Moving to Dallas-Fort Worth

If you’re thinking about moving to Dallas-Fort Worth, you’re definitely not alone. The Metroplex remains one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. Whether you’re already a Texan looking for a new adventure or relocating from out of state, moving to Dallas-Fort Worth opens the door to a wide variety of neighborhoods, incredible career opportunities and endless entertainment options.

But as you pack your boxes and plan your transition, there is one critical step you need to take: setting up your Dallas electricity service. Texas has a unique energy market. If you’re moving from a state with a single traditional utility company, we'll help you understand how to shop for electricity in Dallas.

Moving to the Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex

Dallas is filled with popular destinations that make living here exciting and fulfilling. The city slogan is "Big Things Happen Here" and that rings true across the entire Metroplex.

Fun Things to Do in Dallas

When you live in Dallas you have access to world-class cultural institutions like the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. You can spend your weekends browsing fresh goods at the Dallas Farmers Market or attending massive events at Fair Park. Fair Park famously hosts the State Fair of Texas and the Independence Day Festival. You can also catch Broadway Dallas and visit multiple museums right on the fairgrounds.

Families have absolutely no shortage of kid-friendly attractions to explore. The Dallas Zoo is the largest zoo in Texas and a perennial favorite for animal lovers. Over at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden gives kids a fun and hands-on way to experience nature and science. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is another standout destination with dinosaur fossils and interactive exhibits. If you want a free outdoor space, Klyde Warren Park sits perfectly between downtown and the Arts District with family programming and wide-open green spaces.

Discovering Fort Worth

Fort Worth may sit right next to Dallas, but it offers a unique character all its own. Known proudly as "Cowtown," Fort Worth beautifully blends Western heritage with modern dining and culture. It creates a slightly more laid-back feel that many new residents deeply appreciate.

The Fort Worth Stockyards remain one of the most iconic attractions in the state with rodeos, cattle drives and year-round events that celebrate Texas history. Billy Bob’s Texas adds to the city’s larger-than-life reputation while Sundance Square brings together shopping, dining and entertainment in the heart of downtown. Animal lovers can spend the day at the Fort Worth Zoo while arts enthusiasts can visit the Kimbell Art Museum and Bass Performance Hall for world-class exhibits.

Getting Around the Metroplex

One of the most important things to know before moving to Dallas-Fort Worth is that the Metroplex covers a massive geographical area. For many residents, driving is the easiest way to get around, especially when work and daily errands are spread across different regions.

Public transit can also be very helpful depending on your address. In Dallas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides convenient light rail and bus service across much of the city, while Trinity Metro serves Fort Worth. The Trinity Railway Express helps connect Dallas and Fort Worth, including service that helps travelers go to DFW Airport. 

Understanding the Texas Electricity Market

Once you decide on a neighborhood and find your perfect home, your next big task is figuring out your utilities. If you’re moving from out of state, Texas’s competitive electricity market may be entirely new to you.

In many parts of the state, including Dallas and Fort Worth, residents can choose their electricity providers. This means you don’t just buy your power from the city government or a single monopoly utility. Instead, you can shop around and choose from different electricity companies based on your budget, your home size and your personal usage patterns.

How Deregulation Works

In a deregulated market like Dallas, the electricity process is split into three main parts: generation, delivery and retail.

Power plants generate electricity. The local utility company—known as the Transmission and Distribution Utility or TDU—actually delivers the electricity to your home. In Dallas, your TDU is usually Oncor. The TDU owns the physical power lines, reads your meter, responds to power outages and more. You do not get to choose your TDU because it’s based entirely on your physical address.

Retail Electricity Providers (REPs) are the companies you actually buy your electricity from. TXU Energy is a Retail Electricity Provider. We buy the electricity from the wholesale market and sell it to you. We’re a company that handles your customer service, creates your energy plans, sends you your monthly bill and more.

This system means companies compete for your business, so they offer a wide variety of plans, innovative tools and competitive prices to win your loyalty.

How to Shop for Electricity in Dallas

Shopping for electricity in Dallas is very similar to shopping for a cell phone plan. You want to find a plan that matches how you live without paying for things you do not need.

Here’s your comprehensive guide to comparing energy providers and finding the best electricity plan for you.

Step 1: Understand Your Average Usage

The very first thing you need to do before shopping for an electricity plan is to understand how much energy you actually use. Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The average cost of an electricity bill in Dallas depends heavily on how many kilowatt-hours your home consumes each month.

If you’re moving into a small apartment, you might use around 500 kWh per month. If you’re moving into a medium-sized home, you might use around 1000 kWh per month. If you’re moving into a large house with multiple air conditioning units, your usage could easily exceed 2000 kWh per month during the hot Texas summer.

When you compare electricity providers in Dallas you’ll notice that rates are advertised at these specific usage levels: 500, 1000 and 2000 kWh. A plan that offers a fantastic rate at 2000 kWh might actually be quite expensive if you only live in a small apartment and use 500 kWh. Always shop for plans based on the size of your new home.

Step 2: Choose the Right Plan Type

Dallas energy companies offer several different types of plans. Understanding the difference is critical to managing the average cost of electricity in Texas.

Fixed-Rate Plans A fixed-rate plan locks in your energy rate for the entire duration of your contract. Contracts usually last anywhere from 12 to 36 months. We highly recommend fixed-rate plans for most customers because they provide peace of mind and more predictable billing. Texas summers are incredibly hot, and you’ll use a lot of electricity running your air conditioner. A fixed-rate plan ensures your price per kWh does not suddenly spike just because demand is high in August.

Variable-Rate Plans Variable-rate plans do not require a long-term contract. You pay month-to-month, and your rate can change based on many factors. While these plans offer flexibility if you’re only living somewhere temporarily, they leave you vulnerable to sudden price changes.

Time-of-Use Plans Some modern electricity plans offer different rates depending on the time of day or the day of the week. For example, you might find plans that offer free electricity on nights or weekends. These plans are great if you have a lifestyle that allows you to shift your heavy energy usage to those specific free periods. If you work from home during the day or run your air conditioner constantly, a time-of-use plan might not be the most cost-effective choice for your family.

Renewable Energy Plans If protecting the environment is important to you, many providers offer plans backed by 100% renewable energy like Texas wind or solar power. Today, renewable energy is highly competitive and choosing a green plan does not mean you have to sacrifice affordability.

Step 3: Read the Electricity Facts Label

Every single electricity plan in Texas comes with a document called the Electricity Facts Label or EFL. The EFL is essentially the nutrition label for your electricity plan. It’s standardized by the state so you can compare plans from different companies.

When you review an EFL you should look for three crucial details:

1. The base charge: This is a flat monthly fee charged by the provider to service your account.

2. The energy charge: This is the actual price you pay per kilowatt-hour for the electricity you use.

3. TDU delivery charges: These are the fees charged by the utility company (like Oncor) to deliver the power to your home.

Step 4: Look Beyond the Rate

While finding a great rate is important, the cheapest electricity per kWh is not always the best overall value. When you are looking for an electricity company in Dallas, you need to look at the big picture.

Consider the customer service reputation of the company. If you have a question about your bill, you want an approachable and thoughtful team ready to help you. Look for companies that offer 24/7 support.

Evaluate the digital tools available to you. Top-tier providers offer intuitive mobile apps that let you track your usage down to the hour. These tools empower you to make small changes that can save you money on your energy bill over time.

Check for valuable extras. Does the provider offer cash back rewards? Do they offer home protection options that help cover the cost of repairing important systems and devices in your home? These added benefits can easily offset a fraction of a cent difference in a per-kWh rate.

Setting Up Your TXU Energy Electricity Service in Dallas

Because North Texas summers are famously long and hot, setting up electricity before move-in day is an absolutely vital part of a smooth move. No matter where you choose to live in the Dallas area, having the right electricity plan in place guarantees you can walk into a cool, comfortable home on moving day.

Your Quick Moving Checklist

To ensure a worry-free transition to Dallas-Fort Worth follow these simple steps:

1. Find your new address and determine your expected move-in date.

2. Visit the TXU Energy Move Center online to explore our electricity plans and rates.

3. Review your average expected usage based on the size of your new home.

4. Select a straightforward plan that fits your family lifestyle.

5. Schedule your connection date at least a few days before you actually arrive at the property.

Once you arrive in Texas, there are a few other important tasks to handle. New Texas residents need to update their driver’s license, register their vehicle and review voter registration requirements. Taking care of your utilities early frees up your time to handle these administrative tasks and lets you start exploring your new neighborhood faster. Visit the TXU Energy Move Center for more helpful moving tips, practical advice, and tools to help you stay organized.

Why Texans Trust TXU Energy

More homes and businesses trust TXU Energy than any other provider. We’re incredibly proud to have powered millions of Texans since 2001. Our customers have come to expect innovative plans that truly help them save around the way they live. We combine best-in-class usage tools with 24/7, 5-star service. No matter where you are in Texas or how your needs change, you can count on us to deliver plans and support that make it easy to stay comfortable and in control.