This is a list of the top 10 Free Nights plans for every area in Texas, broken down by TDU service zone and filtered by contract length. These plans are ordered by the advertised 1000 kWh rate, but you should not rely on that number alone. Clear Energy Facts recommends using this data only as a reference.
Free-night plans have many variables—such as the energy rate during non-free hours, the specific free-hour window, and in some cases, plans that offer reduced rates instead of truly free nights. This makes apples-to-apples comparisons difficult without the right tools. Your own historical usage is the best starting point: if you have about a year of data and your household habits will remain similar next year, you can accurately compare these plans.
Fortunately, Clear Energy Facts provides the tools you need for an accurate comparison. Log in or Sign up, then connect your Smart Meter Texas (SMT) data to your account. Using your historical usage data, we can accurately compare any type of plan, including Free Hours plans. Prefer a simpler option? Check our Top True Fixed Rate plans.
Tip: See the FAQs below for key details about Free Night plans (delivery charges, hours, and fees).
The 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh rates shown on Free Nights / Free Hours plans are only approximations based on the provider’s assumed “average usage pattern.” Your actual usage can be completely different.
In most Texas homes, the air conditioning and heating system (HVAC) is the largest source of electricity consumption. To benefit from a Free Nights plan, you would need to shift as much HVAC usage as possible into the free window (thermostat adjustments). During the paid hours, the thermostat should be kept as high as comfortably possible to minimize HVAC runtime.
The energy rate you pay outside the free period is often double—or even triple—than a comparable True Fixed rate. If you don’t move enough usage into the free hours, you’ll pay those premium prices on most of your consumption, and your bill can end up higher than with a simple fixed plan.
Free Nights plans can work, but only if they fit your real usage. CEF lets you compare these plans against True Fixed options using your own historical data.
Free Nights plans can work well for EV charging or solar homes with a battery, since you can shift most usage into the free window. Always review the plan’s Terms of Service to ensure EV charging or battery use doesn’t violate any provider restrictions.
DFW & North/Central TX — Dallas–Fort Worth, Arlington, Waco, Midland–Odessa
Houston metro — Houston, Katy, Cypress, Sugar Land, Pasadena
South Texas — Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, Victoria, Brownsville
West/Central Texas — Abilene, San Angelo, Stephenville, Big Spring
LP&L service area — City of Lubbock
Gulf Coast & scattered areas — Angleton, Alvin, Texas City, League City
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