Reminder: Deadline to choose new power provider is a week away

Alex Driggars, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·2 min read
Energy companies speak to the public during an electric provider fair Jan. 5 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
Energy companies speak to the public during an electric provider fair Jan. 5 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

Next Thursday, Feb. 15, is the last day for Lubbock Power & Light's more than 100,000 electric customers to choose a new provider as the city moves into the competitive retail electric market.

The six-week shopping window opened Jan. 5 with more than 30 retail electric provider options, as LP&L customers are required to leave municipal utility behind. Around 25% of LP&L customers have already chosen their new provider, according to data from the utility.

Texans can visit PowerToChoose.org, an official website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, to shop for power plans in the competitive retail electric market.
Texans can visit PowerToChoose.org, an official website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, to shop for power plans in the competitive retail electric market.

Electric customers are urged to head to PowerToChoose.org, the State of Texas' official power shopping website, to find a provider and plan that works for them. The site allows shoppers to sort plans by rate, contract length and more.

A final provider shopping fair, where consumers can meet and compare providers in person, is scheduled for 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

The Avalanche-Journal has also compiled a list of resources and frequently asked questions related to the big switch. Readers can head to lubbockonline.com to find the A-J's electric competition resource hub.

More: The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's retail electric competition resource hub

Customers who don't choose a new provider before the Feb. 15 deadline will be assigned to one of three "default retail electric providers" (DREPs), which serve as a safety net to ensure each electric customer has continuous service during the transition. If a customer does not choose a provider during the shopping window (or in the event a chosen provider can no longer continue service), they will be assigned to a DREP until they choose a new provider.

Energy companies speak to the public during an electric provider fair Jan. 5 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
Energy companies speak to the public during an electric provider fair Jan. 5 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

The Lubbock Electric Utility Board and City Council chose Reliant Energy, TXU Energy and Octopus Energy as the DREPs in February based on a set of criteria, including market share, answers to a questionnaire, product offerings and more.

“If any customer does not choose, they're going to land with very reputable companies, and they won't have to worry about their rates and scams and things like that,” LP&L Director Joel Ivy told the City Council during a February 2023 meeting. “So if they just choose not to choose, they're going to land in a very good spot.”

Q&A: Get to know 3 of Lubbock's new electric providers

The final transition to retail competition takes place March 4. Customers will receive their last electric bill from the City of Lubbock in March and will receive subsequent bills from their chosen provider. Lubbockites will continue to receive a bill from the city for water, sewer, trash and other city utilities.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Reminder: Deadline to choose new power provider is a week away