A non-profit utility that is owned and operated by the municipality it serves. In Texas, municipally owned utilities may opt into the competitive retail electric marketplace.

The Affiliate Retail Electric Provider was part of the original electric company that generated and sold electricity in your area. Now, the Affiliate Retail Electric Provider only sells electricity and provides customer service.

An entity registered with the Public Utility Commission that brings together a group of customers to buy electricity in bulk.

An agreement worked out between a Retail Electric Provider (REP) and a customer that allows you to pay approximately the same amount for your electric service each month. All Retail Electric Providers are required by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to offer average payment plans.

A Retail Electric Provider (REP) that is certified by the Public Utility Commission and competes for your business by offering lower prices, renewable energy options, added customer service benefits or other incentives.

Adding charges to a bill without a customer’s approval. This practice is illegal and penalties are enforced by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Removal or relaxation of regulations or controls governing a business or service operation like utilities.

The corporation that administers and maintains the reliability of the state’s electrical power grid. When you choose a new Retail Electric Provider, this group will send you a postcard confirming your switch from one REP to another.

An information sheet required by the PUC that provides customers with standardized information on a Retail Electric Provider’s prices, contracts, sources of power generation and emissions. It allows customers to make an “apples-to-apples” comparison of Retail Electric Provider offers.

An Affiliate Retail Electric Provider is allowed to recover its costs for the fuel used to general electricity, such as coal, natural gas, wind, water, nuclear, etc., through the fuel factor. This cost is set by the PUC of Texas and charged on each customer’s bill, based on kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage. An AREP is prohibited from making a profit on fu [..]