Reliant Energy Retail Services (REP)
60
Serves 1,440,089 customers, $4,213,993.00 of sales and provides 41,699 GWhs of electricity per year. 1,342,806 are residentialthat on average consume 1,037 kWh of electricity per month per household.
Reliant Energy Retail Services, like Green Mountain Energy, is a subsidiary of NRG, and the second largest retail electric company in Texas with over 1.4 million customers. They have made some modest forays into demand response, and time-of-use offerings, as well as some attention to solar policy through a limited net-metering policy. The parent company, NRG, is investing heavily into solar power plants, though the relationship between these investments and the retail electric provider is unclear. NRG is also a major generator of gas and coal power in Texas, including the W.A. Parrish plant in Fort Bend County, which is one of the largest polluters in Texas. Given their size and resources, it is surprising they have not more fully embraced a clean energy future.
Take Action: Tell your energy provider to do more to invest in clean energy programs.
How we scored
Efficiency of Residential Customers, based on average per month energy consumption (kWh)? (0 to 3 Points)
2
Below 850 kWh 3 points
850 - 1,150 kWh 2 points
1,150 - 1,500 kWh 1 points
Greater than 1,500 kWh 0 points
Total Electricity Use Change (0 to 10 Points)
6
Average Use went Up More than 10% 0 Points
Average Use Went Up Between 0 and 10% 2 Point
Average Use Went Down Between 0 and 5% 4 Points
Average Use Went Down Between 5 and 10% 6 Points
Average Use Went Down Between 10 and 20% 8 Points
Average Use Went Down More than 20% 10 Points
Offered Dynamic (Time-of-Use) Pricing or a Demand Response product; reported to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)? (0 to 5 Points)
0
Did not offer either a DR or Dynamic Pricing Product in 2016 0 Points
Offered either a DR or Dynamic Pricing Product 2 Ponts
Offered both a Dynamic Pricing and DR Product 5 Points
Offered Time-of-Use Pricing, Residential Demand Response Programs, and Provide Information on How to Save Energy, on its Main Customer Website? (0 to 10 Points)
10
No Programs 0 Points
Demand Response Programs 3 Points
Dynamic Pricing/Time-of-Use 3 Points
Energy Savings Information Found on Website 3 Points
Note: If a company offered all three types of programs/information, they were given the full 10 points.
Renewable Options and Fixed Price for a 12-month term Compared to its "normal" price with same term offered? (0 to 10 Points)
4
Offered 100% Renewable Option 4 Points
Offered 100% Renewable Option No More than 1 Cent per Kilowatt Hour More Expensive than Normal Option 8 Points
Offered 100% Renewable Option at a Price Equal to or Cheaper than "Normal" Option 12 Points
Renewable Energy Under Contract or Purchased Through Renewable Energy Credits in prior year (0 to 15 Points)
8
Did they invest in non-wind Renewable Energy Credits? (ie solar) +2 Points
Did they sign a direct PPA with a renewable developer (wind or solar)? +3 Points
0% 0 points
Between 0 and 5% 1 points
Between 5 and 10% 2 points
Between 10 and 20% 3 points
Between 20 and 30% 4 points
Between 30 and 40% 5 points
Between 40 and 50% 6 points
Between 50 and 60% 7 points
Between 60 and 80% 8 points
Between 80 and 99% 9 points
100% 10 points
Reliant is one of the largest Retail Electric Providers in Texas, and has recently purchased a direct competitor, and has made some direct investments in renewables through Power Purchase Agreements, but as a percentage of their total sales, they are only purchasing a bit more than 10 percent of their power from renewable resources. They do have a decent net-metering program for customers. Their parent company, NRG, has also invested in renewable development projects, including recently 100 MWs of a solar farm, though it is difficult to know if that power flows to its retail electric providers.
Community Solar Option for Residential Customers Offered? (0 to 6 Points)
2
Offered Community Solar Option 2 Points
Offered Community Solar Option with Ownership Potential+2 Points
Offered Community Solar Option providing Credit for Energy Production+2 Points
Buys Back Excess Energy from Local/Rooftop Solar? (0 to 15 Points)
15
Offered Buy-Back Program5 Points
Offered Buy-Back Program with Rollover Credits5 Points
Offered Buy-Back at Full Retail Rate5 Points
Excellent Solar Buyback program for excess electricity customers solar panels export to the grid. While not exactly community solar, Reliant provides rate for Texas produced solar.
Company Customer Satisfaction Rating on the Public Utility Commission's (PUC) Power-to-Choose Website? (0 to 10 Points)
30
1 Star 2 Point
2 Stars4 Points
3 Stars6 Points
4 Stars8 Points
5 Stars10 Points
Owned by a Parent Company with Major Ownership Stake in Coal or Other Fossil Fuel Power Plants? (0 to 10 Points)
0
Owners do not invest in fossil fuels10 Points
Owners have an interest in natural gas power plants or products4 Points
Owners have an interest in natural gas and coal plants or products0 Points
Offered Incentives or Rebates for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure or Electric Vehicles? (0 to 10 Points)
3
None = 0
Less than $100 = 1
$100-$200 = 3
>$200 = 4
Note: Time of use pricing that benefits EVs is addressed in above question.
Provides $100 credit for charging at EVGO or Chargepoint when choosing the 100% renewable EV rate plan with has modest discount for charging at night.
Distribution Companies
If you are in a competitive area, you choose a Retail Electric Provider such as those above, but one of these Transmission and Distribution Utilities will actually provide the electricity over wires they own in the area.
Oncor Electric Delivery Company (IOU-Distribution)
63
How we scored
Required Public Utility Commission (PUC) Report Submitted?
(0 to 5 Points)
5
Peak Electricity Demand Reduced through Energy Efficiency and Demand Reduction Programs?
(0 to 10 Points)
2
Met Public Utility Commission Goal of 0.4% Reduction in Peak Electricity Demand?
(0 to 5 Points)
5
Reduction of Customers’ Total Electricity Consumption from Energy Efficiency Programs?
(0 to 15 Points)
6
Percentage of its Texas Revenue Spent on Energy Efficiency Programs?
(0 to 10 Points)
8
Spent per capita on Energy Efficiency Programs for Low-Income Households?
(0 to 10 Points)
4
Energy Efficiency Programs' per capita Savings for Low-Income Households?
(0 to 10 Points)
4
Quality of Programs and Incentives for Residential Solar, Wind and Storage
(0 to 16 Points)
14
Solar installation incentive, Net metering as set by State rule
Quality and accessibility of Energy Efficiency Programs offered?
(0 to 15 Points)
15
Home Energy Efficiency program: Attic insulation and caulking/weather-stripping around doors and windows, Other eligible energy-efficient measures include replacement of air conditioning units, heat pumps, and installation of ENERGY STAR
Offered Incentives or Rebates for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure or Electric Vehicles?
(0 to 4 Points)
0
No information on EV provided.
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