Verdict: Reliant Energy is our winner when you compare Reliant vs. TXU. TXU offers greater plan flexibility and lower prices for bill credit/tiered rate plans. However, Reliant Energy is the cheaper option for basic fixed rate plans, which we think are the better option for consumers. Both companies charge a premium price for their brand name. For most households, the extra cost of TXU vs. Reliant isn’t justified if cheapest rate is your goal.
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.
TXU Energy
TXU Energy is the flagship brand for Vistra Energy, which also owns 4Change Energy and TriEagle Energy. Premium pricing, leading edge bill credit/tiered rate plans and 24/7 customer service. Their industry-leading customer satisfaction guarantee lets you change plans or switch away with no termination penalty in the first 60 days.
| Category | Reliant Energy | TXU Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rate | 20% higher than market | 20% higher than market |
| Monthly Base Charge | $5.00 | $9.95 |
| PUC Complaint Rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Best Plan Type | Basic Fixed Rate | Bill Credit/Tiered Rate |
| Plan Terms | 6-36 months | 1-36 months |
| Satisfaction Guarantee | 90 Days; change your plan | 60 Days; change your plan or switch away with no termination fee |
| Parent Company | NRG (Houston) | Vistra (Dallas) |
Shop TXU vs. Reliant Rates by Zip Code
TXU Energy vs. Reliant Energy Electricity Rates (Oncor Area)
| Plan Name | Term | Rate/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| TXU Energy Smart 1000 Select 12 | 12 | 10.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 24 | 24 | 12.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 12 | 12 | 12.9 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Clear Deal 12 | 12 | 14.5 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 24 | 24 | 15.4 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 12 | 12 | 15.5 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Clear Deal 24 | 24 | 15.5 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Solar Value 12 | 12 | 15.9 ¢ |
| 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 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Simple Rate 12 | 12 | 17.2 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Smart 2000 Select 12 | 12 | 17.2 ¢ |
| Reliant Free Overnight 12 | 12 | 17.8 ¢ |
| Reliant Truly Free Weekends 12 | 12 | 18.2 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Free Nights and Cool Summer 12 | 12 | 18.9 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Flex Forward | 0 | 20.2 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Solar Saver 12 | 12 | 20.7 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Saver's Discount 12 | 12 | 22.0 ¢ |
TXU Energy vs. Reliant Energy Electricity Rates (CenterPoint Area)
| Plan Name | Term | Rate/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| TXU Energy Smart 1000 Select 12 | 12 | 9.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 24 | 24 | 11.9 ¢ |
| Reliant Power Savings 12 | 12 | 11.9 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Clear Deal 12 | 12 | 13.5 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 24 | 24 | 14.4 ¢ |
| Reliant Pure Power 12 | 12 | 14.5 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Clear Deal 24 | 24 | 14.5 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Solar Value 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 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Smart 2000 Select 12 | 12 | 16.2 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Simple Rate 12 | 12 | 16.2 ¢ |
| Reliant Free Overnight 12 | 12 | 17.2 ¢ |
| Reliant Truly Free Weekends 12 | 12 | 17.2 ¢ |
| TXU Energy Free Nights and Cool Summer 12 | 12 | 17.9 ¢ |
Comparing Reliant vs TXU Electricity Plan Variety
These charts show current plans offerings from TXU and Reliant.
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 TXU Energy plan is the TXU Energy Clear Deal. It’s a bill credit and tiered rate plan that’s great for consumers using 800-1300 kWh monthly. That’s what most Texas homes use. Check the plan details and use our BillSmart™ Calculator and CostCurve™ graph to check what you’ll pay at every usage level.
| 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 |
| TXU Energy Plan | Plan Type | Plan Details | Who This Plan is For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXU Energy Simple Rate | Basic Fixed Rate | Consistent energy rate regardless of monthly kWh usage. $9.95 monthly base charge. | Customers desiring predictable electricity bills relative to monthly kWh usage. |
| TXU Energy Smart Break | Bill Credit | $100 bill credit for >1000 kWh. $9.95 monthly base charge | Customers who consistently use 1000-2000 kWh/month |
| TXU Energy Clear Deal | Bill Credit and Tiered Rates | $50 bill credit for > 800 kWh usage in a billing cycle. Lower energy rate for usage < 1200 kWh. $9.95 monthly base charge. | Texas homes with monthly usage consistently between 800 - 1200 kWh. (Top TXU Recommendation) |
| TXU Solar Value | Bill Credit and Tiered Rates | $30 bill credit for > 800 kWh usage in a billing cycle. Lower energy rate for usage < 1200 kWh. 25% renewable energy. $9.95 monthly base charge | Texas homes with monthly usage consistently between 800 - 1200 kWh and want to support Texas renewable energy sources. |
| TXU Energy Saver's Discount | Bill Credit and Tiered Rates | $50 bill credit for > 1200 kWh usage in a billing cycle. Lower energy rate for usage between 1201 - 2000 kWh. $9.95 monthly base charge. | Texas homes with monthly usage consistently between 1200 - 2000 kWh. |
| TXU Solar Saver | Bill Credit and Tiered Rates | $30 bill credit for > 1200 kWh usage in a billing cycle. Lower energy rate for usage between 1201 - 2000 kWh. 25% renewable energy. $9.95 monthly base charge. | Texas homes with monthly usage consistently between 1200 - 2000 kWh and want to support Texas renewable energy sources. |
| TXU Free Nights & Cool Summer | Time of Use - Free Electricity | Free energy charge between 9pm - 4:59am every night. 25% off your July/Aug/Sept daytime electricity. Pay 100% of delivery plus a $9.95 monthly base charge | Customers who can shift approximately 57% of daily electricity usage to 8pm - 4:59am. |
| TXU Energy Flex Forward | Variable | No contract. Energy rate subject to change every month. $9.95 monthly base charge. | Customers who want flexibility and are not price sensitive. |
Customer Reviews – TXU vs. Reliant
Not much differentiation here. Both TXU and Reliant have high scores for Google reviews, and customers love and hate them for the same reasons. TXU Energy has a stronger customer satisfaction guarantee, offering a 60 day full guarantee that lets you switch to a new plan or leave with no early termination fee if you’re not happy.
| Category | TXU Energy | Reliant Energy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Reviews | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Customers Like | Quality customer care, mobile app, 60 day satisfaction guarantee | Quality customer care, 90 day satisfaction guarantee, weekly usage summaries |
| Customers Dislike | High renewal rates, high bills for free nights plans | High renewal rates, high bills for free nights & weekends |
Which is Best Based on Your Situation?
We compared Reliant vs. TXU based on several consumer scenarios. Reliant came out on top across the board.
Apartments (Under 1000 sq ft)
Winner: Reliant Energy
Reliant Energy charges a $5 monthly base charge for their fixed rate plans and TXU Energy charges a $9.95 monthly fee. When usage is low, the monthly fee makes a bigger difference in your effective rate or average price.
Average Home (1000-2000 sq ft)
Winner: Reliant Energy
Fixed rate plans are what’s best for most homes. Reliant Energy’s basic fixed rate plans typically have both a lower energy rate vs. TXU. Plus the $9.95 TXU base charge vs. $5 Reliant base charge impacts your monthly bill.
Large Home (over 2000 sq ft)
Winner: Reliant Energy
And again, the winner in the large home category is Reliant Energy. Their energy rate per kWh can be 2-3 cents below TXU’s, which makes a huge difference in your total bill. With Reliant vs. TXU, the answer is clear.
Bill Credit Plans
Winner: TXU Energy
While TXU Energy’s plans are more complicated, including bill credits, tiered rates and a base charge, the effective rate on most offers is lower than Reliant Energy. Don’t restrict yourself to two brands. Shop all providers for bill credit options.
Fixed Rate Plans
Winner: Reliant Energy
Hands down, Reliant Energy has the cheapest fixed rate electricity plans when you compare TXU vs. Reliant. Part of that is the $9.95 base charge for TXU vs. $5 for Reliant. But overall, we see TXU charging higher energy rates than Reliant.
Prepaid Electricity Plans
Winner: Neither
Neither TXU 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 and a low monthly base charge. However, if you’re primarily shopping on price, both brands charge a 20-25% 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 TXU Energy if:
- You want a bill credit/tiered rate plan to match your usage.
- You value the flexibility of switching away if you find a better deal in 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
No easy answer here. 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.
TXU Energy offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee that lets you switch to any other plan or switch away to another provider with no early termination penalty if you do so in the first 2 months of service. After 60 days, early termination fees would apply.
Both TXU 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 TXU.
