Side by side (TX, EIA-861)
| Metric | Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc | South Plains Electric Coop Inc |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.65 | 10.35 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 14.14 | 11.58 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,366 | $1,118 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 118,075 | 56,173 |
| Ownership | Co-op | Co-op |
| Counties served in TX | 16 | 18 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc · South Plains Electric Coop Inc · Texas overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Foard · King · Stonewall 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; Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc and South Plains 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 Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc cheaper than South Plains Electric Coop Inc?
- No — in 2024 Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc customers averaged 12.65 cents/kWh versus 10.35 for South Plains Electric Coop Inc (EIA-861). South Plains Electric Coop Inc was cheaper by 2.30 cents, about $249 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc to South Plains 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 Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc more expensive than South Plains 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 Tri-County Electric Coop and South Plains Electric Coop territory all feed the 2.30-cent gap.