How Direct Energy Services compares with Texas's largest utilities
| Utility | 2024 ¢/kWh | Customers | Δ vs Direct Energy Services, ¢/kWh | $/yr difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedernales Electric Coop, Inc | 12.22 | 405,587 | -4.15 | -$449 |
| City of San Antonio | 12.43 | 865,914 | -3.94 | -$425 |
| Austin Energy | 12.58 | 507,291 | -3.79 | -$410 |
| Entergy Texas Inc. | 13.66 | 457,369 | -2.71 | -$292 |
| US Retailers, LLC | 14.61 | 412,301 | -1.77 | -$191 |
| Just Energy | 15.15 | 407,723 | -1.22 | -$132 |
| Direct Energy Services (this page) | 16.37 | 266,249 | — | — |
| Reliant Energy Retail Services | 17.38 | 1,548,250 | +1.01 | +$109 |
| TXU Energy Retail Co, LLC | 18.70 | 1,446,391 | +2.33 | +$252 |
Direct Energy Services files no county-level territory with EIA, so this table benchmarks against the state's largest utilities. Positive $/yr = that utility's customers pay more than Direct Energy Services customers at the same usage. Direct Energy Services is a competitive supplier, not a wires company — customers in choice areas can switch among providers, so these gaps are directly shoppable; municipal and co-op utilities in the table serve fixed territories (see below).
Rate trend and size
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average price, ¢/kWh | 14.63 | 16.37 | +11.9% |
| Residential customers | 281,047 | 266,249 | -5.3% |
Ownership: Retail Power Marketer. Statewide context: Texas electricity rates.
Supply vs delivery on a Direct Energy Services bill
Texas has residential electric supply choice: Direct Energy Services is itself a competitive supplier. Compare offers against the price to compare on the state's official shopping site: powertochoose.org.
Electric choice in ERCOT competitive TDU areas (~85% of load; munis/co-ops exempt; Power to Choose lists offers). No residential gas choice.
Service area
Direct Energy Services files no county-level service territory with EIA — typical for competitive retail providers, which sell supply across the delivery territories of the local wires companies.
Questions people ask
- Is Direct Energy Services more expensive than other Texas utilities?
- Direct Energy Services customers paid an average 16.37 cents/kWh in 2024 — 9% above the Texas volume-weighted average of 14.96 cents (EIA-861, bundled residential service).
- Can I switch away from Direct Energy Services?
- You cannot switch the wires company — distribution territory is fixed by address. Texas does allow supply choice, so you can buy the supply portion of the bill from a licensed competitor via powertochoose.org if its offer beats the price to compare.
- How many customers does Direct Energy Services have?
- 266,249 residential customers in Texas in 2024, per its EIA-861 federal filing. Ownership type: retail supplier.