Gexa Energy vs Rhythm Energy: Two 100% Green Providers Face Off

At a Glance

Factor	Gexa Energy	Rhythm Energy
Parent Company	NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE)	Goldman Sachs
Years in Texas	24	5
Credit Check	Yes (soft pull)	Yes
Prepaid Available	No	No
Green Plans	100% renewable (all plans)	100% renewable (all plans)
On ComparePower	Yes	Yes

Bottom Line: Both are 100% renewable on every plan. Gexa is cheaper and has 24 years behind it. Rhythm has the better app, smarter solar buyback, and demand response credits. You’re choosing between lowest green rate (Gexa) and best green experience (Rhythm).

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The Corporate Reality

Two very different companies, both committed to 100% renewable.

Gexa Energy is NextEra Energy’s [NYSE: NEE] Texas retail brand. NextEra is the world’s largest wind and solar generator. $190 billion market cap. Twenty-four years in Texas. Gexa isn’t just buying RECs—its parent company is the one generating the renewable power.

Rhythm Energy is backed by Goldman Sachs through its West Street Capital Partners VII fund. Founded in 2020, selling plans since February 2021. Five years old. In June 2025, Rhythm acquired Inspire Clean Energy, expanding into multiple states. The company has Goldman Sachs board representation and institutional capital behind it.

Different risk profiles. NextEra has been in Texas electricity since 2002. Goldman Sachs doesn’t let portfolio companies quietly fail, but Rhythm is still young. Five Texas summers is a real track record—it’s just not a 24-year track record.

What They Actually Sell

Gexa’s lineup:

• Fixed-rate plans (12, 24, 36 months) at 8.6-20.4 cents/kWh
• Variable-rate (Gexa Flex)—month-to-month, no ETF
• Solar buyback: Solar Export Saver with fixed buyback rate; Battery Benefits
• EV charging: free electricity 11 PM - 5 AM
• Smart thermostat bundles with free Sensi devices
• $150 ETF on 12-month plans
• 60-day Happiness Guarantee (switch Gexa plans only)

Rhythm’s lineup:

• Fixed-rate plans (12, 13, 23 months) at 10.8-19.4 cents/kWh
• PowerShift demand response: free smart thermostat + $15/month credit, or $5/month with your own
• Solar buyback with time-of-use pricing—higher credits for peak-hour exports
• $19.95/month base charge on solar buyback
• ETF: $10-$20 per remaining month ($120-$460 range)
• 30-day test drive—cancel with zero ETF
• Rhythm Rewards points program
• $150 ETF reimbursement when switching from another provider

Both are 100% renewable. Both use bill credit structures on their cheapest plans. Gexa wins on rate: 8.6 cents vs 10.8 cents at the low end. At 1,000 kWh/month, that’s roughly $22/month, or $264/year.

The App & Digital Experience

This is where Rhythm separates itself.

Rhythm’s app is the best among Texas electricity providers. Weekly Smart Alerts project your bill before it arrives. Usage tracking is detailed and actually useful. PowerShift integration shows your demand response participation and credits earned. The entire company is built for digital-first customers.

Gexa’s app is functional—bill pay, usage tracking, plan management, smart device controls. It’s fine. It won’t win any awards, but it gets the job done.

If you manage your electricity through your phone and want proactive alerts that prevent bill surprises, Rhythm’s digital experience is genuinely superior. If you set up autopay and check your bill once a month, Gexa’s app is more than enough.

The Solar Buyback Comparison

Both offer solar buyback, with different approaches.

Gexa: Fixed buyback rate for excess generation. Battery Benefits pays higher credits if you have storage and allow dispatch during peak demand. Simple, predictable.

Rhythm: Time-of-use pricing means your buyback credits vary by hour. Export during peak demand and you earn more. Credits roll over monthly with no cap and no sweep—your balance carries forward indefinitely. $19.95/month base charge applies.

The difference: Rhythm’s time-of-use structure rewards strategic solar production. If your panels export heavily during summer evenings (peak demand), you earn premium credits. Gexa’s flat rate is simpler but doesn’t reward peak-hour generation.

Rhythm’s unlimited credit rollover is also notable. Some providers sweep unused credits periodically. Rhythm lets them accumulate indefinitely.

The Credit & Deposit Question

Gexa: Soft credit pull. Good credit = no deposit. Bad credit = $400 deposit. Waivers for utility history, age 65+, family violence.

Rhythm: Standard credit check. Good credit = no deposit. Below threshold = refundable deposit or non-refundable Deposit Alternative Fee. Waivers for letter of credit, age 65+, family violence, medically indigent.

Rhythm’s Deposit Alternative Fee is unusual—a non-refundable fee that replaces the deposit. Cheaper upfront than a full deposit, but you don’t get it back. Gexa doesn’t offer this option.

Neither offers prepaid. Both point to Payless Power for no-credit-check situations.

The Verdict

Choose Gexa if:

• Lowest green rate wins—8.6 cents vs 10.8 cents saves you $200-$300/year
• A 24-year NextEra-backed track record matters
• EV charging with free overnight electricity is on your list
• You prefer straightforward plans without demand response complexity

Choose Rhythm if:

• The best app in Texas and weekly Smart Alerts are worth a premium
• Demand response credits ($5-$15/month) offset the rate difference
• Solar buyback with time-of-use pricing and unlimited rollover fits your setup
• The 30-day test drive (true cancel with $0 ETF) removes all risk

Skip both if:

• You need prepaid—look at Payless Power or Frontier Utilities
• Green energy is irrelevant and you want rock-bottom pricing—look at Discount Power or 4Change
• You want free nights or weekends—look at Chariot Energy