Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about our service and Texas electricity.
Is this service free?
Yes. Uploading your bill and receiving recommendations is completely free. We earn money through referral fees when you switch plans through our partner brokers, but there is no cost to you.
What happens to my bill after I upload it?
Your bill is processed to extract usage data, then permanently deleted from our servers within 24 hours. We retain only anonymized usage patterns for improving our models. We never sell your data.
How accurate are your savings estimates?
Our estimates are based on your actual historical usage applied to real rate structures. Accuracy depends on the completeness of your usage history and whether your future usage matches past patterns. Most users see savings within 10% of our estimate.
Why are your recommendations different from PowerToChoose?
PowerToChoose shows rates at fixed usage levels (500, 1000, 2000 kWh). Real usage varies month to month. A plan that looks cheap at 1000 kWh might be expensive at 700 kWh due to bill credits that require higher usage. We simulate your actual usage pattern.
What if I have solar panels?
Our analysis currently focuses on consumption. If you have solar and net metering, your effective usage may differ from what your bill shows. We are working on solar-specific analysis for a future release.
Can I use this if I am moving to a new address?
You can use our ZIP code tools to see plans available in your new area, but without a bill from that address, we cannot provide personalized recommendations. Consider uploading a bill after your first month at the new address.
How often do you update plan data?
Plan data is scraped daily from PowerToChoose. We also parse updated Electricity Facts Labels to catch rate changes. Plans can appear or disappear quickly, so we recommend acting within a few days of getting your analysis.
What is a TDU?
TDU stands for Transmission and Distribution Utility. These are the companies that own and maintain the power lines — CenterPoint (Houston), Oncor (Dallas), AEP (South/West Texas), and TNMP (various areas). You cannot choose your TDU; it is determined by your address. TDU charges are the same regardless of which electricity provider you choose.
What are bill credits and why do they matter?
Many plans offer credits if your usage exceeds a threshold (e.g., "$50 off if you use over 1000 kWh"). These make the plan cheaper for high users but more expensive for low users. We factor these into our calculations for your specific usage.
Should I avoid time-of-use plans?
Not necessarily, but most people should. "Free nights" or "free weekends" plans charge premium rates during other hours. Since 65-70% of typical residential usage occurs during daytime weekday hours, these plans cost more for most households. We flag these in our recommendations when they would cost you more.
What if I have a contract with an early termination fee?
We extract your contract end date and early termination fee from your bill. Our recommendation accounts for this — we will tell you whether the savings justify paying the fee or if you should wait until your contract ends.
Do you guarantee savings?
No. Our projections are based on historical data and current rates. Future rates may change, your usage may vary, and we cannot account for all variables. Our goal is to give you the best available information to make an informed decision.
How do I actually switch plans?
After you see your recommendations, you can sign up directly with the provider or through one of our partner brokers. The switch is seamless — your power never turns off, and the new provider handles all coordination with your TDU.
Are you affiliated with any electricity providers?
We partner with licensed electricity brokers who facilitate switching. We receive referral fees from these partners. However, our recommendations are based entirely on projected cost for your usage, not on which plans we earn from.
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