Payless Power
Payless Power: no credit check, no deposit—but 15-25% higher rates. The 'poverty premium' is real. Here's who has no choice and who should avoid.
Company Overview
Here’s the truth about Payless Power: You’re paying a “poverty premium”—and they’re one of the better options for people who have no choice.
Prepaid electricity costs more. Period. Payless Power charges 15-25% higher rates per kWh than traditional fixed-rate plans. On a $150 monthly bill, that’s an extra $25-40 for the privilege of not having good credit. It’s not fair, but it’s the math.
That said, if your credit is rough and you need electricity, Payless Power is legitimately one of the best prepaid options in Texas. They’ve been doing this since 2005—20 years of track record. Their customer ratings are excellent (4.8 stars). Daily balance alerts actually help you manage usage. Same-day connection if you sign up by 4pm.
The uncomfortable reality: if your credit qualifies you for a traditional plan—even with a small deposit—you’ll save hundreds of dollars per year compared to prepaid. But if you can’t clear a credit check, Payless Power treats you better than most alternatives.
Where Payless Power Operates
Payless Power serves deregulated areas across Texas including Dallas–Fort Worth (Oncor), Houston (CenterPoint), Corpus Christi, Abilene, Midland, and surrounding regions covered by AEP Texas and TNMP.
They focus on the major metro areas where prepaid demand is highest.
Plans & Pricing
Prepaid Plans Pay-as-you-go electricity. Start with $40, add funds as needed. No monthly bills—just keep your balance positive.
Fixed-Rate Plans Payless also offers 6 and 12-month fixed-rate plans for customers who want traditional billing. These still don’t require a credit check.
Pricing Reality: Let’s be honest—prepaid rates are higher. You might pay 15-25% more per kWh than a traditional fixed-rate plan. On a $150/month bill, that’s an extra $20-$35 for the privilege of no credit check.
What They Don’t Offer:
- Green energy plans
- Long-term contracts (max 12 months)
- Free nights/weekends
- Time-of-use options
Deposits & Credit
This is Payless Power’s whole value proposition: no credit check, no deposit, ever.
You need $40 to start service. That’s it. Bad credit, no credit, bankruptcy—doesn’t matter. They approve everyone.
The tradeoff is higher rates and the hassle of monitoring your balance. Electricity isn’t like a phone where you just can’t make calls—when prepaid runs out, your power disconnects.
Customer Service
Payless Power’s customer service is surprisingly decent for a budget prepaid company. Their team is bilingual (English/Spanish) and based in Texas.
The good:
- 4.8-star customer rating—one of the highest in Texas
- Daily balance alerts via text/email so you don’t get surprised
- Same-day connection if you sign up by 4pm
- Easy-to-use online portal and app for adding funds
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
The catch:
- $99 early termination fee if you cancel a fixed-rate plan
- Some customers complain about balances depleting faster than expected
- No 24/7 support—business hours only
- If your balance hits zero on a weekend, reconnection might wait until Monday
The Verdict
Payless Power is the best option for people who need electricity but can’t get approved elsewhere. Their customer ratings are excellent, their daily alerts help you manage usage, and they’ve been doing this for 20 years.
But don’t use prepaid if you don’t have to. The math rarely works out in your favor. If your credit qualifies you for a traditional plan—even with a small deposit—you’ll save money over time.
Prepaid electricity works for:
- People rebuilding credit
- Renters who move frequently
- Anyone who likes paying as they go rather than receiving monthly bills
- Situations where you need power today, no questions asked
Everyone else should shop traditional fixed-rate plans first.
Good For
- Your credit is rough and you need power without a deposit
- You want to budget electricity like a prepaid phone—pay as you go
- You like daily balance alerts and usage tracking
- You need same-day connection (sign up by 4pm)
Avoid If
- You use a lot of electricity—prepaid rates are higher per kWh
- You hate the mental load of monitoring your balance
- You want green energy options—they don't offer any
- You travel often and might forget to add funds
Company Snapshot
Plan Types
Service Areas
Ways to Avoid Deposit
- No deposit required—prepaid model
- No credit check
Compare Payless Power vs Other Providers
Payless Power Rankings
See how Payless Power stacks up in our category rankings.
No credit check, same-day service, initial payment of $40-75
Prepaid at 18.4¢/kWh - highest flexibility, no credit check
Prepaid no-contract option with daily flexibility and no credit check required
Texas prepaid pioneer since 2005 — no credit check, same-day service 7 days/week
Daily balance alerts, real-time usage tracking, NPS score of 80
Prepaid plans with no deposit, no credit check, and same-day electricity. Perfect for quick move-ins with just $75 to start.
6pm CT cutoff (latest in Texas), power on within 1-2 hours, no credit check
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