Pennywise Power

Company Overview

Here’s the truth about Pennywise Power: It’s NRG’s budget brand—same parent company as Reliant, minus the marketing budget and rewards programs.

NRG Energy owns Reliant (premium tier with rewards), Green Mountain (green premium), Cirro (mid-tier with green included), Discount Power (budget with prepaid), and Pennywise (budget fixed-rate). That’s five brands from one company targeting different customer segments.

When you’re comparing Pennywise to Discount Power or Cirro, you’re comparing one company against itself. Different names, different prices, same corporate parent. Fortune 500 backing means Pennywise isn’t going anywhere, but you’re not getting Reliant’s customer service or app either.

The trade-off is simple: cheaper rates than Reliant, less hand-holding. If you want NRG stability without paying for rewards points you’ll never redeem, Pennywise is the smarter play.

Where Pennywise Power Operates

Pennywise serves all major deregulated areas of Texas including Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin-area communities, Corpus Christi, and regions covered by Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, and TNMP.

Plans & Pricing

Fixed-Rate Plans Lock in your rate for 12-24 months. Straightforward pricing without promotional complexity or tiered usage structures.

Variable-Rate Plans Month-to-month options with no contract commitment. Rates fluctuate with market conditions.

What They Don’t Offer:

• Prepaid plans
• Green energy options
• Free nights/weekends
• Time-of-use pricing
• Rewards programs
• Solar buyback

Pennywise keeps it simple. Basic electricity at budget prices.

The NRG Family Tree

Understanding who owns what helps you shop smarter:

NRG Energy owns:

• Reliant Energy (premium brand with rewards)
• Green Mountain Energy (renewable specialist)
• Cirro Energy (green-included mid-tier)
• Discount Power (budget prepaid option)
• Pennywise Power (budget fixed-rate option)

These are all siblings. If you’re comparing Pennywise vs. Discount Power vs. Cirro, you’re comparing one company against itself. The rates and features differ, but the corporate stability is identical.

Deposits & Credit

Pennywise runs credit checks. Good credit typically means no deposit. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay a deposit or provide a letter of credit from a previous electricity provider.

No prepaid alternative—if your credit is challenging, Discount Power (same parent company) offers prepaid plans that might work better.

Customer Service

Pennywise runs lean. They’re a budget brand, and the service reflects that.

The good:

• NRG backing means financial stability
• Simple enrollment process
• No upselling or complex plan structures
• Online account management works fine

The catch:

• Not 24/7 support
• Longer hold times than premium NRG brands like Reliant
• Basic website and limited digital tools
• Don’t expect proactive customer outreach

The Verdict

Pennywise Power is NRG’s no-frills budget brand. You get Fortune 500 stability without Fortune 500 prices—but also without premium customer service.

If you want cheap fixed-rate electricity and don’t care about green energy, rewards programs, or fancy apps, Pennywise delivers what it promises. They’ve been doing this since 2008 with the backing of one of America’s largest power companies.

For customers who need prepaid options, look at Discount Power (same parent). For green energy, try Cirro or Green Mountain (also same parent). Pennywise occupies a specific niche: budget fixed rates, nothing more.