What connects Benjamin Franklin, a hamster, and comparing electric prices in Texas? The answer is ElectricityMatch.com, an energy price comparison website that helps residents and business owners look for electric suppliers and their products. (Don’t worry, we’ll explain the connection.)
ElectricityMatch.com is one of many online resources that Texans can use to look for energy deals. This independent guide will help you understand the services ElectricityMatch.com offers and how to navigate its website.
What Is ElecricityMatch.com?
Texas has a deregulated energy market that allows around 85% of its residents to choose their electric company from among more than 140 retail electric providers (REPs). That means there are thousands of options — far more than the average person probably wants to browse.
Some folks choose their energy supplier based on recommendations. Others stick with the company they know, are enticed by advertising, or even buy a package from a door-to-door salesperson.
Energy deregulation also means that there are many price comparison websites for Texas residents. ElectricityMatch.com is one such price comparison website. Visitors to its website can see hundreds of energy products and use the site’s search tools to find deals.
What Services Does ElectricityMatch.Com Offer?
ElectricityMatch.com (also called Electricity Match) is, first and foremost, a website built so people can search for and find electricity products in Texas.
Its pages also contain a regularly-updated blog, which publishes energy-related information, the company posts its press releases to the media. Subjects vary from tips about energy savings and efficiency for homeowners and businesses to solar power, backup generators, and more.
There is information about how the Texas power grid works, plus explanations about its main players, like the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and ERCOT. Electricity Match also carries guides to some — but not all — of the 140+ electric companies operating in the Lone Star State.
People can look at energy rates in specific cities and look up frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Texas energy, covering everything from your rights to how to read energy bills. The company also has a customer service section for anyone who wishes to get in touch.
Where Does Electricity Match Operate?
ElectricityMatch.com advertises electricity rates to residents and businesses from energy companies in Texas.
The website’s sitemap lists web pages with electricity rates in various cities in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. However, the links lead to pages stating that those areas are not served and may be added later. You can check your ZIP code to see if ElectricityMatch.com has products in that area.
As of January 2023, it appears that ElectricityMatch.com is operating in Texas only.
Where Is Electricity Match’s Headquarters?
The headquarters of Electricity Match is in Colleyville, Texas. The ZIP code, 76034, is in a deregulated market area.
Who Owns ElectricityMatch.com?
The owners of Electricity Match is a Texas-based company called J3 Web Holdings, LLC. Its website states it “builds, buys, and invests in internet properties.” The company’s portfolio includes News for Energy, Republic Matters, and ElectricityMatch.com.
How Does ElectricityMatch.com Make Money?
All electric companies that want to broker electricity sales to customers in Texas must register with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) as an energy broker.
Electricity Match is on the PUCT’s list of approved energy brokers, which means it can act as an intermediary between customers and energy companies. It’s important to clarify that Electricity Match doesn’t sell or generate energy; it only publishes electricity deals and matches suppliers with potential customers.
Usually, price comparison websites earn dollars from on-site advertising and commissions when people click on links or sign up for energy deals. Electricity Match’s website is free to use, but it doesn’t describe how the company makes money, or even if it does. However, we cannot confirm or find how or even whether ElectricityMatch.com makes money.
Does Electricity Match Offer Electricity to Businesses?
Large and small businesses can find electricity rates advertised on Electricity Match’s website. The company has an online search tool plus a dedicated team for business inquiries, contactable by phone or via a contact form.
How to Use the ElectricityMatch.com Website
The Electricity Match website’s primary function is to get people to enter their ZIP code into a search tool to check for energy deals in that area. The search widget appears all over the website, urging browsers to compare energy deals.
There are several principal methods of looking for products on the website:
- Using the ZIP code search tool
- Via selected energy providers in Texas
- By city through energy guides
What You Should Know Before Switching Electric Suppliers
Choosing an energy provider is an important decision. There is the potential to save hundreds of dollars on your current electricity deal but you can also easily end up paying more.
You must first check if there is an early termination fee on your current deal, and if yes, how much. Then work out if the potential savings from switching outweigh the costs of staying with your current supplier.
It pays to know what you are signing up for and a rough estimate of what you should be paying for your energy. Make sure you’re familiar with the terms below before switching suppliers or signing up with a new one.
Enter your ZIP Code and compare electricity rates
Kilowatt-hours (kWh): Electricity deals are promoted in kWh, and the Electricity Match website has a kWh filter. Ensure you know your monthly kWh usage and when you use energy, e.g., during the day, mostly at night, or on weekends.
Fixed-rate or variable-rates: A fixed-rate product does what it says — the kWh price remains the same throughout the contract length. These products usually come with credit checks, deposits, and early termination fees. Variable-rate options are flexible, often requiring no cancelation fees, credit checks, or deposits. You may find kWh rates higher but remember that variable-rate rates can go up or down, meaning your energy bill may fluctuate even if your energy usage remains stable.
Time-of-use: Free electricity on weekends or evenings sounds tempting, but only opt for these if they suit your lifestyle. For example, a stay-at-home worker with the air conditioning running all day who goes out every evening and weekend would not best suit these options. Time-of-use deals often come with conditions, so check the small print in the Electricity Facts Label (EFL).
Minimum usage: People who use a lot of electricity every month and understand how they use energy may suit a minimum usage deal, which often has lower kWh prices. Be careful with these because if you fail to meet the minimum usage every month, you may pay a lot more per kWh — again, check the small print on the EFL.
Pro tip: Our checklist on what to ask before signing an energy contract is a great place to get started.
How Do I Use the ElectricityMatch.com Website?
Armed with the knowledge of your kWh usage and energy habits, the simplest way to start looking at deals is to enter your ZIP code.
ElectricityMatch.com displays results with the lowest kWh price first. It also shows:
- The related energy company’s name and contact details
- Product name
- Contract length
- Customer star ratings
- Number of purchases
- Renewable energy content
- Terminate fee
- Special offers, deals, or attractive points of the deal
- Electricity Facts Label (EFL)
- Terms of service (TOS)
- Your rights as a consumer (YRAC)
- The total number of products it has found
- The utility provider
It’s vital you survey Electricity Match’s filters to the left of the search results. Make sure you’re searching for the correct energy usage. Then you can pick out deals by energy company and contract length, look for green plans, and finally, for prepaid offers.
You can sign up through the ElectricityMatch.com website by entering your personal details, which are then passed to the relevant electric company for you to complete an agreement.
Shopping by Energy Company With Electricity Match
A second way to shop on ElectricityMatch.com is to click on one of its energy company reviews.
There are 39 energy companies listed on the website, but remember, more than 140 electric companies are operating across Texas. That means that not all electric company offers are displayed by ElectricityMatch.com.
The energy provider reviews give information about that company, its plans and rates, service areas, customer service information, customer reviews, and much more.
Shopping by City on ElectricityMatch.com
There are 25 towns and cities in Texas for which Electricity Match has specific energy search pages. Those listed include Arlington, McAllen, and Round Rock.
Most of these location-based guides display a list of deals for a particular ZIP code, just like a standard search. Customers need to apply the filters and then find relevant deals.
However, six locations have complete destination guides, accessed via the main menu dropdown “Markets.” These are available for Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Plano, Waco, and Tyler and have a lot of content.
People will see information on energy companies that operate in the area, electricity price trends, energy deals, and more. Additionally, there’s a patchwork of sections covering the place’s history, population, activities, things to do, and even some fun facts. This is woven in and around help on switching suppliers, contact forms, energy-saving tips, and specific energy deals.
Does ElectricityMatch.com Work With All Energy Companies?
Within Texas, ElectricityMatch.com has information about 39 of the 140+ Texas electric companies.
Browsers can access 13 energy company description pages from the website’s “Providers” dropdown tab. Following a search for electricity deals via the ZIP code widget, the following product filter has only nine companies listed. Therefore, it’s worth noting that ElectricityMatch.com’s search tools will only show some — but not all — Texas electricity deals.
Are There Any Independent Energy Pricing Sites in Texas?
Many price comparison websites are private companies that partner with energy companies to promote and advertise offers.
An independent energy price comparison website in Texas comes from the Public Utility Commission of Texas website, PowertoChoose.org. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with electricity products on Power to Choose before heading to price comparison websites.
Pro tip: Our Power to Choose guide will show you how to look for energy deals across Texas.
Do I Sign Up for Energy Deals Directly With ElectricityMatch.com?
Electricity Match will collect your personal information and send it to the electric company whose deal you have selected. The website is a portal, but your contract is with the energy company, not ElectricityMatch.com.
Do I Pay Electricity Match for My Electricity?
No, your bills will be issued by the energy company you choose, and you will pay them for your electricity usage.
How Do I Contact ElectricityMatch.com?
Electricity Match has a customer service telephone number and email address for people with questions. The company also has an online contact form, plus Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Do I Contact ElectricityMatch.com During Power Outages?
Power outages can happen anywhere, but Electricity Match cannot restore your power.
Power restoration in Texas is performed by utility companies, also known as Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs). Customers pay a TDU charge on their energy bill to help utilities maintain the grid, which includes restoring power. The prominent utility companies in Texas are:
- TNMP: Lewisville, Pilot Point, Leonard, and Glen Rose
- Oncor: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington
- AEP Texas: Abilene and Corpus Christi
- CenterPoint Energy: Houston
So, Tell Me About the Hamster and Benjamin Franklin
ElectricityMatch.com has a cute mascot that appears all over its website: a hamster named Ben. Apparently, Benjamin Franklin kept pet hamsters. Benjamin Franklin didn’t discover electricity, but he did prove that lightning was made of it through his famous experiment of flying a kite during an electrical storm.
Ben is a descendant of the founding father’s horde and is similarly fascinated by and knowledgeable about electricity, hence the hamster’s role on the website. Of course, Ben the hamster takes his name from the United States founding father.
Review of Electricity Match’s Website and Services
ElectricityMatch.com is one of many price comparison websites advertising electricity deals to the residents and businesses of Texas in deregulated market areas.
The site carries a lot of information about some — but not all — Texas energy companies. There’s also a lot of information about how the Texan energy market works.
It’s good practice to use several price comparison websites when shopping for anything, especially something as important as your energy supply. ElectricityMatch.com could be one of those you use to compare and contrast with other offers.
Ben the hamster character is cute, but he doesn’t pop up to guide you or offer a chat bot talk. While the price comparison game aims to save money, only some enjoy the freedom to choose their supplier. If you can’t switch suppliers, there are always things you can do in the face of rising energy prices.
Brought to you by energysavings.com
All images licensed from Adobe Stock.
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