How Companies Get Evaluated
No favorites. Same treatment for TXU as for companies you've never heard of. Here's what gets measured.
The Problem
Every electricity comparison site works the same way: sort by rate, pick the cheapest, cross your fingers.
That fails. Companies engineer their plans to win the sort. Bill credits at exactly 1,000 kWh. Tiered rates that spike the moment you exceed an arbitrary threshold. "Lowest rate" plans that only stay low if your usage hits an impossible target.
Price isn't the whole story.
Can you reach someone when your bill looks wrong? Will the company still exist next year? Is the "green" claim real or marketing? Is customer service a phone tree to nowhere?
This site answers those questions. ComparePower handles rates. This site handles trust.
What Gets Evaluated
Every company profile and ranking is based on these six factors. No exceptions.
1. Market Longevity & Financial Stability
How long has the company operated in Texas? Who owns them? Publicly traded or private equity-backed?
Why it matters: Companies disappear. Griddy collapsed in 2021, leaving customers scrambling. Staying power matters.
2. PUC Complaint Ratio
The Public Utility Commission of Texas publishes complaint data for every retail electricity provider. Complaints per 1,000 customers normalizes for company size.
Why it matters: A company with 10 complaints and 100,000 customers is doing better than one with 10 complaints and 10,000 customers. Raw numbers lie. Ratios don't.
3. Plan Variety & Flexibility
Does the company offer fixed-rate, variable, time-of-use, free nights/weekends, prepaid, and renewable options? Or just one or two plan types?
Why it matters: Different customers need different things. A company with only 12-month fixed plans won't work for someone moving in 6 months.
4. Customer Service Quality
What are support hours? Can you reach a human by phone? What do reviews say about hold times and issue resolution?
Why it matters: When your power goes out or your bill looks wrong, you need to reach someone. 24/7 chat isn't the same as a phone number that picks up.
5. Deposit & Credit Policies
What credit score triggers a deposit? How much? Are there prepaid alternatives? Deposit waiver programs?
Why it matters: Credit-challenged customers deserve options too. Companies that only serve perfect credit are leaving people behind.
6. Green Energy Credibility
For companies claiming renewable options: Are they buying RECs as an afterthought, or committed to clean energy? What percentage of their portfolio is renewable?
Why it matters: "Green" has become a marketing checkbox. Green Mountain (100% renewable since 1997) is different from companies tacking on a green option for PR.
What Gets Ignored
Today's rates. Rates change daily—sometimes hourly. A ranking based on current rates would be outdated before you read it. Company quality gets evaluated here. For live rates, use ComparePower.
Advertising spend. Companies don't get ranked higher because they advertise. They don't get ranked lower either. No bias.
Press releases and marketing claims. Every company claims "excellent customer service" and "competitive rates." Claims get verified against data. If a company says they have low complaints, the PUC numbers get checked.
Brand sentiment. TXU and Reliant are household names. That doesn't make them better. Performance gets evaluated, not name recognition.
Data Sources
Every claim can be verified. Here's where the information comes from.
Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT)
Official regulatory body for Texas electricity
- • Complaint data by provider (updated quarterly)
- • Provider licensing and certification status
- • Regulatory filings and enforcement actions
- • Service area designations
Electricity Facts Labels (EFLs)
Required disclosure documents for every plan
- • Actual rates at 500, 1000, and 2000 kWh
- • All fees (base charges, minimum usage fees, TDU charges)
- • Contract terms and early termination fees
- • Renewable content percentage
Company Filings & Public Records
Ownership, financials, and corporate structure
- • SEC filings for publicly traded parent companies
- • Texas Secretary of State business records
- • Parent company annual reports
- • Merger and acquisition announcements
Customer Feedback Patterns
Aggregated from multiple sources
- • Google Reviews (patterns, not individual complaints)
- • Better Business Bureau ratings and complaint history
- • Industry review platforms
- • Enrollment retention data (which companies keep customers)
Direct Verification
Things that get checked directly
- • Customer service phone tests (calls get timed)
- • Website and app functionality
- • Enrollment process review
- • Terms of service analysis
No Bias
Rankings are based on company quality. TXU gets the same treatment as companies you've never heard of.
What This Means
- ✓ Rankings based on data, not relationships
- ✓ Negative reviews published when warranted
- ✓ No "sponsored" placements
- ✓ Companies can't pay for better ratings
Content Standards
How content gets written, reviewed, and kept accurate.
Verification Process
Every factual claim is verified against primary sources before publication. Rate information comes from EFLs. Complaint data comes from PUCT. Ownership information comes from public filings. Marketing materials don't count as sources.
Update Schedule
- Provider profiles: Reviewed quarterly, updated when material changes occur
- Comparison pages: Reviewed quarterly
- Best-for rankings: Reviewed monthly
- Rate information: Real-time via ComparePower API
Citation Standards
When specific data gets cited (complaint ratios, rate comparisons, ownership details), the source is linked or referenced. Claims like "TXU charges 15-25% more" are based on rate comparison data, not opinion.
Opinion vs. Fact
Opinions exist here. They're stated clearly. But there's a distinction between "TXU has more PUC complaints per customer than Gexa" (fact, verifiable) and "TXU is overpriced for what you get" (opinion, based on analysis).
Corrections & Error Reporting
Mistakes happen. When they do, they get fixed.
Minor errors (typos, outdated phone numbers) are corrected without notice.
Material errors (wrong complaint data, incorrect ownership information, misattributed claims) receive a correction notice on the affected page.
To report an error: Email corrections@lightcompanies.com with the URL, the error, and the correct information with a source. Response within 5 business days.
About This Site
LightCompanies is operated by ComparePower, a Texas-based electricity comparison platform.
ComparePower has operated in the Texas electricity market since 2014. The team includes energy market analysts, content specialists, and developers with 19+ years of combined experience in deregulated electricity markets.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas. This is home. Texas electricity bills get paid here too.
Legal entity: Compare Power LLC DBA Light Companies
Address: 539 W. Commerce Street Suite 1480, Dallas, TX 75208
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