FAQs for Texas

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• Refer-A-Friend

  • How many $25 bill credits can I receive?

    There are no limits – for every eligible referral that is successful, you get a $25 bill credit. It's that simple. The $25 bill credit will be applied specifically to the energy usage kWh portion of your bill and cannot be used to satisfy the payment of fees and/or service...

  • How do I know if I can refer my friends?

    To be able to participate in the Refer-A-Friend program, you must meet the following criteria:

    • Current on all bill payments
    • Enrolled in and using myAccount
    • Have a Refer-a-Friend code or link to provide to your...

    • How do I earn rewards with Refer-A-Friend?

      It's simple. All you need is your unique Refer-a-Friend code which can be found on your First Choice Power statement or within your Online Account Manager. Refer as many friends as you want. If your friend accepts your request and becomes a First Choice Power customer, you'll both get a $25 bill credit.

      You will receive your $25 bill credit after your referred friend registers for MyAccount and pays their first three First Choice Power bills in full and on time. At that time, your friend will receive their $25 bill credit as well.

      If you haven't set up your online account, sign in and get started referring today. It's easy – and...

    • What happens if the person I referred doesn't include my Referral Code when enrolling?

      Your friend has one business day to call First Choice Power and provide your referral...

    • How long will it take to receive my $25 bill credit?

      After the person you referred has been approved as a First Choice Power customer and pays their first three bills in full and on time, you will receive your $25 bill...

  • Power-To-Go® Prepaid Electricity

    • What is Power-To-Go®?

      Power-To-Go® with First Choice Power is a payment option that lets you buy electricity as you need it. There's no deposit and no long-term contract term, and the price is comparable to other plans in the market.

      You pay for your electricity upfront, and then receive daily account balances and usage updates via text message or e-mail. Payments can be made online, by phone, or at one of our authorized payment...

    • How do I avoid having my Power-to-Go service disconnected?

      If your account balance is equal to or less than zero, First Choice Power may request that the Utility interrupt your electricity service. You can avoid service interruptions by managing your account balance and adding funds to your account when it gets low. First Choice Power recommends that you have at least $20.00 in your account balance each day.

      As a First Choice Power Power-To-Go® customer, you will receive daily notifications regarding your usage, estimated number of days remaining, low balance warnings, and payment confirmations.

      If you are concerned about forgetting to monitor your account or being unable to make a payment before dropping below $0, you can enroll your credit card in Automatic Payments. With this program, you setup your account online to automatically deduct a payment from your credit card if your account falls below $25. You can choose from several payment amounts to replenish your account...

    • Am I eligible to sign up for First Choice Power's Power-to-Go?

      If you have a provisioned smart meter installed by your utility company at your service address within our service territory, you are eligible. First Choice Power Power-To-Go® is currently available in Oncor and CenterPoint service areas. In the future, First Choice Power will offer Power-To-Go® in other utility service territories.

      In addition, you must have wireless service with activated texting features or valid e-mail address that you check regularly to receive your daily account updates.

      We apologize, however, as First Choice Power Power-To-Go® is not available to customers designated "Critical Care" or Chronic Condition by their local utility, nor to customers who could become seriously ill or sustain a dangerous or life-threatening condition if a zero balance caused a service...

    • How much does Power-to-Go cost?

      Your price may vary day to day if there are changes to the delivery charges from your utility company or regulatory charges, or changes in law that impose new or modified fees that are out of our control. The Energy Charge and Daily Base Charge may change up to once a month at our discretion; however, each change during the month will not increase more than 30% from your previous period's price. Your actual price for electric service and your actual electricity usage will be shown on your daily Account Update. This will be used to calculate your daily usage...

    • What is the Daily Base Charge?

      First Choice Power Power-To-Go® is a variable price product with an Energy Charge and a Daily Base Charge. The Daily Base Charge contains First Choice Power's charges incurred from the TDU. This includes base metering charges, a smart meter pass-through charge and the base costs to operate systems to provide your account updates. This allows the per kWh price to be lower in a no-deposit, no long-term contract plan like First Choice Power...

  • PUC Lite-Up Texas Free Smart Thermostat Program

    • How can I register for the PUC Lite-Up Texas Free Smart Thermostat Program?

      To register for the PUC Lite-Up Texas Free Smart Thermostat Program, please call...

    • Could you describe the installation process for this free smart thermostat?

      First Choice Power will send a certified technician at a mutually agreed upon date and time to install and test the smart thermostat at no cost for each qualifying customer. Installations will begin January 1, 2015 and will continue until March 31, 2015 or when the program is fully...

    • Why is First Choice Power participating in the PUC Lite-Up Texas Free Smart Thermostat Program?

      The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has approved the expenditures necessary to make the PUC Lite-Up Texas Free Smart Thermostat program cost effective, so First Choice Power (FCP) can help our most vulnerable customers get access to today's technology at no cost to them. FCP will provide and install a Programmable Communicating Thermostat (PCT) at no cost to qualifying residential customers. There is no requirement to enter into a new contract or rate plan as a condition of receiving the thermostat.

      To learn more about this program and/or to register for it, please call...

    • What are the qualifications for the PUC Lite-Up Texas Free Smart Thermostat Program?

      Qualified customers must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the PUC Lite-Up Texas Free Smart Thermostat Program:

      • Must be a current First Choice Power customer as of 12/01/2014
      • Must be the homeowner or a tenant who is authorized to change thermostat
      • Must be enrolled in the Public Utility Commission of Texas' "Low Income Telephone and Electric Discount Program" (also known as the "LITE-Up Texas" Program) at the time the customer is authorized to receive an in-home device. To see if you qualify or to enroll, go to

      • What kind of smart thermostat will be installed?

        We are offering the Honeywell Meridian VisionPro as the free smart thermostat to be installed in your home. It comes with a five-year manufacturer's warranty on the...

    • First Choice Power Plans and Services

      • What is the Cancellation Fee or Early Termination Fee for my plan?

        Need to cancel? No problem. If you cancel your First Choice Power electricity service before your contract term expires, you may be assessed a cancellation or early termination fee. This fee is based upon the term length of your contract and your local utility company. Check out your Rate Plan Summary for more...

      • What kinds of plans are available from First Choice Power?

        You have the power! At First Choice Power, we have options that suit your lifestyle. Whether you're on a month to month budget or settled down for a while, we've got you covered. Our variable-rate plans come with no contract and you have the freedom to go one month at a time, with a rate that will vary from month to month. Our fixed-rate plans mean your rate is locked in for your term length and your rate won't change each month. What's best for you?

        The plans vary by market, so visit FirstChoicePower.com to see what will work best for...

      • I'm on a variable-rate plan. What will my rate be each month?

        Big freedom! With one of our month-to-month plans, you'll enjoy the convenience of a flexible rate with no contract or cancellation fee. Your price may fluctuate month to month based on market conditions. Not ok with this? You can switch to any of our other plans without paying a single fee....

    • Power Down Rewards

      • What is a Peak Event?

        Occasional storms, heat waves, and cold fronts as well as periodic power plant repairs and maintenance, have the potential to affect supply and demand for electricity. When demand is high and supply is short, power interruptions can sometimes be the result. A Peak Event is usually called in these situations in order to help conserve electricity. These events are based upon extreme weather forecasts, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) public market notices, and First Choice Power customer usage. A Peak Event is typically declared the night before the actual day of the event.

        Building enough power plants to satisfy every possible supply and demand scenario is one possibility, but the cost and environmental impact of that would be tremendous. Thus, demand response programs like our Power Down Rewards Program are designed to be both fiscally and environmentally responsible ways to respond to occasional and temporary high demand...

      • What is the Power Down Rewards Program?

        Texas customers can choose to enroll in the Power Down Rewards Program. If you choose to enroll, you can save 10% by reducing your energy usage during a Peak Event. The First Choice Power Power Down Rewards Program is designed to help limit the high demand for electricity during the hottest or coldest times of the year. This program allows you the opportunity to reduce your energy usage and save money. When you participate in the program, you are helping offset the demand for electricity during periods of high usage, which helps stabilize the electricity...

      • What are Peak Hours?

        Generally, when we speak of "peak hours," we are referring to the times of highest electricity use over the course of the day. Electricity usage fluctuates constantly due to weather conditions, commercial and industrial business hours and residential electricity usage.

        In general, Peak Events are declared when demand for electricity threatens to outpace supply, which typically can occur during hot summer days and cold winter mornings. Additionally, these days can be declared if generation facilities are closed for maintenance, transmission lines are damaged, or during periods when the price to purchase added electricity...

      • How do I participate in a peak event?

        Participating is voluntary and simple - you simply need to reduce your energy usage when a Peak Event is called on a summer day. . If you reduce your usage, you are helping help offset the demand for electricity during periods of peak usage.

        To determine your participation in reducing your energy usage during a "Peak Event," First Choice Power will evaluate the usage you generated on the day of the event and compare it to your historical usage at your service address. If we determine that you did reduce your usage by the required threshold on the day of the event, you will be given a 10% discount on a future...

      • Am I Eligible for Power Down Rewards?

        You're eligible to participate in the Power Down Rewards program if you live in Texas and have a smart meter. You are eligible if you are a current First Choice Power customer.

        You can enroll by logging into your Online Account Manager and clicking on the "Power Down Rewards Program" link