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12 Month Fixed Rate

14.9 ^¢ effective rate per kWh

Live Brighter Lite 12

call (866) 645-2643

12
monthsmo.

Avg. BillAvg.
^$152

Plan Details

Early Termination Fee: $150
Monthly Recurring Charge: $9.95
fixed-rate
12 Months

(Note: The Early Termination Fee will not be charged if you end your contract early because you are moving out.)

Safe-Rate™ Analysis:

Safe-Rate™ Score: 10 out of 10

Our Safe-Rate™ Score for this plan is considered Very Good.

A higher Safe-Rate™ score means more predictable pricing and fewer surprises on your bill.

The table below estimates what your average price per kWh would be for different monthly energy usage:

Monthly Usage	250 kWh	500 kWh	750 kWh	1000 kWh	1250 kWh	1500 kWh	1750 kWh	2000 kWh	2250 kWh	2500 kWh	2750 kWh	3000 kWh
Average Price Per kWh	16.4¢	15.4¢	15.1¢	14.9¢	15.6¢	15.4¢	15.3¢	15.1¢	15.1¢	15.0¢	14.9¢	14.9¢

TruBill™ Estimations

Using our TruBill™ algorithm, we estimate your monthly electricity bill based on typical home energy usage.

Minimum and maximum bills reflect normal seasonal changes (summer AC vs. mild weather), and the average bill represents the midpoint across those seasonal differences.

Monthly Usage	Minimum Bill	Maximum Bill	Average Bill	Average Annual Cost
Small Homes (500-1,200 sq. ft.) - Apartments, Condos, Starter Homes
250 kWh	$33.80	$71.26	$39.00	$468.00
500 kWh	$66.36	$139.90	$77.00	$924.00
750 kWh	$98.18	$207.00	$114.00	$1,368.00
1000 kWh	$130.40	$274.91	$152.00	$1,824.00
Average Homes (1,300-2,200 sq. ft.) - Typical 3-4 Bedroom Family Homes
1250 kWh	$164.39	$346.58	$191.00	$2,292.00
1500 kWh	$197.14	$415.62	$230.00	$2,760.00
1750 kWh	$228.19	$481.09	$266.00	$3,192.00
2000 kWh	$259.07	$546.20	$302.00	$3,624.00
Large Homes (2,300-3,500+ sq. ft.) - Multi-AC Homes, Large Families
2250 kWh	$290.11	$611.62	$338.00	$4,056.00
2500 kWh	$321.27	$677.31	$374.00	$4,488.00
2750 kWh	$352.45	$743.05	$410.00	$4,920.00
3000 kWh	$383.46	$808.43	$446.00	$5,352.00

Energy Guide For Cost Range of Similar Plans

Advertised Rate Cost at 1000 kWh

Your Plan's Cost: 14.9¢

13.3¢

Lowest Rate

15.4¢

17.5¢

19.5¢

21.6¢

23.7¢

Highest Rate

25th percentile of plans (14.7¢)

75th percentile of plans (17.0¢)

Our Assessment:

This is a "No Gimmicks" Fixed Rate plan which means you have a consistent energy charge of 9.4¢ per kWh no matter how much (or little) energy you use.

You will have more predictable bill based solely on your usage.

Plan Renewal:

If you order this plan and start it today, you will be up for renewal 12 months from now in March of 2027.

Since this plan expires in March, you can take advantage of seasonally lower rates when you renew.

Electricity rates are generally highest from June through September.

Rates as of Mar 31, 2026 at 08:10 PM

Our Take on Direct Energy

Our Rating:

help

How We Rate

We aggregate data from multiple sources, including our customer reviews, rates, Public Utility Commission statistics, JD Power ratings, Better Business Bureau, and surveys.

Direct Energy was another of the original competitive retail energy providers. NRG purchased Direct Energy in 2021. Our view is that Direct Energy serves as a flank brand with great brand equity, an established customer base of over half a million Texas customers and competitive rates. If it aint broke. . .

Direct Energy offers competitive rates, and some cool incentives, including Amazon Prime and Green energy options. Rates are good - not great.

Direct Energy has never made it to our Best in Texas list. They tick most of the boxes - except we've never seen their prices come down to where they are competitive.

Based on customer reviews from 2009-2024, Direct Energy has a mixed reputation. Common complaints include unexpected rate increases, billing errors, poor customer service with long hold times and unhelpful representatives, difficulty canceling service, and aggressive collection practices including fees for late payments. While some customers praise competitive initial rates and reliable service, many report feeling misled by promotional offers and experiencing frustration with the company's billing practices and customer support.

Pros

thumb_upLarge Stable Provider
thumb_upCompetitive Rates
thumb_upModern Account Management tools

Cons

thumb_downAmazon Plan - Not worth it
thumb_down"Free" Nights/Weekend Plans are not "Free"
thumb_downHit or Miss Customer Support

Compare Direct Energy Electricity Plans and Choose the Right One for You

How to Shop Smart

Explore current Direct Energy electricity plans available in Texas and find the best fit for your home. Each plan includes a Safe-Rate Score that shows how closely the advertised rate matches what you'll actually pay. You can customize your usage to get accurate estimates, compare term lengths for short- or long-term savings, and review rate types to see which pricing style works best for you. Use the sort feature to easily organize plans by price, rating, or company name. Get transparent pricing, reliable service, and fast online sign-up today.

Shopping Tips

Use the Safe-Rate Score to see how closely a plans advertised rate matches what youll actually pay. Higher scores mean more stable pricing and fewer billing surprises.

Adjust your average monthly usage to get plan estimates tailored to your household's energy habits and see which options offer the best value for your needs.

Choose the contract length that fits your lifestyle from short-term flexibility to long-term price stability. Longer terms often help you lock in lower rates.

Compare fixed-rate and variable-rate plans to decide whether you prefer consistent monthly pricing or the potential savings that come with market-based rates.

Sort plans by rate, term length, rating, or company name to quickly find the most affordable, highest-rated, or best-fit options for your home.

Direct Energy Customer Reviews

Direct Energy Ratings

Overall Rating

Average Rating

2.9/5 of 401 Reviews

Plans & Pricing

Order Experience

Customer Service

Account Management

Likely to Recommend

No problems for 13 years...knock on wood.

Overall Rating:

Plans & Pricing
Order Experience
Customer Service
Account Management
Likely to Recommend

I've had Direct Energy at my apartment for nearly 13 years and have had no problems whatsoever with them. I had a contract with them when they were Houston-based, but when a Canadian firm bought them out, they refunded my $250.00 deposit with credits during the summer of 2012 and have been month to month since. My rates have been ok, around 11 cents/kwh, maybe 14 during the summer add Centerpoint carrying charges and taxes and it comes to around 21 cents/kwh on a monthly basis. They try to get me to go for "free nights" but there's no such thing as free electricity. All in all, Direct Energy is one of the best deals out there, with very little interruptions and great service.

— Scotty C. from Houston, TX on July 7th, 2022

Hello Scotty. We are super honored and grateful to have your trust and loyalty for nearly 13 years! That is so fabulous, there are not enough words to express how happy this makes us! We will work as hard as we can to continue as your trusted electricity supplier for many more years. Thank you for choosing Direct Energy. We love serving you! All the best! - Marta / Digital Care

— Direct Energy on July 7th, 2022

Customer Reviews

Direct Energy Electricity Plans

Houston - Centerpoint Service Area Plans

Plan	Term	Rate
Live Brighter Lite 12	12/months	14.9^¢/kWh
Live Brighter Lite 24	24/months	14.9^¢/kWh
Live Brighter 1K+ 24	24/months	16.2^¢/kWh
Twelve Hour Power 12	12/months	23.6^¢/kWh

Rates as of Mar 31, 2026 at 08:10 PM

Dallas - Oncor Service Area Plans

Plan	Term	Rate
Live Brighter Lite 12	12/months	15.5^¢/kWh
Live Brighter Lite 24	24/months	15.5^¢/kWh
Live Brighter 1K+ 24	24/months	16.8^¢/kWh
Twelve Hour Power 12	12/months	23.6^¢/kWh

Rates as of Mar 31, 2026 at 08:10 PM