Side by side (TX, EIA-861)
| Metric | Southwestern Public Service Co | Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 13.35 | 12.65 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 14.73 | 14.14 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,442 | $1,366 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 222,146 | 118,075 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Co-op |
| Counties served in TX | 45 | 16 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Southwestern Public Service Co · Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc · Texas overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Foard · Wilbarger counties (TX, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Southwestern Public Service Co and Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc do not compete for the same meters. Texas does have retail supply choice: customers of either utility may buy the supply portion from a licensed third-party supplier, or stay on the utility's default supply rate. An offer only saves money if it beats your utility's price to compare (printed on the bill); compare offers at powertochoose.org. The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Southwestern Public Service Co cheaper than Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc?
- No — in 2024 Southwestern Public Service Co customers averaged 13.35 cents/kWh versus 12.65 for Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (EIA-861). Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc was cheaper by 0.70 cents, about $76 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Southwestern Public Service Co to Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Texas does allow supply choice: either utility's customers can shop the supply portion at powertochoose.org if an offer beats the utility's price to compare.
- Why is Southwestern Public Service Co more expensive than Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Southwestern Public Service and Tri-County Electric Coop territory all feed the 0.70-cent gap.