Frequently Asked Questions

1.        Why should I consider participating in the Power for Schools program?

The Power for Schools program is a way to get the best available electricity rates from a selection of Retail Electric Providers (REPs) and raise money for your favorite school at no additional cost to you or the school of your choice.

2.        How can I get information about the participating Retail Electric Providers’ rates and terms and conditions?

Links to the REPs are available at www.powerforschools.org  Click on the link to find your school’s ID code. When you select your school, you will see a list of providers on the right side of the page. A click on the company name or logo will take you to the provider’s Web site which contains information about rates and terms and conditions.

3.        If I like the rates, can I enroll right away?

Before you enroll, you should check the terms and conditions of your present electric plan. Some companies have cancellation fees if you cancel before the end of your contract term. If there is a cancellation fee, you should determine whether the rate and terms and conditions you will receive from Power for Schools providers are sufficient to offset the fee. If they are not, you should wait until your present contract term expires before you sign up for Power for Schools.

4.        Will I have to pay deposits if I change providers?

Deposits required by retail electric utility companies vary. When a deposit is required, the electric utility shall provide the applicant or customer written information which contains relevant information about deposits. To find information about the deposit requirement of the retail electric providers participating in the Power for Schools program, visit the companies’ Web sites.

5.        How do I know that companies participating in Power for Schools will be reliable electric providers? 

The Retail Electric Providers selected for participation in this program all participated in a review and selection process designed to make sure that only dependable companies were added to the program.  All of the companies have demonstrated that they have the capability of continuing their operations and meeting the needs of their customers in trying economic times.  While there is no guarantee that even the biggest REPs will be around forever or that their customer ratings will never slip, we believe that the participating providers will deliver good service to school supporters

6.        Is it possible to enroll over the telephone?

Yes. Each participating electric provider has an enrollment telephone number listed on its Website which you can use for enrolling. However, if you enroll by telephone, do not forget to use the ID code for your selected school. If you do not use the school’s ID code when enrolling, your school will not receive funds for your participation.  

7.        Can I change the school I have designated for my contribution?

You can change the designated school when your current contract with the Power for Schools provider expires. At that time you should select your new school and reenroll with your selected provider using the ID number of the new school.  If you are on a month to month contract you may change the designation by selecting the school and reenrolling with your selected provider.

Should I switch my electric provider?  

Before switching electric providers, you should ask yourself, “Is it to my advantage to switch?” Below is information that can help you make that decision.

1.   Will my power be reliable if I switch?

       Each part of the state has a utility company that maintains the transmission and distribution of electricity to homes and businesses along poles and wires. The companies, called Transmission and Distribution Service Providers (TDSP) or local wires companies, are regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC).  In Houston, the TDSP is Center Point, Oncor and TNMP maintain the Dallas area. The companies participating in Power for Schools program are Retail Electric Providers (REP). REPs sell, bill, and provide customer service for your electricity. REPs must be certified to do business by the PUC. No matter from which REP you choose to buy your electricity, the same TDSP will continue to distribute electric power to your home or business, so you will experience no change in how your electricity is delivered.

2.   Will I save money if I switch?

There are a few things to consider when determining whether you can save money by switching to a Power for Schools provider and how much money you will save.

A.      Current Rates:  Compare your current per kilowatt hour (kWh) rate (usually shown on the back of the first page of your electric bill) with the rate offered by a Power for Schools electric provider to determine approximately how much you would save per month. 

Example:  If your current rate is $0.180000/kWh and you use 1000 kWh in a month, your energy cost is $180.  If a Power for Schools provider offers a rate of $0.120000/kWh, your energy cost would be $120 for 1000kWh, so you would save $60 for a month of electricity.   

B.     Cancellation Fees:  Call the customer service number of your current electric provider to find out when your current contract expires and if there is an early cancellation fee if you cancel your contract before the term has expired. In many cases, you will not have a cancellation fee; but if you do, the fee may be a flat rate, such as $100, or it may be a per month fee, such as $25 for each month remaining in the contract. Depending on the fee, you may want to wait until your current contract expires before switching providers.  In some cases, however, the savings you can obtain by switching may be greater than your cancellation fee.

Example:  In the example above, if you switched to a Power for School provider, you would be saving $60 on 1000kWh monthly usage. If your current provider’s cancellation policy states the fee for early cancellation is $25 for each remaining month in your contract and your have 6 months remaining in your contract, your cancellation fee will be $150. However, if you switch providers and your monthly usage stays at 1000 kWh per month, you will save $60 per month, so you end up saving $360 (6 months X $60 = $360).  Your net savings with a new provider would be $210 ($360 saved - $150 cancellation fee = $210 saved).

If you determine that there is no economic advantage to early cancellation, you should wait until your current contract expires before you switch providers. We want you to be able to help your school, but not at a cost to you.

C.     Deposits:  Depending on your history of paying your electric bills on time, a new company may charge a deposit. The amount of the deposit may vary. A provider cannot require you to pay a deposit if you have not had any late payments for the past 12 months and if you provide a payment statement from your current provider showing you paid on time. You can request a payment statement from your current provider. It usually takes 2-3 days after your request to receive the payment statement.

3.       I live in an apartment. Do I have to stay with the electricity provider I was assigned when I moved in?

You have the right to choose your electric provider if you live in an apartment. You are not required to stay with the electric provider assigned to you when you moved in. You are probably on a month-to-month contract which means that you can change providers without a cancellation fee; however, it is important that you verify if there is a cancellation fee anytime you consider changing providers. Next, compare your current rate and the terms and conditions of your contract with those of a Power For Schools provider to determine if you can save money with Power for Schools.

4.      What is the difference between a fixed rate and a variable rate?

With a fixed rate, you pay the same price per kWh for the term of your contract no matter how much utility prices rise or fall.  A variable rate changes from month to month or seasonally to match the current rise or fall of energy costs.  During high usage periods such as summer and winter, prices usually increase, sometimes significantly (spike).

Example:  For usage of 1000 kWh per month, an upward change of .03¢ per kWh will add $30 to your monthly electric bill.

New 2009 rules approved by the Texas Public Utility Commissions

REPs must give customers a minimum 14-day notice before their contracts expire. The notice may be part of the monthly bill or sent separately. If the notice is sent separately, the envelope must have the phrase “Contract Expiration Notice” on the outside.

Higher financial standards and more years of electric business management experience are now required of REPs

Standardization of communication related to rates and terms to help customers make better comparisons.