Best for no-deposit needs

No-Deposit and Prepaid Electricity Plans in Texas

Most Texas electricity providers ask for a deposit if your credit doesn't meet their standards. A prepaid plan lets you skip it by paying for electricity before you use it. That helps when cash is tight or your credit is still building, but prepaid plans usually cost more. If your credit qualifies, a regular fixed-rate plan with no deposit is often the better deal.

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The basics

Ways To Skip a Deposit

A deposit protects the provider against unpaid bills. Whether you're asked for one depends on your credit and payment history, not on the plan's rate, so there's more than one way to avoid it.

  • Pass the credit check

    Most providers run a credit check when you sign up. If your credit meets their standard, you can start a regular plan with no deposit.

  • Show a good payment history

    A letter from your current or past electricity provider showing on-time payments can satisfy some providers instead of a deposit.

  • Choose a prepaid plan

    You pay before you use electricity, so there's nothing to secure. Prepaid plans almost never need a deposit or a credit check.

  • Qualify for a waiver

    Texas rules require every provider to waive the deposit if you're 65 or older and current on your electric bills, or a victim of family violence with a certification letter. Some providers must also waive it if you qualify as medically indigent.

Check before you sign up

Most providers tell you whether you'll need a deposit before you finish signing up. They use a soft credit check, which doesn't affect your credit score. A score above about 650 usually avoids a deposit, but each provider sets its own standard.

Pay as you go

How Prepaid Electricity Works

With a prepaid plan, you add money to your account and the provider deducts your usage from the balance, usually every day. There's no monthly bill to pay after the fact.

  1. 1

    Sign up and add funds

    Most prepaid plans ask for an opening balance before service starts.

  2. 2

    Usage comes out of the balance

    Your smart meter reports usage, and the provider subtracts the cost.

  3. 3

    Get low-balance alerts

    Providers send a text or email as your balance gets low.

  4. 4

    Top up to stay connected

    If the balance runs out, service can be disconnected until you add money.

Texas summer bills are often much higher than spring bills, so a balance that lasts weeks in April can run down in days in August.

Today's prices

Today's Prepaid Electricity Plans

The lowest prepaid plans in the Houston area today. Few providers offer prepaid plans, so the list is short.

  • Pronto Power

    Power To Choose · 1 months · View EFL

    500 kWh17.6¢/kWh
    1,000 kWh15.9¢/kWh
    2,000 kWh15.1¢/kWh

  • Pronto Power

    Pronto Fall 2026 · 3 months · View EFL

    500 kWh18.5¢/kWh
    1,000 kWh16.5¢/kWh
    2,000 kWh15.7¢/kWh

  • Payless Power

    PTC 6 Month - Prepaid · 6 months · View EFL

    500 kWh17.4¢/kWh
    1,000 kWh16.9¢/kWh
    2,000 kWh16.7¢/kWh

  • Payless Power

    PTC 12 Month - Prepaid · 12 months · View EFL

    500 kWh17.8¢/kWh
    1,000 kWh17.3¢/kWh
    2,000 kWh17.1¢/kWh

  • Pronto Power

    Pronto Saver One · 1 months · View EFL

    500 kWh19.9¢/kWh
    1,000 kWh18.7¢/kWh
    2,000 kWh18.1¢/kWh

CenterPoint (Houston) area, ZIP 77002. Lowest-priced prepaid plans at 1,000 kWh, average price with delivery charges included. Updated November 13, 2026. Grades are from our provider reviews. Check the opening balance and any fees on each plan's EFL.

Today's market

At 1,000 kWh, the lowest prepaid plan costs 15.9¢ per kWh, compared with 11.7¢ for the lowest simple fixed-rate plan. If your credit qualifies, skipping prepaid can save money every month.

Your situation

Who No-Deposit Plans Work For

Prepaid is a useful tool for the right situation. It isn't the cheapest way to buy electricity, so it's worth knowing when a regular plan is within reach.

Prepaid can make sense if

  • A provider asked you for a deposit you can't pay now
  • Your credit is limited or still being rebuilt
  • You're moving soon and need power right away
  • You like tracking your usage day by day

A regular plan may be better if

  • Your credit qualifies for no deposit
  • You can pay a deposit and want a lower rate
  • You'd rather not watch a balance all summer
  • A missed top-up would be a real problem at home

If you qualify, a simple fixed-rate plan is the right choice for most Texas homes.

Before you enroll

How To Check a Prepaid Plan

  • Compare the price at your usage

    Look at the price at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh on the Electricity Facts Label, not only the advertised rate.

  • Check the opening balance

    Find out how much you need to add before service starts and the smallest top-up allowed.

  • Look for extra fees

    Some prepaid plans charge for payments, reconnection or a daily account fee. The EFL and terms of service list them.

  • Know the disconnect rules

    Check how and when low-balance alerts arrive and how fast service comes back after you top up.

We can help you choose

Tell us your situation and share a recent bill if you have one. We'll tell you whether a no-deposit regular plan is likely within reach, or which prepaid plan fits best.
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Questions

No-Deposit and Prepaid Electricity FAQ

Keep exploring

Other Electricity Plan Types

See how no-deposit plans compare with the other plan types on the Texas Electricity Plans page, or read our guide to choosing an electricity plan.

Personalized electricity guidance

Find the Right Plan Without the Guesswork

Tell us your situation and we'll find out whether you can skip the deposit on a regular plan, or which prepaid plan fits best.

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