Ever noticed how choosing an electricity provider in Texas resembles picking a cell phone carrier? Find a plan that suits your needs from a company you like, and you're good to go. This freedom stems from Texas' deregulated electricity market, the largest in the nation since 2002. Over 85% of the state's population, more than 26 million people, can freely choose their electricity provider.

However, strangely enough, deregulation doesn't cover the entire state. If you've wondered why some areas of Texas are deregulated and some aren't, and which cities fall into each category, we've got you covered below.

Deregulated Cities in Texas: Your Power, Your Choice

Deregulated cities include Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Waco, and many more. The complete list below reflects all the cities and towns in Texas with deregulated electricity markets.

• Abilene
• Addison
• Alamo
• Albany
• Aledo
• Alice
• Allen
• Alpine
• Alvarado
• Alvin
• Alvord
• Andrews
• Angleton
• Anson
• Aransas Pass
• Archer City
• Argyle
• Arlington
• Arroyo City
• Aspermont
• Athens
• Atlanta
• Aubrey
• Austwell
• Azle
• Bacliff
• Baird
• Balch Springs
• Ballinger
• Balmorhea
• Barksdale
• Bay City
• Baytown
• Bedford
• Beeville
• Bellaire
• Bellmead
• Belton
• Benbrook
• Big Lake
• Big Spring
• Bishop
• Blooming Grove
• Bonham
• Booker
• Brackettville
• Brazoria
• Breckenridge
• Bronte
• Brookshire
• Brownwood
• Buffalo
• Burk
• Burnett
• Burleson
• Cameron
• Canton
• Carrizo Springs
• Carrollton
• Cedar Hill
• Cedar Park
• Centerville
• Channelview
• Childress
• Christoval
• Cisco
• Clarendon
• Clarksville
• Cleburne
• Clifton
• Clute
• Clyde
• Collinsville
• Columbus
• Colorado City
• Columbus
• Comanche
• Commerce
• Comstock
• Cooper
• Coppell
• Copperas Cove
• Corpus Christi
• Corsicana
• Cotulla
• Crane
• Crockett
• Crosby
• Cross Plains
• Crossroads
• Crowell
• Crystal City
• Cypress
• Dallas
• De Leon
• De Soto
• Decatur
• Deer Park
• Del Rio
• Denison
• Denton
• Devine
• Diboll
• Dickens
• Dickinson
• Dilley
• Donna
• Dublin
• Dumas
• Duncanville
• Eagle Lake
• Eagle Pass
• Early
• Eastland
• Eden
• Edgewood
• Edinbur
• Edna
• Edom
• Egypt
• El Campo
• Eldorado
• Electra
• Elgin
• Ennis
• Escobares
• Etoile
• Euless
• Eustace
• Falcon Heights
• Falfurrias
• Farmers Branch
• Flint
• Flo
• Forest Hill
• Forney
• Fort Davis
• Fort Stockton
• Fort Worth
• Freeport
• Freer
• Frisco
• Fulton
• Gainesville
• Galena Park
• Galveston
• Gatesville
• George West
• Goliad
• Graford
• Graham
• Granbury
• Grand Prairie
• Grandview
• Grapevine
• Gun Barrel City
• Hallettsville
• Haltom City
• Hamilton
• Hamlin
• Harker Heights
• Harlingen
• Haskell
• Hebbronville
• Henrietta
• Hidalgo
• Hillsboro
• Hitchcock
• Houston
• Hubbard
• Hudson
• Humble
• Huntington
• Hurst
• Hutchins
• Ingleside
• Iraan
• Irvin
• Italy
• Jacksboro
• Jersey Village
• Jewett
• Johnson City
• Jourdanton
• Junction
• Karnes City
• Katy
• Kaufman
• Keene
• Keller
• Kemah
• Kenedy
• Kermit
• Kil;een
• Kingsville
• Knox City
• La Feria
• La Marque
• La Porte
• Lacy Lakeview
• Ladonia
• Laguna Park
• Lajitas
• Lake Jackson
• Lake Whitney
• Lake Worth
• Lamesa
• Lancaster
• Laredo
• League City
• Leakey
• Leona
• Lewisvill
• Lindale
• Liverpool
• Log Cabin
• Los Fresnos
• Lufkin
• Lytle
• Mabank
• Magnolia
• Malakoff
• Malone
• Manor
• Mansfield
• Marfa
• Mathis
• McAlle
• McGregor
• McKinney
• Memphis
• Menard
• Mercedes
• Merkel
• Mesquite
• Midlan
• Midlothian
• Milano
• Milford
• Mineral Wells
• Mission
• Monahans
• Muenster
• Munday
• Nacogdoches
• Nassau Bay
• Neches
• Nocona
• North Richland Hills
• Northlake
• Odem
• Odess
• Olney
• Orange Grove
• Ozona
• Paducah
• Paint Rock
• Palacios
• Palestine
• Palmer
• Palmview
• Paris
• Pasadena
• Pearland
• Pearsall
• Pecos
• Penitas
• Perryton
• Pflugerville
• Pharr
• Pilot Point
• Plano
• Pleasanton
• Port Aransas
• Port Isabel
• Port Lavaca
• Port Mansfield
• Port O'Connor
• Portland
• Pottsboro
• Prairie View
• Premont
• Presidio
• Quanah
• Quinlan
• Quintana
• Rachel
• Rainbow
• Rancho Viejo
• Ranger
• Rankin
• Raymondville
• Red Oak
• Refugio
• Reklaw
• Richardson
• Richland
• Richland Hills
• Richmond
• Rio Grande City
• Rio Hondo
• Riviera
• Riviera Beach
• Roanoke
• Robert Lee
• Rockdale
• Rockport
• Rocksprings
• Rockwall
• Roma
• Rosenberg
• Rotan
• Round Roc
• Round Top
• Rowlett
• Royse City
• Ruidosa
• Rule
• Sabinal
• Saginaw
• Saint Jo
• Salado
• San Angelo
• San Benito
• San Juan
• San Leon
• Sandia
• Santa Anna
• Sargent
• Seabrook
• Seadrift
• Seagoville
• Sealy
• Seguin
• Shamrock
• Sheffield
• Sherman
• Sinton
• Snyder
• Sonora
• South Houston
• South Padre Island
• Spearman
• Spring
• Springtown
• Spur
• Stafford
• Stamford
• Stephenville
• Sugar Lan
• Sulphur Springs
• Surfside Beach
• Sweetwater
• Synder
• Taft
• Taylor
• Templ
• Terlingua
• Terrell
• Texas City
• The Colony
• Three Rivers
• Throckmorton
• Tivoli
• Tomball
• Tuleta
• Tyler
• Uvalde
• Van
• Van Alstyne
• Vernon
• Victoria
• Waco
• Waxahachie
• Webster
• Wellington
• Weslaco
• West Columbia
• West Tawakoni
• Westlake
• Wharton
• White Settlement
• Whitewright
• Whitney
• Wichita Falls
• Wills Point
• Wimberley
• Winters
• Wolfe City
• Woodway
• Yantis
• Yorktown
• Zapata
• Zavalla

Gatby Energy Choice, Empowering You

What about Gatby? It's not just about understanding your energy use; it's about taking control of it. Picture a marketplace where you decide on plans that are truly fixed and transparent. Gatby turns choosing an electricity provider into a personalized, straightforward experience.

Deregulation in Texas: A Quick Look Back

Let's briefly review how the electricity industry used to be to understand how we got here. Existing for well over a century, the industry had minimal oversight. In 1935, the Public Utility Holding Company Act provided some government oversight while allowing the industry to remain monopolized for decades. Then, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 empowered states to create competitive energy markets.

Fast forward—or bounce back, rather—to 1999. Senate Bill 7 was signed into law in Texas, laying the groundwork for a deregulated energy market. Old monopolies crumbled, and on January 1, 2002, retail electricity sales in Texas opened to competition. Now, over 20 years later, the Texas market stands out. Residents in over 400 cities across the state can choose from hundreds of retail electricity providers offering fixed rates, variable rates, incentives, and even renewable electricity from Texas-generated wind and solar energy.

Impact of Deregulation: Keeping It Simple

Deregulation isn't just about lower prices; it sparks innovation. Lower electricity rates mean consumers can switch providers if dissatisfied. More importantly, it fuels the rise of renewable energy, with Texas leading in wind power production.

Deregulation also reshaped the electricity industry. No longer does one company handle everything. Responsibilities are now split among retail electric providers, utility companies, and power-generation facilities. This diversification fosters innovation, competition, and a focus on renewable energy.

Key Players in Texas Energy

In this dynamic setup, key players like the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), utilities, and electric cooperatives work together to keep electricity flowing seamlessly.

Cities Still Regulated: A Different Energy Landscape

While much of the state enjoys the freedom of choice, some areas still operate under regulation. Cities like Austin, Brownsville, Bryan, Denton, and San Antonio remain regulated, offering a different energy landscape.

Choose Your Power Wisely: Gatby Awaits

If you're among the 85% of Texans enjoying the power to choose, why not go for the best? Meet Gatby—an embodiment of electricity done right. Competitive pricing, straightforward plans, and a customer service experience as bright as a Texas sunrise. Ready to explore options in your area? Enter your service address, compare rates, and embark on a journey where the power of choice meets a well-lit, energy-conscious future. Power up with Gatby today!