Texas's deregulated energy market gives you the freedom to choose your electricity provider — but that freedom comes with a catch: switch before your contract ends and you may owe an Early Termination Fee (ETF). This guide tells you exactly what to expect from the top 15 Texas providers and how to find your specific cancellation terms right now.
The Universal Method: How to Find Your Cancellation Terms
Before diving into individual providers, here is the single most important rule: your cancellation terms are always found on your Electricity Facts Label (EFL). The EFL is a standardized one-page disclosure required by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Every provider must give you one, and it must clearly state your ETF. Read our full EFL explainer.
- Find your EFL. It was emailed to you at enrollment. Search your inbox for your provider's name plus "Electricity Facts Label" or "EFL." Can't find it? Log in to your online account — most providers store it under My Account, Plan Details, or Plan Documents.
- Look for the Early Termination Fee section. Open your EFL and scroll toward the bottom. Texas rules require the ETF to appear in a clearly labeled section. It will show either a flat dollar amount or a per-month prorated fee.
- Find your contract end date. Your contract end date is usually printed on your monthly bill. It also often appears in your online account under My Plan or Contract Information.
- Calculate what you would owe. Flat-fee ETF? That's the amount regardless of timing. Prorated ETF? Multiply the monthly charge by the number of months left on your contract.
Texas rules allow you to switch providers within the last 14 days of your contract at no charge. Put your contract end date in your calendar now so you can time your switch perfectly — no ETF, no hassle.
Key Terms to Know
- EFL (Electricity Facts Label) — A required one-page document disclosing your rate, fees, and contract terms. Your ETF will always be listed here.
- ETF (Early Termination Fee) — A charge assessed if you cancel your fixed-rate electricity contract before the end date.
- Fixed-Rate Plan — A contract with a locked-in rate and a set end date. These plans always carry an ETF.
- Variable / Month-to-Month Plan — No fixed term — rates can change monthly. Generally no ETF, but less price predictability.
- Prorated ETF — A per-month fee that decreases each month as your contract end date approaches.
- Satisfaction Guarantee — A window (usually 60–90 days after enrollment) during which you can cancel or change plans with no ETF.
Provider-by-Provider Breakdown
Below are the ETF details and the fastest way to locate your own cancellation terms for each of the top 15 Texas residential providers. Because exact fees depend on your specific plan, always verify on your own EFL. Every major Texas provider waives the ETF if you are moving — keep a copy of your lease termination letter or proof of new address ready when you call.
Champion Energy
Typical ETF: $150–$250 flat fee, varying by contract length. Waived if you move. No satisfaction guarantee noted. Find your terms at championenergyservices.com under My Plan, or call 1-866-900-4375.
Payless Power
Typical ETF: $49–$99 flat fee. Prepaid plans: $0. Waived if you move. On a prepaid plan, you may have no contract at all — verify on your EFL. Call 1-888-941-9978.
Constellation Energy
ETF varies by plan — typically a flat fee. Usually waived for relocation. Download your EFL from constellation.com under My Documents, or call 1-866-917-8271.
TriEagle Energy
Prorated ETF: $20 per month remaining on contract. With 3 months left you owe just $60, but with 12 months left that's $240. Waived for relocation. Call 1-877-933-2453.
Reliant Energy
Typical ETF: $150 (12-month) or $295 (24-month), flat fee. Waived if you move. Offers a 90-day satisfaction guarantee for new customers. Find your EFL at reliant.com under My Plan, or call 1-800-735-4268.
Gexa Energy
Typical ETF: $150 (12-month) or $295 (24-month), flat fee. Waived outside service area. Offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. Call 1-866-961-9399.
Green Mountain Energy
ETF varies by plan — some plans have $0 ETF. Waived if you move. Offers one of the most generous satisfaction windows in Texas: 90 days. Call 1-866-785-4668.
TXU Energy
Typical ETF: $50–$295, with some plans at $0. Waived if you move, also waived after natural disasters. Offers a 60-day Total Satisfaction Guarantee. Find your EFL at txu.com under Plan Details, or call 1-800-818-6132.
Chariot Energy
Prorated ETF: $15 per month remaining — one of the lowest in Texas. With 6 months left you'd owe just $90. Waived outside service area. Call 1-855-524-2746.
4Change Energy
Prorated ETF: $20 per month remaining. Waived if you move. The closer to your end date, the lower your exit cost. Call 1-855-784-2426.
Frontier Utilities
ETF varies by plan — typically a flat fee. Usually waived for relocation. Find your EFL at frontier-utilities.com under My Account, or call 1-800-200-1399.
APG&E
Flat fee, tiered by contract length: $150 (10–12 month), $250 (14–24 month), $350 (36 month) — the highest potential ETF on this list. Waived outside service area. Call 1-855-502-2743.
Discount Power
ETF varies by plan. Month-to-month plans: $0. Waived for relocation. Call 1-888-600-7946.
Direct Energy
Typical ETF: $150 (12-month) or $295 (24-month), flat fee. Waived if you move. Before switching, calculate whether the savings on a new plan outweigh the fee. Call 1-888-305-3828.
Cirro Energy
Typical ETF: $150 (12-month) or $295 (24-month), flat fee. Waived with proof of new address. Call 1-877-764-2476.
How to Avoid or Reduce Your Early Termination Fee
- Switch in the 14-day window. Texas rules allow you to change providers within the last 14 days of your contract with no ETF. Mark your end date in your calendar and initiate the switch a week early.
- Use your satisfaction guarantee. New customers at Reliant and Green Mountain have 90 days; TXU and Gexa customers have 60. If you're a recent signup and unhappy, check whether you're still within the window.
- Prove you're moving. Almost every Texas provider waives the ETF for relocation. Keep your lease termination letter or proof of new address ready when you call.
- Choose a month-to-month plan. Variable-rate and prepaid plans have no fixed term and generally no ETF. Great if flexibility matters more than rate stability.
- Negotiate with your provider. Long-time customers or those who've experienced service issues sometimes get ETF waivers or reductions just by asking. It costs nothing to call.
- File a PUCT complaint. If your provider materially breached the contract — significant overbilling, unreliable service — you may be entitled to cancel without penalty. Contact the PUCT at puc.texas.gov.
Regulatory Resources & Where to Get Help
If you have a dispute or believe you've been charged an improper cancellation fee, these resources are free and available to all Texas residents:
- Power to Choose (powertochoose.org) — The official PUCT electricity shopping site. View your plan's EFL and compare alternatives side-by-side.
- Public Utility Commission of Texas (puc.texas.gov) — File a complaint or seek mediation if a provider refuses to honor an ETF waiver you're entitled to.
- Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel (texasopc.state.tx.us) — A free consumer advocacy office that represents residential customers in disputes with REPs.
Your Electricity Facts Label is the single most important document. It must list your ETF by Texas law. Can't find yours? Call your provider and ask them to email it to you today. Learn more about what's on an EFL.