Does renewable electricity cost more in Texas?

What our plan data shows

As of October 14, 2026, in Houston ZIP 77002 at 1,000 kWh a month, among plans with no bill credit (rebate):

That is a gap of 0.10¢ per kWh, or about $1.00 a month at that usage. "All-in" means energy, delivery and fees together.

This is a snapshot of the lowest listed price in each group. Prices change often, and your own usage and utility area change the result. Use it as a starting point, not a promise.

Why the gap is often small

Two things drive it.

What a renewable plan adds. Most Texas renewable plans are backed by renewable energy certificates (RECs). A REC covers 1 MWh, which is 1,000 kWh. So the certificate cost per kWh is the REC price per MWh divided by 1,000. Even a few dollars per MWh works out to a fraction of a cent per kWh before any provider markup.

What stays the same. The energy you receive comes from the same ERCOT grid on any plan. Delivery charges from your utility are the same too. Those charges do not change with renewable content.

Texas also has a lot of wind and solar. In 2025, ERCOT data shows wind at 23.6% and solar at 13.9% of generation, together more than a third. ERCOT's REC program report for 2025 tracked about 190.9 million MWh of renewable generation, and it lists millions of RECs that expired unused. When certificates are plentiful, a retailer has little reason to pay a lot for them. That is an inference from supply, not a price quote.

When the gap is bigger

A renewable plan can cost noticeably more when:

• The provider sells it as a premium product with a higher base energy rate.
• The plan has a monthly base charge or a bill credit (rebate) that only applies at a different usage level.
• The renewable plan has a shorter or longer term than the plan you compare it with.
• The certificates are from a narrower source, such as a specific new Texas project, and the provider passes that cost on.
• The plan is variable rate rather than fixed.

The reverse also happens. A renewable plan can come in below a low-renewable plan if it has a promotional rate or lower fees. Price depends on how the provider set that plan, not only on its renewable content.

How to compare fairly

1. Pick the same usage level for both. Use 1,000 kWh unless your bills say otherwise. If your usage swings by season, check 500 and 2,000 kWh too.
2. Compare the all-in price, not only the energy rate. Fees and rebates change the total.
3. Match the contract term and rate type.
4. Check for rebates that apply only at certain usage levels.
5. Read the renewable line on the EFL. A low price does not tell you the renewable content.