The steps
- Check that you can switch. Your state needs retail choice, and your utility must be part of it. See the list of states.
- Gather your information. Your address, your account number and, in Texas, your ESI ID, and twelve months of usage from your bills.
- Find your current price. Your utility default or your current plan price is what any offer has to beat.
- Compare offers. Use your state's official comparison site where there is one, and compare the total cost over a year.
- Read the contract. The term, the fees, the early termination fee, the renewal and the cancellation window.
- Sign up with the supplier you chose. Keep the confirmation.
- Watch the switch date and the first bill. Check that the price and the charges match what you agreed.
What to read in the contract
| Term | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Price type | Fixed or variable, and what can change the price. |
| Term | How long, and when it ends. |
| Fees | Monthly base charges, minimum usage fees and payment fees. |
| Early termination | The fee for leaving early and when it does not apply. |
| Renewal | What the price becomes when the term ends, and the notice dates. |
| Cancellation window | How long you have to cancel after signing. |
What Texas rules say about switching
A Texas provider must give you the Electricity Facts Label, the Terms of Service and a document called Your Rights as a Customer. For a switch, you can rescind without a fee or penalty within at least three federal business days after you receive the Terms of Service, and the terms must state this in a clear separate paragraph or box. Fixed rate plans must send written expiration notices before the term ends.
Source: 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 25.475, checked October 9, 2026. Other states have their own cancellation rules, so ask your supplier and your regulator.
Switching guides for each state
Cancellation windows, official comparison sites and supplier rules differ by state. These guides give the steps for your state, the rules we checked on the regulator's own pages and the points you still need to confirm before you sign.
- How to switch in Connecticut
- How to switch in Delaware
- How to switch in the District of Columbia
- How to switch in Illinois
- How to switch in Maine
- How to switch in Maryland
- How to switch in Massachusetts
- How to switch in Michigan
- How to switch in New Hampshire
- How to switch in New Jersey
- How to switch in New York
- How to switch in Ohio
- How to switch in Pennsylvania
- How to switch in Rhode Island
- Texas electricity plans, with its own set of topic pages
What happens to your power and your bill
Your power does not shut off during a switch. The supplier tells you the date the change takes effect. You may get a final bill from the old supplier and a first bill from the new one, and in some states the delivery utility still sends one combined bill. If something looks wrong, call the new supplier first and then your regulator.
Switched without asking?
Moving and setting up service
A move is a natural time to choose a supplier, because you are setting up service anyway. Ask the supplier whether your old contract ends when you move and whether any early termination fee applies. Some rules waive the fee for a move, and Texas rules do, so check your state. Give your old supplier your forwarding address so the final bill reaches you.
At a new address, you will need the address and, in Texas, the meter's ESI ID. Landlords and property managers can often supply it. See where to find your ESI ID.
If something goes wrong
- Call the supplier and ask for the problem to be fixed in writing. Note the date, the name and what was said.
- If it is not settled, contact your delivery utility if it involves the meter or the service.
- File a complaint with your state regulator. Each state page has the link.
- Keep every document: the contract, the confirmation and each bill.
What to expect after you sign
The supplier sends a confirmation, and the new price starts on a date the supplier gives you, which is often the next meter reading. In the days between, nothing changes in your home. Watch for the welcome packet, which includes the contract documents, and for your first bill. Keep both.
Common mistakes
- Comparing against last year's bill instead of the current default price.
- Judging an offer on the starting rate and ignoring what it becomes later.
- Skipping the fee list and the early termination fee.
- Missing the end of a fixed term and sliding onto a default plan.
- Giving an account number to a caller or a visitor before reading anything.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch my electricity provider?
Check that your state allows choice, compare offers against your current default price, read the contract, sign up with the supplier you choose and check your first bill. Your power stays on throughout.
Will my power be cut off when I switch?
No. Your delivery utility keeps the power on, and the switch changes only who sells you the energy.
Is there a fee to switch electricity providers?
A new supplier may charge no switching fee, but your current plan may have an early termination fee. Check both contracts.
Can I cancel after I sign up?
It depends on the state. Texas rules give at least three federal business days after you receive the Terms of Service. Ask your supplier about your window.