Direct Energy Electricity Rates and Plans (August 2026)
Direct Energy rates start at 14.5¢/kWh at 1,000 kWh, and their plans average 16.69¢ — 6% above the Texas market average of 15.75¢. It offers 31 plans across 12–24 months, in 6 delivery areas.
Last Updated: August 14, 2026
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Direct Energy in August 2026
Lowest rate
14.5¢/kWh
Live Brighter Lite 12
Average of their plans
16.69¢/kWh
Market average 15.75¢
Plans available
31
12–24 months
Bill at 1,000 kWh
$145
Cheapest plan, all-in estimate
Direct Energy reviews and company overview
Direct Energy is one of North America's largest retail providers of electricity, natural gas and home and business energy-related services with a history of impressive growth. Direct Energy gives customers choice, simplicity, and innovation where energy, data, and technology meet. We empower our customers with simple solutions to track, understand, and control the electricity and natural gas they use. The North American headquarters are located in Houston, Texas, with regional offices across the U.S. and Canada. Direct Energy is proud to serve customers in Texas, select states in the Northeast, the District of Columbia and the Canadian province of Alberta.
- Founded in 1986
- One of the US largest retail electricity providers serving over 4 million customers.
- Offer energy-efficient products to help customers reduce consumption.
- 24/7 customer support.
- NRG Brand
- Founded
- 1986
- Plans available
- 31
- Contract terms
- 12–24 months
- Service areas
- 6 delivery areas
- Customer service
- 888-241-7065
Direct Energy's Electricity Rates
The 10 cheapest Direct Energy plans on the Gatby marketplace, last refreshed from the filed EFL on August 14, 2026. Rates at 1,000 kWh across its delivery areas; your rate moves with your utility's delivery charges.
Direct EnergyDirect Energy plans by rate at 1,000 kWh — last refreshed August 14, 2026
| Plan | Term | Rate @ 1,000 kWh | |
|---|---|---|---|
Live Brighter Lite 12 | 12 mo | 14.5¢/kWh | View plan |
Live Brighter Lite 12 | 12 mo | 14.5¢/kWh | View plan |
Apartment Basics 12 | 12 mo | 14.8¢/kWh | View plan |
Bright Secure 12 | 12 mo | 14.9¢/kWh | View plan |
Live Brighter Lite 24 | 24 mo | 14.9¢/kWh | View plan |
Live Brighter Lite 12 | 12 mo | 15.4¢/kWh | View plan |
Live Brighter Lite 24 | 24 mo | 15.5¢/kWh | View plan |
Apartment Basics 12 | 12 mo | 15.7¢/kWh | View plan |
Live Brighter Lite 24 | 24 mo | 15.8¢/kWh | View plan |
Bright Secure 12 | 12 mo | 15.8¢/kWh | View plan |
Showing the 10 cheapest of 31 Direct Energy plans open to new residential customers.
How to read these rates
The rate shown blends Direct Energy's energy charge with your utility's delivery charges at 1,000 kWh. Usage above or below that amount can change your effective rate, and some plans carry minimum-usage fees — check the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) for the 500 kWh and 2,000 kWh columns before you enroll.
How Direct Energy compares to other Texas providers
Direct Energy's cheapest plan against the cheapest plan from the providers most often compared with it. All rates at 1,000 kWh, same delivery area, same day.
Cheapest plan by provider — last refreshed August 14, 2026
| Provider | Cheapest Plan | Term | Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Brighter Lite 12 | 12 mo | 14.5¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | SimpleSaver 12 | 12 mo | 6.1¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Rhythm Max Saver 12 | 12 mo | 6.2¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Maxx Saver Value 12 | 12 mo | 6.3¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Frontier Saver Plus 12 | 12 mo | 6.3¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Gexa Eco Saver Plus 12 | 12 mo | 6.3¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Bill Credit Bundle 12 | 12 mo | 6.3¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Bill Bonus 12 | 12 mo | 6.3¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Flash Value 12 | 12 mo | 6.8¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Power Perks - 12 | 12 mo | 8.5¢/kWh | Browse plans |
 | Smart Choice - 12 | 12 mo | 8.5¢/kWh | Browse plans |
The cheapest headline rate is not always the cheapest bill
Weekly Average Electricity Rates
Direct Energy's average advertised rate at 1,000 kWh, sampled weekly for the last twelve weeks. Rates fell 5.9% over the period on the shorter term, from 17.9¢ to 16.9¢. Term length is usually the biggest lever on the rate you are offered.
12 months
17.93 ¢/kWh
24 months
17.02 ¢/kWh
View as a table
12 months
| Week of | Average rate |
|---|---|
| Apr 13 | 18.02¢/kWh |
| Apr 20 | 18.04¢/kWh |
| Apr 27 | 18.04¢/kWh |
| May 4 | 18.04¢/kWh |
| May 11 | 18.04¢/kWh |
| May 18 | 17.97¢/kWh |
| May 25 | 17.93¢/kWh |
| Jun 1 | 17.93¢/kWh |
| Jun 8 | 17.93¢/kWh |
| Jun 15 | 18.14¢/kWh |
| Jun 22 | 18.14¢/kWh |
| Jun 29 | 18.14¢/kWh |
| Jul 6 | 18.14¢/kWh |
| Jul 13 | 18.14¢/kWh |
| Jul 20 | 18.14¢/kWh |
| Jul 27 | 18.14¢/kWh |
| Aug 3 | 16.86¢/kWh |
| Aug 10 | 16.86¢/kWh |
24 months
| Week of | Average rate |
|---|---|
| Apr 13 | 16.96¢/kWh |
| Apr 20 | 16.98¢/kWh |
| Apr 27 | 16.98¢/kWh |
| May 4 | 16.98¢/kWh |
| May 11 | 16.98¢/kWh |
| May 18 | 16.98¢/kWh |
| May 25 | 16.98¢/kWh |
| Jun 1 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jun 8 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jun 15 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jun 22 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jun 29 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jul 6 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jul 13 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jul 20 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Jul 27 | 17.05¢/kWh |
| Aug 3 | 17.04¢/kWh |
| Aug 10 | 17.04¢/kWh |
What moves these numbers
Retail electricity rates track wholesale power and natural gas prices, so they often rise heading into summer and ease during the shoulder months. A rate change here does not affect an existing Direct Energy contract — a fixed-rate plan is locked for its term.
Areas that Direct Energy Serves
Below are some of the utility service areas and cities that Direct Energy serves:
AEP North Texas is a subsidiary of AEP Texas, a Texas based company serving around one million meters across 97,000 square miles of territory. It began operation as a Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) under AEP Texas in 1997, serving primarily West Texans.
AEP Central Texas is a subsidiary of AEP Texas, a Texas based company serving around one million meters across 97,000 square miles of territory. It began operation as a Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) under AEP in 1997, serving primarily South Texans.
Oncor is the largest Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) in Texas, founded in 1912 and headquartered in Dallas. It serves more than 3.5 million meters in North, Central, and West Texas, maintaining 143,000 miles of distribution lines in the state.
CenterPoint is the second largest Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) in Texas, initially founded as a part of HL&P in 1882 and starting operation as its own company in 2003. It is headquartered in downtown Houston, serving electricity to around 2.8 million customers in the Greater Houston area.
Texas New Mexico Power Company (TNMP) is a Texas based Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP), which provides electricity to 270,000+ homes. It began operations in 1935, and became a Texas-only business in 2008.
Lubbock Power and Light, or LPL is the third largest Transmission/Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) in Texas, founded in 1918 and headquartered in Lubbock. It serves more than 100,000 meters in Lubbock and the surrounding area.
Direct Energy Rates in Major Texas Cities
Each city page compares Direct Energy against every other provider serving that market, using that market's local delivery rates.
Direct Energy plan types and contract terms
Direct Energy sells 31 plans across 2 plan types. The type matters more than the headline rate — it decides whether your bill is predictable, and what happens when your contract ends.
Fixed-rate plans
Your per-kWh energy charge is locked for the whole contract term, so summer and winter price spikes don't reach your bill. The trade is an early termination fee if you leave before the term ends.
Best for
Households that want a predictable bill and expect to stay put for the full term.
Bill credit plans
You get a credit applied to your bill once monthly usage crosses a set threshold, effectively lowering your rate. Miss the threshold and the credit disappears, so the bill jumps.
Best for
Households with steady, higher usage who can reliably clear the credit threshold each month.
How to sign up for service with Direct Energy
About five minutes online, free through Gatby. You need your service address and, for some plans, a recent bill or account number.
Check availability
Enter your ZIP to confirm Direct Energy serves your delivery area and to see your address-specific rate.
Choose a plan
Match the term and usage tier to your household. Read the EFL's 500 and 2,000 kWh columns, not just the headline.
Enroll online
Name, address, start date — about five minutes. A deposit may apply based on a quick credit check.
Switch on your next meter read
Pick your start date at signup. Typically 1–7 business days, with no outage and no technician visit.
Switching mid-contract
If you are inside a fixed term with your current provider, check that early termination fee first. When the annual saving beats the fee, switching early still wins — our rate check does that arithmetic against your actual bill.
Moving into a new home
Moving is the cleanest time to switch: no contract to break, no fee. Start the enrollment 5–10 days before your move-in date so service is live when you arrive.
How we get paid, and why it does not change this page
Direct Energy pays Gatby a commission when a customer enrolls through us. The rate you see is the rate Direct Energy charges customers who sign up direct — we do not mark it up. Gatby is a PUCT-licensed broker (BR230236), independent of every provider listed. Licensing
Direct Energy | FAQs
The questions people actually ask us about Direct Energy.
Other Texas Electricity Providers
These are some of the providers most often compared with Direct Energy.