Every term you are likely to meet on a plan document or your bill, defined in one line. When in doubt, the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) is the source of truth for any plan.
- EFL (Electricity Facts Label)
- A standardized document that summarizes a plan's key details: term length, energy charges, delivery charges, fees, and disclosures.
- REP (Retail Electric Provider)
- A company that sells electricity plans to customers in deregulated markets.
- Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) (Transmission & Distribution Utility)
- The utility that maintains poles, wires, and meters and restores power after outages.
- ERCOT
- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas; operates the electric grid and wholesale market for most of Texas.
- Fixed-rate plan
- A plan where the energy charge is intended to remain the same during the contract term (see EFL).
- Variable plan
- A plan where the energy charge can change monthly (see EFL).
- Contract term
- Length of your agreement (e.g., 6, 12, 24 months), listed on the EFL.
- Early termination fee
- A fee that may apply if you end a contract before its term ends; see EFL.
- TDU delivery charges
- Charges set by your local utility for delivering power; separate from energy charges.
- kWh (kilowatt-hour)
- A unit of energy used to measure electricity consumption.
- Base charge
- A fixed amount that may apply each billing cycle, regardless of usage; see EFL.
- Renewable content
- The percentage of electricity generated from renewable sources; shown on the EFL.
- Deposit
- An amount that may be required during enrollment, depending on eligibility criteria.
- AutoPay / Paperless
- Optional account features that may be available for some plans; review plan terms.
- Move-in (start service)
- Begin service at a new address.
- Transfer
- Move an existing plan to a new address when eligible.
- Switch
- Change from one REP to another.
- Meter read
- A record of your electricity usage; may be used to start or end service or to switch providers.
- Outage
- A power interruption handled by your local TDU.
- PUCT
- Public Utility Commission of Texas; state regulator for electricity and other utilities.
- EFL usage examples
- Illustrative costs at 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh; your actual usage and costs may differ.
- Your Rights as a Customer (YRAC)
- Required document explaining customer protections and information.
- Terms of Service (TOS)
- Contractual terms that govern your plan.
- Enrollment confirmation
- Email or page that shows your plan details and expected start date.
- Grace period
- A window some contracts include for cancellation without an early termination fee; see TOS / EFL.
- Bill credit
- A dollar amount some plans subtract from your bill when your monthly usage reaches a set kWh level; the threshold is listed on the EFL.
