About Brad
In 2009, Brad moved from California to Texas and discovered something strange: you had to choose your own electricity company. In California, you just got PG&E and that was it.
Being an engineer, he did what engineers do—built a spreadsheet. He pulled every electricity plan he could find and started crunching numbers. That's when he discovered the game.
That "9¢/kWh" plan? It was 9¢ at exactly 1,000 kWh. Use 999 kWh and your rate doubled. Use 1,001 kWh—same thing. The advertised rates were engineered to win comparisons, not save you money.
So Brad built the first usage-based electricity comparison tool. You enter your actual usage, it shows your actual cost. No games. That tool became ComparePower, which has helped over 2.5 million Texans find honest rates since 2009.
At LightCompanies, Brad focuses on what matters beyond price: which companies treat customers well, which ones have a history of complaints, and which ones are worth trusting with your electricity service.
What Brad Works On
Rate Analysis
Breaking down how electricity pricing works. Why advertised rates don't tell the full story. What the EFL is hiding.
Company Research
Digging into who owns what, who has complaints, and which companies are worth your money versus which are just good at marketing.
Industry Patterns
After 15+ years watching this market, Brad spots patterns. Which pricing tricks are trending. What new games companies are playing.
Guides by Brad
How the Texas Deregulated Electricity Market Works
Learn how the Texas deregulated electricity market works, who oversees it, and what it means for your monthly bill and provider choices.
June 23, 2026CenterPoint Energy Delivery Charges Explained
CenterPoint Energy delivery charges appear on every Houston-area electricity bill. Here is what each line item means and how to read the math.
June 22, 2026Denton Municipal Electric: What Residents Need to Know
Denton Municipal Electric is a city-owned utility, not a deregulated REP. Here is what that means for your rates, choices, and options in 2024.
June 20, 2026Garland Light and Power: What Shoppers Need to Know
Garland Light and Power is a municipal utility, not a retail choice. Here is what that means for your electricity options in Garland and nearby Grand Prairie.
June 19, 2026Smart Meter Texas: What Your Usage Data Actually Tells You
Smart Meter Texas gives you 15-minute interval data on your electricity use. Here is how to read it, why it matters, and how to use it when shopping for a plan.
June 16, 2026Texas New Mexico Power: TDU Delivery Charges Explained
TNMP delivery charges explained: what you actually pay, how it compares to other TDUs, and what Texas shoppers need to know before signing a plan.
June 15, 2026Lubbock Power and Light: What the Data Actually Shows
Lubbock Power and Light operates outside the ERCOT choice market. Here is what that means for your rates, rights, and options as a Lubbock resident.
June 14, 2026Oncor Electric Delivery: What Texas Shoppers Need to Know
Oncor delivers power to 13 million Texans but never bills you directly. Here is how its TDU charges, outage response, and service territory actually work.
June 12, 2026Austin Energy: What It Is and How It Differs From Texas REPs
Austin Energy is a municipal utility, not a retail electricity provider. Here is what that means for Austin residents and when switching providers is possible.
June 11, 2026Research Companies
Browse company profiles and head-to-head comparisons.