TexasPowerBill

Our Methodology

The math behind our recommendations. No black boxes.

1

Bill Parsing

We extract data from your uploaded bill using AI-powered document analysis. Key data points include:

  • •ESI ID (your unique meter identifier)
  • •Service address and TDU territory
  • •Current plan and provider
  • •12-month usage history (when available)
  • •Billing period and charges breakdown
  • •Contract end date and early termination fee

If parsing confidence falls below 85%, we ask you to verify the extracted data before proceeding.

2

Load Classification

We classify your usage pattern into one of five archetypes. This determines how your usage distributes across months and times of day.

A1: Summer Peaker

2-3x summer vs winter usage. Heavy afternoon AC. About 55% of Texas households.

A2: Flat Profile

Less than 1.5x seasonal variance. Steady usage year-round. About 20% of households.

A3: High Consumer

Over 2000 kWh monthly average. Large homes, heavy AC. About 10% of households.

A4: Low Consumer

Under 800 kWh monthly average. Apartments, efficient homes. About 10% of households.

A5: Variable

High month-to-month variance. Irregular occupancy or usage patterns. About 5% of households.

3

Cost Simulation

For each plan, we calculate your projected annual cost by applying your monthly usage to the plan rate structure. This includes:

  • •Energy charges — base rate per kWh, tiered rates, or indexed pricing
  • •TDU delivery charges — varies by territory (CenterPoint, Oncor, AEP, TNMP)
  • •Taxes and fees — approximately 2.5% (Texas residential electricity is exempt from state sales tax)
  • •Bill credits — many plans offer credits at usage thresholds (e.g., $50 credit if you use over 1000 kWh)
  • •Time-of-use adjustments — for plans with peak/off-peak or free nights/weekends
4

Plan Ranking

Plans are ranked by projected annual cost for your specific usage. We also flag plans to avoid — typically time-of-use plans that seem cheap but cost more for typical usage patterns.

Example: A "free nights" plan offers 0 cents/kWh from 9pm-6am. But the daytime rate is often 15-20 cents/kWh. Since 65-70% of residential usage occurs during daytime, these plans cost more for most households.

Data Sources

  • •Plan data scraped daily from PowerToChoose.org
  • •Rate structures extracted from Electricity Facts Labels (EFLs)
  • •TDU delivery rates from each utility company
  • •Load profiles based on ERCOT settlement data and academic research

See the methodology in action with your own bill.

Upload Your Bill