Traditional Mexican taquitos and dipping sauce at a McAllen restaurant, a major deregulated electricity market in the AEP Texas Central TDU territory

Best Electricity Rates in Mcallen

Edited by Rafael Morales
Last updated:

To find the best electricity rates in Mcallen, we compare plans from provider websites, Power to Choose, and select sponsor offers. We only show True Fixed plans—no gimmicks, no free night traps, and no hidden fees.

For a list of the best Free Nights, Free Weekends, and Prepaid plans in Mcallen, follow these links: Best Free Nights plans, Best Free Weekends plans, and No-credit-check prepaid plans.

Our Recommendation

Our Recommendation
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash

Cheapest Electricity Rates in Mcallen

True Fixed Rate plans only, enter zipcode for full list and more details

Check details in your area
PTC
Jun 09
12 months
500 KWH
12.6¢
1000 KWH
12.3¢
2000 KWH
12.1¢

Top concerns

⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ Risk of account being transferred

⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ Need to call for Autopay setup

⚠️ ⚠️ One of the highest cancellation fees

⚠️ ⚠️ High Complain Ratio. 1 on PUCT score

2nd
Budget Power
Review Check Availability
No Gimmicks 12 - AEP Texas Central
PTC
Jun 09
12 months
500 KWH
12.8¢
1000 KWH
12.4¢
2000 KWH
12.3¢

Top concerns

⚠️⚠️⚠️ Risk of account being transferred

⚠️⚠️⚠️ High Complain Ratio. 1 on PUCT score

⚠️⚠️ Poor Customer Service on Google Reviews

3rd
Budget Power
Review Check Availability
No Gimmicks Green 12
100% Renewable
PTC
Jun 09
12 months
500 KWH
12.9¢
1000 KWH
12.5¢
2000 KWH
12.4¢

Top concerns

⚠️⚠️⚠️ Risk of account being transferred

⚠️⚠️⚠️ High Complain Ratio. 1 on PUCT score

⚠️⚠️ Poor Customer Service on Google Reviews

4th
Companion Energy
Review Check Availability
Companion + Perks 12
PTC
Jun 09
12 months
500 KWH
12.8¢
1000 KWH
12.5¢
2000 KWH
12.3¢

Top concerns

⚠️ High Complain Ratio. 2 on PUCT score

5th
Southern Federal
Review Check Availability
SoFed Better Rate - 12
Company website
Jun 09
12 months
500 KWH
13.4¢
1000 KWH
12.5¢
2000 KWH
12.1¢
6th
AE Texas
Review Check Availability
FIXED PRICE - SMARTER SECURE
PTC
Jun 09
14 months
500 KWH
13.0¢
1000 KWH
12.6¢
2000 KWH
12.5¢

Top concerns

⚠️ Limited public review history: no active Google reviews profile

7th
Ranchero Power
Review Check Availability
Ranchero Smart & Fixed - 12
Company website
Jun 09
12 months
500 KWH
13.5¢
1000 KWH
12.6¢
2000 KWH
12.2¢
PTC
Jun 09
13 months
500 KWH
13.0¢
1000 KWH
12.7¢
2000 KWH
12.5¢

Top concerns

⚠️⚠️⚠️ High Complain Ratio. 1 on PUCT score

⚠️ High cancellation fees

Exclusive Offer
Jun 02
14 months
500 KWH
13.1¢
1000 KWH
12.7¢
2000 KWH
12.6¢

Top concerns

⚠️ Limited public review history: no active Google reviews profile

Exclusive Offer
Jun 02
12 months
500 KWH
13.1¢
1000 KWH
12.7¢
2000 KWH
12.6¢

Top concerns

⚠️ Limited public review history: no active Google reviews profile

Showing the best available 500 / 1000 / 2000 kWh prices for the selected term range. Sources include PowerToChoose (“PTC”) and direct provider sites. We are not affiliated with PowerToChoose.org or the Public Utility Commission of Texas; these offers are shown for informational purposes only.

TDU Contact and Outage Information for McAllen

The main ZIP codes for McAllen are 78501, 78503, and 78504. McAllen is served by AEP Texas Central, which is the utility company responsible for delivering electricity to your home and the company you should contact if there is an outage in your area. If you need to report an outage, contact AEP Texas.

Utility Service Contacts

AEP Texas Central

Visit TDU Website Open Outage Map

Support Phone

866-223-8508

Mcallen Housing & Heating Facts

Local housing and heating composition based on city profile inputs.

Median Year Built

1995

McAllen is warmer than North Texas during the winter, but winter electric bills can still be high because most homes use electricity for heating. Summer A/C is still a major driver of your bill, and winter usage can also stay elevated. The table below shows how your estimated bill can change based on your housing type and heating setup.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. "Selected Housing Characteristics." American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles, Table DP04.

Heating Type Share

Electricity 91.6%
Gas 6.4%
Other 2.0%

Housing Mix Share

House 68.1%
Apartment 16.1%
Other 15.8%

Bill Estimator in Mcallen Using Competitive Market Rates

Pick housing type, heating type, and plan type to estimate seasonal monthly bills.

Bill Estimator for Apartments

Atlantex Power

Luminous

Atlantex Power · 14 mo

Check Availability
Season Usage Estimated Bill
Dec - Feb -- --
Mar - May -- --
Jun - Aug -- --
Sep - Nov -- --

Bill Estimator for Houses

Atlantex Power

Luminous

Atlantex Power · 14 mo

Check Availability
Season Usage Estimated Bill
Dec - Feb -- --
Mar - May -- --
Jun - Aug -- --
Sep - Nov -- --

Top 5 Reviewed Electricity Companies in Mcallen

Highest review scores among True Fixed providers currently listed for Mcallen.

Rank #1 Score 4.46/5
Texans Choice Power

Texans Choice Power

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

From 13.2¢ @ 1000 kWh

3 eligible plans

Read Full Review
Rank #2 Score 4.37/5
Abundance Energy

Abundance Energy

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

From 12.8¢ @ 1000 kWh

6 eligible plans

Read Full Review
Rank #3 Score 4.33/5
Constellation

Constellation

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

From 12.8¢ @ 1000 kWh

2 eligible plans

Read Full Review
Rank #4 Score 4.31/5
Spark Energy

Spark Energy

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

From 13.4¢ @ 1000 kWh

2 eligible plans

Read Full Review
Rank #5 Score 4.3/5
Branch Energy

Branch Energy

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

From 13.9¢ @ 1000 kWh

1 eligible plans

Read Full Review

Do I Need to Pay a Deposit to Enroll in an Electricity Plan in McAllen?

It depends. There are two main ways account setup is handled in the Texas electricity market:

Post-paid Plans (Credit-Based): Most of the plans listed on this page are post-paid plans. These are traditional “use now, pay later” contracts.
  • Credit Check: The provider will usually perform a soft credit check, which does not affect your credit score. 
  • Deposit Requirements: If you have decent to excellent credit, you likely will not be required to pay a deposit. However, if you have poor credit history, you may need to pay a deposit, typically between $150 and $400. 
  • Refunds: These deposits are usually refundable after a year of on-time payments or when you close your account.

Prepaid Plans (No Deposit / No Credit Check): If you want to avoid both a credit check and a deposit, prepaid plans are usually your best option.
  • How It Works: These plans do not require a deposit or a credit check. We also have a specific section on this website dedicated to prepaid electricity. 
  • The Cost: Rates for prepaid plans are usually slightly higher than post-paid plans, but the difference is often small for low-usage customers, such as those living in small apartments. 
  • Recommended Provider: Payless Power is one of the top companies offering reliable prepaid electricity plans in Texas.

Pro Tip: Deposit Waivers: In Texas, you can often get your deposit waived on a post-paid plan if you are 65 or older, a victim of family violence, or if you can provide a Letter of Credit from your previous utility company showing 12 months of on-time payments.

How Switching Electricity Plans Works in McAllen: The 14-Day Rule

This is one of the most misunderstood parts of shopping for electricity in McAllen and across Texas. Many people think they have to wait until the last day of their contract to switch, but that is not true. If you wait too long, you could end up rolling onto a high month-to-month rate.

In Texas, you can switch to a new electricity provider up to 14 days before your current contract ends without paying an early termination fee. That means you do not have to wait until the exact expiration date. As long as your new plan starts within that 14-day window, your current provider cannot charge you a penalty for leaving early.

Even though the penalty-free window is 14 days, you can usually shop much earlier than that. Many providers let you lock in a new rate 30 to 60 days in advance, and sometimes even earlier. When you enroll, you can usually choose a future start date so the new plan begins when your current contract ends.

In most cases, the switch is handled for you. When you sign up with a new provider, they coordinate the change through the Texas grid system, so you do not have to cancel your old service separately under the normal switching process.

There is no interruption in power, and there should not be any overlap in service. Your old provider bills you through the switch date, and the new provider takes over after that. Most switches happen on the next meter read date, but in many cases you can also request a specific switch date to line up with your contract end date.

Frequently Asked Questions about Electricity Rates in Mcallen

What is the best 12-month True Fixed rate in Mcallen right now?

The Cheapest 12-month True Fixed plan right now in Mcallen is True Power — True Value 12, with a rate of 12.3¢/kWh at 1000 kWh.

What is the average electricity bill in Mcallen for a small apartment (electric heating)?

Using our recommended 12-month style plan Luminous from Atlantex Power, the estimated monthly bill in Mcallen for a small apartment with electric heating is $83.95.

What is the average electricity bill in Mcallen for a large house (electric heating)?

Using our recommended 12-month style plan Luminous from Atlantex Power, the estimated monthly bill in Mcallen for a large house with electric heating is $198.81.

What is the average electricity bill in Mcallen for a medium house (gas heating)?

Using our recommended 12-month style plan Luminous from Atlantex Power, the estimated monthly bill in Mcallen for a medium house with gas heating is $116.55.

How do I know if a plan I choose is a True Fixed plan in Mcallen?

If you find a plan that looks good on another provider’s website, in an online ad, or even on Power to Choose, you can still use Clear Energy Facts to double-check it.

First, download or open the plan’s Electricity Facts Label (EFL). Then compare it using our EFL Inspector: EFL Inspector .

This tool helps you tell whether a plan is truly fixed, a bill-credit plan, a free nights/weekends offer, or something else.

Which TDU serves Mcallen?

The primary TDU serving Mcallen is AEP Texas Central. This TDU owns and maintains local delivery poles and wires, and also manages outage restoration.

How do I confirm the correct TDU for my address in Mcallen?

Check your current electricity bill or service paperwork for the delivery utility name. If you are moving, enter your ZIP code and address during enrollment to confirm the exact TDU.