EFL — Electricity Facts Label
Texas Electricity Glossary
The Electricity Facts Label (EFL) is a standardized one-page disclosure that every REP must provide for every electricity plan sold in Texas, as required by PUCT. The EFL shows the exact price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh usage, the contract length, early termination fee, renewable content percentage, and what percentage of the rate is the energy charge versus the TDU delivery charge. It is the single most important document to read before enrolling in any Texas electricity plan.
What the EFL Contains
- Average price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh — the three key usage benchmarks
- Contract term — how long the rate is locked (e.g., 12, 24, or 36 months)
- Early termination fee (ETF) — the penalty for cancelling before the contract ends
- Renewable content — percentage of electricity from renewable sources
- Monthly base charge — any fixed fee applied regardless of usage
- Bill credits — any conditional discounts at specific usage thresholds
- TDU delivery charge pass-through — the regulated delivery fee included in the all-in rate
The 1,000 kWh Advertised Rate Problem
Most electricity price comparison sites — including Power to Choose — display only the 1,000 kWh rate. REPs optimize this number aggressively: a plan might offer a $50 bill credit that triggers only at exactly 1,000 kWh, making the stated rate look very cheap. At 900 kWh or 1,100 kWh, the same plan may be significantly more expensive.
Real example: A plan advertised at 8.5¢/kWh (with a $60 bill credit at 1,000 kWh) may cost 14¢/kWh effective at 800 kWh. The EFL at the 500 kWh row reveals this — but you have to read it. TexasPowerCost.com automates this calculation for every plan.
How TexasPowerCost.com Uses EFL Data
TexasPowerCost.com downloads EFL price data daily from the official Power to Choose API. It then uses linear interpolation across the three price points (500, 1,000, 2,000 kWh) to estimate the true per-kWh rate and monthly cost at your actual usage level. This is more accurate than any single-number advertised rate.
Related Terms
- Effective Rate — the real per-kWh cost derived from EFL data at your usage
- Bill Credit — the conditional discount that distorts EFL comparisons
- Minimum Usage Fee — another EFL line item that affects low-usage customers
- Power to Choose — where to find EFLs for every Texas plan
- ETF — disclosed on every EFL
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EFL in Texas electricity?
An EFL (Electricity Facts Label) is a standardized one-page disclosure that every retail electric provider must attach to each plan it sells in Texas. Required by PUCT, it shows the exact price per kWh at three usage levels (500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh), the contract length, early termination fee, renewable content percentage, and other key plan details. Always read the EFL before enrolling in any Texas electricity plan.
Why does the EFL show three different prices?
Electricity plans often include a fixed monthly base charge, a per-kWh energy rate, and sometimes a bill credit at a specific usage threshold. These components combine differently at different usage levels, so regulators require disclosure at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh to give consumers a more complete picture. TexasPowerCost.com uses linear interpolation across these three points to estimate the cost at your specific usage level.
Where can I find the EFL for a plan?
Every plan listed on Power to Choose (powertochoose.org) has a link to its EFL document. REPs are also required to provide the EFL at enrollment. On TexasPowerCost.com, plan detail pages link directly to the EFL for each plan.