Tara Energy, LLC, Smart Prepaid Electric (REP)
45
Serves 40,181 customers, $136,743.00 of sales and provides 1,509 GWhs of electricity per year. 26,344 are residentialthat on average consume 1,097 kWh of electricity per month per household.
With about 35,000 customers in 2020, Tara Energy, LLC is a relatively small provider though they do offer good real-time information on energy use through a customized portal. Recent, they were purchased by Vistra Energy, which owns TXU, Texas' largest retail electric provider, and is a large generator of coal, gas, nuclear and renewable energy.
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)
2
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)
8
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)
2
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
Green rate is a flat fee of $9.95/month
Community Solar Option for Residential Customers Offered? (0 to 6 Points)
0
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)
5
Offered Buy-Back Program5 Points
Offered Buy-Back Program with Rollover Credits5 Points
Offered Buy-Back at Full Retail Rate5 Points
Buys back customer's solar at unspecified rate
Company Customer Satisfaction Rating on the Public Utility Commission's (PUC) Power-to-Choose Website? (0 to 10 Points)
10
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)
10
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)
0
None = 0
Less than $100 = 1
$100-$200 = 3
>$200 = 4
Note: Time of use pricing that benefits EVs is addressed in above question.
Has Free nights rate plan
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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