Energy Broker Saves North Texan Money On Electricity

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Texans have it great when it comes to choosing their electric company. Deregulated market means lots of energy suppliers and hence lots of choices for consumers.

But it's often challenging to figure out how and what to choose. When people are looking for cheap electricity, do they choose a variable rate or indexed? Should they choose price per kilo watt or the lowest price?

Dallas resident Charla Ried signed up with Energy Ogre - an energy broker who, she said saved her big money.

"Literally one bill was $11 and one was $28," she told CBS 11 news.

Granted that was during the winter months, but still significant savings. She said the company signed her up with a power supply company that gave her a $25 dollar credit on top of a promotional rate.

Energy Ogre is one of several companies that picks out energy plans from hundreds of private energy providers in Texas. The company said that Dallas is their biggest market.

When Texas deregulated electricity a decade ago , power companies entered the market, directly chasing customers. The state set up a website called "Power to Choose" allowing customers to find the cheapest provider. Other companies like "Compare Power" allows customers to choose their provider for free. "Search for Energy" has a similar service. Both are paid by energy companies for enrolling customers.

But "Energy Ogre" doesn't take commissions from providers. Instead it charges customers a $10 fee to find a plan and manage their account.

For Charla Reid, the savings are well worth the cost. She said she's saving more than $10 a month.

Even though Texas is one of roughly 17 states with some deregulation in electricity... Some cities with electric cooperatives in Texas still can't choose providers.