Gexa Energy vs Cirro Energy: Two Green Approaches, One Grid

At a Glance

Factor	Gexa Energy	Cirro Energy
Parent Company	NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE)	NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG)
Years in Texas	24	25
Credit Check	Yes (soft pull)	Yes
Prepaid Available	No	No
Green Plans	100% renewable (all plans)	Green included (not specified as 100%)
On ComparePower	Yes	Yes

Bottom Line: Both offer green energy, but Gexa commits to 100% renewable on every plan while Cirro includes unspecified renewable content as a default. Gexa is also typically cheaper. Unless you specifically want to stay in the NRG family, Gexa is the stronger pick.

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The Corporate Reality

Two Fortune 500 giants, two different green strategies.

Gexa Energy is owned by NextEra Energy [NYSE: NEE], the world’s largest generator of wind and solar energy. Market cap above $190 billion. NextEra runs two Texas retail brands: Gexa and Frontier Utilities. That’s it. Focused operation.

Cirro Energy is owned by NRG Energy [NYSE: NRG], which also owns Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain, and Discount Power. Cirro shares a legal entity (US Retailers LLC, PUCT #10177) with Discount Power—same company, different branding. In NRG’s brand hierarchy, Cirro sits in the middle: greener than Discount Power, cheaper than Green Mountain.

Here’s the thing about NRG’s five-brand strategy: customer service investment goes to Reliant first. Cirro gets what’s left. NextEra spreads resources across just two brands, and Gexa is the flagship.

What They Actually Sell

Gexa’s lineup is broader and greener:

• Fixed-rate plans (12, 24, 36 months)—all 100% renewable via RECs
• Variable-rate (Gexa Flex)—month-to-month, no ETF
• Solar buyback plans with fixed buyback rates and battery dispatch options
• EV charging plans with free overnight electricity (11 PM - 5 AM)
• Energy Saver plans with free Sensi smart thermostats
• Rates from ~8.6 to 20.4 cents/kWh at 1,000 kWh

Cirro’s lineup is simpler:

• Bill Bonus plans (12, 24 months)—bill credit kicks in at 1,000 kWh threshold
• Simple Advantage plans (12, 24 months)—straightforward fixed rate, no credit math
• Variable-rate plan available periodically
• Rates from ~9.7 to 20.2 cents/kWh at 1,000 kWh

Both rely on bill credit structures for their lowest advertised rates. Both punish you if your usage drops below 1,000 kWh. The difference: Gexa gives you solar buyback, EV charging, and thermostat bundle options that Cirro simply doesn’t offer.

Cirro’s one advantage: the Simple Advantage plans give you clean, predictable pricing without any bill credit threshold. What you see is what you pay. Gexa doesn’t have an equivalent no-gimmick plan.

The Green Energy Question

This is where the comparison matters most.

Gexa: Every plan is 100% renewable energy. Wind and solar RECs matching 100% of customer usage. This has been the standard since 2019. No green tier. No premium. Every plan, full stop.

Cirro: Every plan includes green energy at no additional cost. But Cirro doesn’t commit to 100% renewable—they say “green energy included” without specifying the percentage. The renewable content comes through RECs, same mechanism, but the commitment level is different.

If 100% renewable matters to you, Gexa gives you that guarantee. Cirro gives you “some green” without the specificity. For customers who want to know exactly what they’re buying, that distinction is real.

The Credit & Deposit Question

Nearly identical enrollment experiences.

Gexa: Soft credit pull (won’t affect your score). Good credit = no deposit. Bad credit = $400 deposit. Waived with letter of credit, age 65+, or family violence victim status. No prepaid option.

Cirro: Credit check required. Good credit = no deposit. Below threshold = $150-$300 deposit based on estimated usage. Waived with letter of credit from previous provider. No prepaid option.

Neither works for people with bad credit and no deposit money. Both point you toward Payless Power or similar prepaid providers if that’s your situation.

The Verdict

Choose Gexa if:

• 100% renewable energy is non-negotiable, not “some green included”
• You want solar buyback, EV charging, or smart thermostat plans
• Lower rates matter—Gexa typically beats Cirro by 1-2 cents/kWh
• NextEra’s $190B backing and focused Texas operation appeal to you

Choose Cirro if:

• You want green energy without overthinking it and don’t need 100% verified
• Simple Advantage plans with zero bill credit math fit your style
• You’re already in the NRG family and want to stay
• The 25-year Texas track record matters more than plan variety

Skip both if:

• You need prepaid electricity—look at Payless Power
• You want free nights or weekends—look at Chariot Energy or Direct Energy
• You want the absolute cheapest rate and don’t care about green—look at Discount Power or 4Change