are especially valuable in summer when energy rates can fluctuate. The contract for this plan lasts 12 months and there is a $150 termination fee if you end this contract early – although this doesn’t apply if you are moving to a new address.

Truly Free Weekends 12 plan

Reliant Energy’s Truly Free Weekends 12 plan offers a free usage period to users. Every weekend from Friday at 8 p.m. to Monday at 12 a.m., you will not be charged for the electricity your home consumes. This makes the Truly Free Weekends plan an especially appealing option for consumers who travel or are away from home during the week.

This plan’s current rate is 14.1 cents per kWh and has an average estimated bill of $141 per month. One important aspect of this plan is that it is indexed, meaning the rate you are charged each month is tied to a pricing formula and is subject to change.

Truly Free Nights 12 plan

Much like the Truly Free Weekends plan, this Reliant Energy option offers another free usage period. Users will enjoy free energy every night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The rate for this plan is also 14.1 cents per kWh. Choose Energy estimates the average monthly bill for this plan would be $141.

This plan’s contract length is 12 months and its rate is indexed, which could lead to variations in how much you pay each month. The Truly Free Night 12 plan comes with a $150 early termination fee if you end your service before your contract expires.

Reliant Energy has operated in the Texas energy market since 2000 and joined the NRG Energy family in 2009. On the Choose Energy marketplace, this provider is unique in that it offers indexed-rate energy plans. Reliant Energy’s free usage options also allow customers to enjoy free electricity during nights or weekends, which can help lower overall energy costs.

Reliant Energy is also deeply involved in the communities that it serves. Among its community service initiatives include involvement in Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Houston, Dress for Success, and its Community Assistance by Reliant Energy (CARE) program. The CARE program helps consumers in need pay their energy bills and has provided more than $12 million in aid since 2002.

In June 2021, Reliant Energy awarded $100,000 to two critical care physician-scientists who were the recipients of the Reliant Innovation Fund. The Reliant Innovation Fund began in 2020 in order to support physicians and students and encourage innovation within the Houston Methodist EnMed program.

“Meaningful innovation is core to us at Reliant and the work these institutions, physicians, and students are doing is truly amazing,” said Elizabeth Killinger, Reliant Energy’s president. “We appreciate how Houston Methodist is making a lasting difference in our community by continuing to revolutionize medicine and we are honored to support them through the EnMed program.”

Interested in learning about other Texas energy providers? See Choose Energy’s TXU Energy provider spotlight.

Energy Expert
Caitlin Ritchie is a writer within the energy and power industry. Born in Georgia, she attended the University of Georgia before earning her master’s in English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

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