Direct Energy electricity plans and rates

It depends on the plan and on how much you use. For a typical home using about 1,000 kWh a month, as of November 2026: In Dallas–Fort Worth, its cheapest plan for that home is Autopay Texas 13, about $1,812 for the year (15.1¢ per kWh all-in), which ranks #138 of the 388 plans we track: $367 a year more than the cheapest plan there, True Value 12 from True Power. In Houston, its cheapest plan for that home is Autopay Texas 13, about $1,781 for the year (14.8¢ per kWh all-in), which ranks #83 of the 218 plans we track: $360 a year more than the cheapest plan there, Octo Simple 12 from Octopus Energy. In Corpus Christi, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, its cheapest plan for that home is Autopay Texas 13, about $1,651 for the year (13.8¢ per kWh all-in), which ranks #68 of the 205 plans we track: $325 a year more than the cheapest plan there, No Bull 12 from Energy Texas. The other 3 areas are on this page. Price Direct Energy's plans on your own 12 months before choosing, because the order changes with the shape of your usage.

Yes. 6 of the 88 Direct Energy plans we track are bill-credit plans: a high energy rate with a fixed credit, often $100 or more, in any month your usage lands in a range such as 1,000 kWh or more. They advertise the lowest prices because the advertised price is measured at exactly 1,000 kWh, where the credit applies. Over a real year with low spring and autumn months, many of them cost more than a plain flat-rate plan. We price every month, so the credit only counts in the months that earn it.

Direct Energy's fixed-rate plans charge between $75.00 and $395.00 to leave before the contract ends, depending on the plan, and some charge $10.00 for every month left in the contract. The exact fee is on each plan's Electricity Facts Label, linked from every plan on this page. Under Texas rules you owe no fee if you switch in the last 14 days of a fixed-term contract, or if you move and give the provider proof of the move.

Direct Energy sells plans in 6 parts of the Texas choice market: Dallas–Fort Worth (Oncor's delivery area, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington); Houston (CenterPoint Energy's delivery area, including Houston, Katy, Sugar Land); Corpus Christi, Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley (AEP Texas Central's delivery area, including Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen); Abilene and San Angelo (AEP Texas North's delivery area, including Abilene, San Angelo); League City, Texas City and other TNMP towns (TNMP's delivery area, including Lewisville, League City, Friendswood); Lubbock (Lubbock Power & Light's delivery area, including Lubbock). The delivery utility, not the provider, owns the wires where you live, and every provider's plans in an area pay it the same delivery charge.

No. Direct Energy doesn't pay us, and neither does any other provider. We track and price every plan the same way.

Yes. Listed but not ranked: 23 time-of-use plans ("free nights" and the like), priced by the time of day or week, which a monthly bill doesn't show. They're on this page with their labels, marked "Not ranked", so you can see Direct Energy's whole lineup; the rankings cover its 88 fixed-rate plans we can price from monthly usage.