Explore Payless Power Plans
PROVIDER REVIEW
Payless Power Review 2026
Payless Power has carved out a distinct niche in the Texas electricity market since its founding in 2005 by three brothers in Fort Worth. Specializing in prepaid electricity plans with no deposit or credit check, the company serves customers across 400+ Texas communities. Customer sentiment is notably strong, with a 4.8/5.0 star rating and an NPS of 80, indicating high satisfaction levels. The company’s regulatory track record is also solid, with just 40 PUC complaints over the past 12 months—well below the industry average of 120. However, the Billing Clarity Score of 66/100 suggests some customers find their bills less straightforward.
PAYLESS POWER
Complete Provider Analysis
As a family-owned, Texas-based provider, Payless Power differentiates itself through same-day connections and daily balance notifications via text or email. The company’s Customer Service Score of 79/100 reflects generally positive experiences with their bilingual support team. While prepaid plans offer flexibility for those with credit challenges, prospective customers should review plan details carefully given the moderate billing clarity scores. CEO Brandon Young’s involvement in founding the consumer advocacy group Texans for Fair Energy Billing signals the company’s stated commitment to transparency.
2TIO NPS REVIEW
Customer Satisfaction Analysis
Our NPS (Net Promoter Score) methodology filters out incentivized reviews, bot-generated feedback, and competitor manipulation to give you an accurate picture of real customer satisfaction.
Score Breakdown
How We Calculate NPS Scores
Our proprietary algorithm analyzes thousands of customer reviews from multiple sources including Google, BBB, and the PUC. We filter out reviews that show signs of manipulation, including incentivized feedback, review bombing, and bot-generated content. The resulting score reflects genuine customer sentiment based on real experiences.
PUC COMPLAINT HISTORY
Public Utility Commission Data
The Texas Public Utility Commission tracks complaints filed against retail electricity providers. Below is Payless Power’s complaint history from the PUC database.
Total Complaints (12 mo)
39
Complaints per 10K Customers
0.50
Industry Average
1.20
Billing Complaints
19
Slamming/Cramming
2
Service Quality
0
Monthly Complaint Trends (Jan 2022 – Mar 2026)
Complaint Categories Explained
Issues related to incorrect charges, unexpected fees, meter reading disputes, and payment processing problems. This is the most common category of complaints across all providers.
Slamming: Switching a customer’s electricity provider without proper authorization or consent.
Cramming: Adding unauthorized charges or services to a customer’s electricity bill.
Issues with customer service responsiveness, account management, communication quality, and overall service experience.
Complaints about improper service disconnection, insufficient notice before disconnection, or issues with reconnection after payment.
VERIFIED CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What Customers Are Saying
Real reviews from verified Payless Power customers. We display a balanced selection of positive and critical feedback to give you the complete picture.
Positive Experiences
Verified
“I have been with Payless Power for about 3 years now and I can honestly say I will NEVER go to any other electricity provider. I love the fact that I am able to track my usage daily and the ability to pay online with literally a click of a button is so satisfying! They helped me while I was working from home and having continuous power outages with my previous provider. Payless Power came along and actually helped save me from losing my at-home job! I am forever grateful and would recommend them to anyone.”
Verified
“I have been SO HAPPY with this company! When I need to call customer service I am always treated like I’m the most important customer they have, such a welcome change from the usual. I really wish I had known about Payless sooner. I feel like their rates per kilowatt hour are very competitive and honestly, I wouldn’t mind if they were a little higher just to have the amazing customer support they provide!”
Verified
“Thank heavens for Payless! I ran through a rough patch and the big company I was with wasn’t working with me. But Payless WOULD! Easy sign-up, easy to keep my account current, and now that things are getting into order for me, I’m not going anywhere. Payless’ simple, no tricks approach has taught me conservation. As a result I’m only paying a fraction of what I was paying with the big company. Standard service, helpful and professional customer service, low cost.”
Verified
“Pay as you go prepaid is the way to go! It makes you more aware of energy usage as you receive daily usage texts showing the kWh used with the dollar amount and reports your balance left with an estimate of how many days remaining. Give it a try – no credit check or deposit required. It works for me!”
Verified
“Out of every company I’ve been with, this one is the only one who hasn’t had any hidden fees, charges, or increases without telling me. I pray they continue to do business the way they have been with me. I’ve been a customer for 3 years now.”
Critical Feedback
Verified
“Absolute worst service. These people raised up the electricity bill because of the winter storm. They’ll raise prices on you without your consent or approval. I spoke to the supervisor about the random increase in my bill and she told me ‘that’s the way it is’ and that I could leave and find another provider. Very disappointed with how the situation was handled.”
Verified
“Seems like you need to pay around $30 weekly, at least $120-$140 a month in a one bedroom with no lights running during the hours of 7am-6pm. Would be better with a monthly plan at a different company. The costs add up quickly for minimal usage.”
Verified
“The electricity is a bit expensive, but the service is fast and the website isn’t bad. It just seems to be updated two days late. I don’t quite understand it yet, but I think it’s more transparent compared to other companies.”
FINAL VERDICT
Our Recommendation
Payless Power: Recommended
Top choice for no-deposit, prepaid electricity
Payless Power earns our recommendation as a standout prepaid electricity provider in Texas. Since 2005, they’ve carved out a niche serving customers who need flexibility without credit checks or deposits. Customer sentiment is exceptionally strong, with a 4.8-star rating and an impressive NPS score of 80, indicating high customer loyalty. Their customer service score of 79/100 reflects responsive support. On the regulatory front, Payless Power recorded just 40 PUC complaints over 12 months—well below the industry average of 120—demonstrating solid operational practices. The one area for improvement is billing clarity, scoring 66/100, which suggests some customers find prepaid billing structures less transparent than traditional plans. Overall, for those prioritizing accessibility and payment flexibility over conventional billing, Payless Power delivers reliable service backed by strong customer satisfaction.
Pros
- Excellent overall rating at 4.8 out of 5 stars
- Strong customer loyalty with NPS score of 80
- Customer service rated excellent at 79/100
- Complaints 70% below industry average (40 vs 120)
- Zero service quality complaints in past 12 months
- Minimal slamming/cramming issues with only 2 complaints
- Prepaid model helps customers avoid surprise bills
Cons
- Billing transparency score of 66/100 leaves room for improvement
- 18 billing-related complaints about confusing statements
- Some customers find credit notifications unclear
- Bill explanations could be more straightforward
Best For
- Customers who cannot pass traditional credit checks
- Renters or those avoiding large deposits
- Budget-conscious households wanting pay-as-you-go control
- New Texas residents establishing utility service quickly
- Customers who prefer flexible, no-contract electricity
PRICE COMPARISON
How Payless Power Compares
See how Payless Power’s electricity rates compare to other Texas providers. Prices shown are averages based on the selected monthly usage level.
Payless Power Avg Price
18.9¢/kWh
Market Rank
#18 of 17
vs Market Average
16.4% above
Market Average
16.2¢/kWh
All Texas Providers (1000 kWh/month)
| Rank | Provider | Avg ¢/kWh | Lowest | Highest | # Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tara Energy | 13.70¢ | 11.51¢ | 17.59¢ | 14 |
| #2 | 4Change Energy | 14.08¢ | 7.60¢ | 19.62¢ | 35 |
| #3 | Energy Texas | 15.01¢ | 9.35¢ | 20.60¢ | 20 |
| #4 | Constellation | 15.03¢ | 12.72¢ | 16.92¢ | 11 |
| #5 | Cirro Energy | 15.18¢ | 7.59¢ | 22.21¢ | 26 |
| #6 | Discount Power | 15.23¢ | 7.59¢ | 22.21¢ | 26 |
| #7 | APGE | 15.33¢ | 7.50¢ | 23.60¢ | 89 |
| #8 | Atlantex Power | 15.41¢ | 13.88¢ | 17.40¢ | 15 |
| #9 | Rhythm Energy | 15.54¢ | 9.35¢ | 20.60¢ | 16 |
| #10 | Just Energy | 15.63¢ | 7.59¢ | 21.81¢ | 68 |
| #11 | Amigo Energy | 16.47¢ | 15.00¢ | 18.43¢ | 24 |
| #12 | Reliant | 16.76¢ | 11.95¢ | 23.21¢ | 46 |
| #13 | Frontier Utilities | 17.07¢ | 7.68¢ | 22.42¢ | 30 |
| #14 | Gexa Energy | 17.12¢ | 7.68¢ | 22.42¢ | 30 |
| #15 | Direct Energy | 17.79¢ | 14.90¢ | 23.58¢ | 20 |
| #16 | TXU Energy | 18.78¢ | 13.88¢ | 24.29¢ | 44 |
| #17 | Green Mountain | 18.80¢ | 16.95¢ | 23.61¢ | 20 |
| #18 | Payless Power This Provider | 18.87¢ | 18.38¢ | 19.33¢ | 8 |
No 100% Renewable Plans
Payless Power does not currently offer any 100% renewable energy plans. If green energy is a priority, consider providers like Green Mountain, Gexa Energy, or Rhythm Energy.
Our Methodology
How We Calculate NPS Scores
Our proprietary scoring system analyzes thousands of customer reviews to provide an unbiased assessment of each electricity provider.
- Data Source: Online Reviews from verified customers
- AI Analysis: We analyze each review to distill sentiment and filter out incentivized reviews, bot-generated content, and review bombing attempts
- True NPS Calculation: We calculate Net Promoter Score as (% Promoters) – (% Detractors), where Promoters rate 9-10 and Detractors rate 1-6
- Star Rating: NPS scores are mapped to a 3.0-5.0 star scale for intuitive comparison
About “Billing Clarity” Scores
This score measures how clearly a provider communicates billing to customers—not billing accuracy. Texas electricity providers have robust, audited billing systems that are highly accurate.
- What we measure: Clarity of bill statements, proactive notifications, explanation of credits and charges, time-of-use rate communication
- Why it matters: Customers often report confusion about bills even when charges are correct—this score reflects how well providers help customers understand their bills
- PUC “billing complaints”: Most are about confusing statements or unexpected (but legitimate) charges, not actual billing errors
Pricing Data Collection
We collect electricity plan pricing directly from official sources to ensure accuracy.
- Data Source: ComparePower, the original Texas electricity consumer advocate
- Update Frequency: Prices are synced daily from all 5 TDSP territories
- Usage Levels: We display pricing at 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh/month to show how rates vary by consumption
- Coverage: All 17 retail electricity providers in the Texas deregulated market
PUC Complaint Data
Complaint data provides insight into provider accountability and customer issues.
- Data Source: Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) official complaint records
- History: 46+ months of historical complaint data (January 2022 – Present)
- Categories: Billing, Slamming/Cramming, Quality of Service, Disconnection, and Other
- Update Frequency: Monthly updates as new PUC data becomes available
Questions about our methodology? Contact our team.
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