Two companies, one bill
Dallas is in the deregulated part of the Texas electricity market. If you're new to the state, that can be confusing at first.
Oncor is the local utility, not the company you buy power from. It owns the poles and wires, delivers power to your address, and bills your provider for it. You don't choose Oncor. Your address does. (A few nearby cities, like Garland and Denton, run their own power companies, and there you don't pick a provider.)
The retail electric provider (REP) is the company you choose. It sets the energy rate and sends you the bill, which includes Oncor’s delivery charges.
ERCOT runs the grid. The Public Utility Commission of Texas sets the rules for the market and runs the Power to Choose comparison site.
What you need to start service
- The ESID for your unit: the ID number for your meter, which the property or Oncor can give you
- Your move-in date
- A photo ID and, with some providers, a deposit
Set this up at least a few days before you take keys.
Read the Electricity Facts Label, not the banner
Every plan has an Electricity Facts Label that shows the average price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh of monthly usage.
The label shows all three for a reason: many plans are built around a bill credit that only kicks in at one usage level. A plan with a very low advertised rate may reach it only at 1,000 kWh, and the credit disappears at 999.
A one bedroom apartment in a mild month can use 400 to 600 kWh. At that level, a plan that looks cheap can cost far more than its advertised rate.
| What to check | Why |
|---|---|
| Rate at 500 kWh | Your likely usage in a small apartment during a mild season |
| Rate at 1,000 kWh | Common summer usage, and the level most ads quote |
| Contract term | 12, 24, or 36 months; a plan with no contract often costs more |
| Early termination fee | Applies if you switch plans early, not when you move out and give a forwarding address |
| Fixed or variable | Variable plans move with the market |
| How the bill credit works | The reason most advertised rates are misleading |
Moving out doesn't trigger the fee
Texas rules say a provider can’t charge an early termination fee when you move out. You give them a forwarding address and, if they ask, proof that you moved. The fee still applies if you switch plans early at the same address, so check the term before you sign.
Timing the transfer
Service must start the day you take keys. Not the day after.
Two dates can differ: the lease start date and the day you actually move in. Properties sometimes hand over the unit with the power off. In a Dallas July, moving furniture into an apartment with no air conditioning is more than a hassle.
Set service to start on the earlier of the two. Then confirm it a few days out.
Other things on the list
Bulk internet. Some newer buildings have a required internet contract that covers every unit. Signing your own on top is money spent twice. Ask before you sign up for anything.
Water, sewer, trash. Often billed through RUBS instead of a meter. That means the building uses a formula to split its bill among residents.
Renters insurance. Many Dallas leases require it, often with $100,000 in liability coverage. You send the property a Certificate of Insurance before you get keys.
We do this for free
We can compare plans with you at your real usage, help time the transfer, and list what to ask about bulk internet and insurance. It's all part of the free move-in concierge, whether or not we found you the apartment.