Verdict: We’re calling this one a tie. Gexa has better options for popular bill credit plans, with cheap options at every usage level. But Reliant surprised us with better pricing on fixed rate plans, plus they have a 24/7 customer service, better reviews and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee vs. Gexa’s 60-day guarantee.
Company Snapshots
Reliant Energy
Reliant Energy is the flagship brand for NRG Energy, which also owns Cirro Energy, Discount Power and Direct Energy. Premium pricing, a wide variety of plans and 24/7 customer service. They offer a 90-day customer satisfaction guarantee that lets you switch to any other Reliant plan in the first 3 months.
Gexa Energy
Gexa Energy is the flagship Texas electricity brand for NextEra Energy Resources, a power generation company that also owns Frontier Utilities, Companion Energy and Power Wizard. All Gexa plans are 100% renewable energy, thanks to NextEra being the world’s largest solar and wind power generator. Gexa offers a 60 day Happiness Guarantee.
| Category | Reliant Energy | Gexa Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rate | 20% higher than market | 10% higher than market |
| Monthly Base Charge | $5.00 | No base charge on most plans |
| PUC Complaint Rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Best Plan Type | Basic Fixed Rate | Basic Fixed Rate |
| Plan Terms | 6-36 months | 12 months |
| Satisfaction Guarantee | 90 Days; change to another Reliant Energy plan with no termination fee | 60 Days; change to another Gexa Energy plan with no termination fee |
| Parent Company | NRG (Houston) | NextEra Energy Resources (Juno Beach, FL) |
Shop Reliant vs. Gexa Rates by Zip Code
Reliant Energy vs. Gexa Energy Electricity Rates (Oncor Area)
| Plan Name | Term | Rate/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Gexa Eco Saver Plus 12 | 12 | 7.7 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 12 | 12 | 12.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 24 | 24 | 12.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 24 | 24 | 15.4 ¢ |
| Gexa Budget Saver 12 | 12 | 15.5 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 12 | 12 | 15.5 ¢ |
| Reliant Basic Power 24 | 24 | 16.2 ¢ |
| Reliant Basic Power 12 | 12 | 16.2 ¢ |
| Reliant Conservation Plan 12 | 12 | 16.5 ¢ |
| Reliant Conservation Plan 24 | 24 | 16.5 ¢ |
| Gexa Solar Export Saver 12 | 12 | 17.5 ¢ |
| Reliant Free Overnight 12 | 12 | 17.8 ¢ |
| Gexa Eco Saver Lite 12 | 12 | 18.2 ¢ |
| Reliant Truly Free Weekends 12 | 12 | 18.2 ¢ |
| Gexa Eco Saver Premier 12 | 12 | 18.8 ¢ |
| Gexa Eco Saver Advantage 12 | 12 | 18.8 ¢ |
| Gexa Energy Free 3 Day Weekends Preferred 12 | 12 | 19.3 ¢ |
Reliant Energy vs. Gexa Energy Electricity Rates (CenterPoint Area)
| Plan Name | Term | Rate/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Gexa Eco Saver Plus 12 | 12 | 6.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 24 | 24 | 11.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 12 | 12 | 11.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 24 | 24 | 14.4 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 12 | 12 | 14.5 ¢ |
| Gexa Budget Saver 12 | 12 | 14.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Basic Power 24 | 24 | 15.8 ¢ |
| Reliant Basic Power 12 | 12 | 15.8 ¢ |
| Reliant Conservation Plan 12 | 12 | 15.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Conservation Plan 24 | 24 | 15.9 ¢ |
| Gexa Solar Export Saver 12 | 12 | 17.0 ¢ |
| Reliant Free Overnight 12 | 12 | 17.2 ¢ |
| Reliant Truly Free Weekends 12 | 12 | 17.2 ¢ |
| Gexa Eco Saver Lite 12 | 12 | 17.4 ¢ |
| Gexa Eco Saver Advantage 12 | 12 | 18.1 ¢ |
| Gexa Eco Saver Premier 12 | 12 | 18.2 ¢ |
| Gexa Energy Free 3 Day Weekends Preferred 12 | 12 | 19.3 ¢ |
Comparing Reliant vs Gexa Energy – Electricity Plan Variety
These charts show current plans offerings from Reliant and Gexa.
The best Reliant Energy plan is Reliant Pure Power. You’ll pay a $5/month base charge and have a fixed rate per kWh for your energy, with delivery charges passed through. This is a simple fixed rate plan, a great fit for most Texas homes.
The best Gexa Energy plan is Gexa Budget Saver, a basic fixed rate plan with no monthly base charge and 100% renewable energy. This plan will give you predictable, simple bills at all usage levels.
If you’re going for fixed rate plans, you may be surprised to find that Reliant is cheaper than Gexa in many cases. Always check the price and compare plans side by side.
Reliant Energy Plans
| Reliant Energy Plans | Plan Type | Plan Details | Who This Plan is For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reliant Pure Power | Fixed Rate | Basic fixed rate plan with a $5/month base charge | Most Texas homes (Top Reliant Recommendation) |
| Reliant Basic Power | Fixed Rate | Basic fixed rate plan with a $9.95 minimum use charge if you use less than 1000 kWh | Texas homes that use over 1000 kWh/month |
| Reliant Power Savings | Bill Credit | $75 usage credit when you use >1000 kWh/month. No base charge. | Texas homes that use over 1000 kWh/month |
| Reliant Conservation Plan | Tiered Rate | Lower rate for energy use under 1000 kWh; $5 monthly base charge | Smaller homes and apartments |
| Reliant Free Overnight | Time of Use | Free energy and delivery charges from 9pm-6am daily. No base charge | Homes that can shift their usage to night time, or that have an EV. |
| Reliant Truly Free Weekends | Time of Use | Free energy and delivery from Friday 8pm to Monday 12am. No base charge | People who travel for work; second homes |
Gexa Energy Plans
| Gexa Energy Plans | Plan Type | Plan Details | Who This Plan is For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gexa Budget Saver | Fixed Rate | Basic fixed rate plan with no base charge. | Most Texas homes |
| Gexa Eco Saver Lite | Bill Credit | $50 usage credit when you use >500 kWh/month. No base charge. | Apartments and small homes using under 500 kWh/month |
| Gexa Eco Saver Plus | Bill Credit | $125 usage credit when you use >1000 kWh/month. No base charge. | Texas homes that use 1000-1500 kWh/month |
| Gexa Eco Saver Advantage | Bill Credit | $100 usage credit when you use >1500 kWh/month. No base charge. | Texas homes that use 1500-1999 kWh/month |
| Gexa Eco Saver Premier | Bill Credit | $150 usage credit when you use >2000 kWh/month. No base charge. | Large Texas Homes that use over 2000 kWh/month |
| Free 3 Day Weekends | Time of Use | Free power & delivery all day Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Base charge $9.95 | Homeowners who travel for work or have a weekend home |
Customer Reviews – Reliant vs. Gexa
Both Reliant and Gexa have positive reviews. But we’re giving the win here to Reliant, due to their longer satisfaction guarantee (90 days vs. 60 days) and 24/7 customer service.
| Category | Reliant Energy | Gexa Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Reviews | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Customers Like | Quality customer care, 90 day satisfaction guarantee, weekly usage summaries | Quality customer care, fixed rate offers, 60 day happiness guarantee. |
| Customers Dislike | High renewal rates, high bills for free nights & weekends | Long hold times at certain times, high renewal rates, higher than expected bills for bill credit plans. |
Which is Best Based on Your Situation?
We compared Gexa vs. Reliant based on several consumer scenarios. Gexa came out on top across the board for their bill credit plans. But make sure your usage matches these usage bands, or you’ll end up paying more than you expected.
Apartments (Under 1000 sq ft)
Winner: Reliant Energy
For homes using 500-1000 kWh, the Reliant Energy’s Pure Power basic fixed rate offers a superior value vs. Gexa Energy. While Gexa has no base charge, their energy rate is often higher than Reliant’s.
Average Home (1000-2000 sq ft)
Winner: Gexa Energy
Gexa Energy’s Eco Saver Plus and Eco Saver Advantage are great options for homes that use 1000-2000 kWh per month. You’ll get that sweet spot pricing and a bill credit in months when you use over 1000 kWh.
Large Home (over 2000 sq ft)
Winner: Gexa Energy
Gexa Energy’s Eco Saver Premier gives you a $150 bill credit when you use over 2000 kwh, and is a great choice if you consistently use 2000-3600 kWh.
Bill Credit Plans
Winner: Gexa Energy
Gexa Energy has dialed in their sweet spot pricing, with options targeting the 500, 1000 and 2000 kWh customer. Use the BillSmart™ Calculator or the CostCurve™ to see what you pay at every usage level.
Fixed Rate Plans
Winner: Reliant Energy
Reliant Energy is the better option for fixed rate plans vs. Gexa Energy. Yeah, we were surprised too. We thought of course Gexa would win, since they don’t have a base charge. But Reliant’s lower energy rate works for everyone that uses over 700 kWh.
Prepaid Electricity Plans
Winner: Neither
Neither Gexa Energy nor Reliant Energy offer prepaid electricity plans. Your best option for prepaid is Payless Power, which offers 6 and 12 month fixed rates with no credit check.
Final Verdict: Shop Around
For most Texas households, Reliant is the better choice between these two, with lower rates on their basic fixed rate plans. However, if you’re primarily shopping on price, both brands charge a premium vs. market prices.
Choose Reliant Energy if:
- You want a low monthly base charge and a basic fixed rate plan
- You like having 90 days to review your plan and change to a different option
- You value the stability of a large company
Choose Gexa Energy if:
- You want a bill credit/tiered rate plan to match your usage.
- You value the flexibility of switching plans in the first 60 days
- You value the stability of a large company
Ultimately, we recommend that you don’t look at brand or advertised rates. Instead, shop based on your actual kWh usage with the ElectricityPlans BillSmart™ Tools, including BillSmart Low Bill Finder and BillSmart Calculator. You’ll get easy insights into what you’ll actually pay. That’s the only way to find the best electricity plan for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gexa gives better value with its popular bill credit plans. But it depends on your zip code, your usage and the type of plan you’re interested in. Your best bet it to use the ElectricityPlans BillSmart Low Bill Finder to find the cheapest option for your home.
Both Gexa and Reliant are premium brands with premium pricing. If you’re shopping based on price but are also concerned about reputation and stability, consider Champion Energy, Chariot Energy, Rhythm Energy and APG&E. All are known brand names, in business for 5+ years and cheaper than Reliant or Gexa.
