Moving? Take us with you. Whether you are moving across town or arriving in Texas for the first time, starting or transferring your Chariot Energy service takes a few minutes, and we handle the rest.
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Electricity may be the last thing on your mind when moving, but with Chariot Energy it is the easiest. Chariot Energy’s setup is fast, intuitive and concierge-level. Enjoy more time settling in and leave your energy plan to Chariot.
Call 855-524-2746 or
We’ll take it from there. We’ll even let your current provider know about the switch.
No surprises. No hidden fees. Just good, clean energy backed by world class customer care.
There are two paths, and both take about fifteen minutes.
We’ll take it from there. We’ll even let your current provider know about the switch. Moving mid-contract with another provider? Under Texas rules, moving is not a cancellation. Give your old provider a move-out date and a forwarding address and the early termination fee should not apply. Check your old contract for the notice it requires.
Ready now? Enter your zip code at the top of this page, or call 855-524-2746 and a customer happiness expert will set it up with you.
Electricity is one of the few moving tasks you can finish weeks early. Here is the schedule we recommend.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Up to 90 days before move-in | Service can usually be scheduled up to 90 days ahead. Shop plans, pick a start date, and cross it off the list. |
| 2 to 4 weeks out | Compare a fixed-rate plan against a free plan based on how your new home will run. Check whether the home has solar panels, since that changes which plans you can choose. |
| 3 business days before you leave your old place | If you are a Chariot customer, tell us your move-out date and forwarding address. With a forwarding address on file, no early termination fee applies when you move. |
| Move-in day | Most Texas homes have smart meters, so activation is remote and usually fast once service is scheduled. If you require expedited service or choose a specific day for your service to begin, your TDU may assess a fee, which appears on your first bill as a separate line item. |
| About 35 days after service starts | Expect your first Chariot bill. |
Looking for no-deposit electricity, or wondering why a light company asks for a deposit at all? Here is how it actually works, so you know what to expect before you enroll.
Chariot may perform a credit check as part of the enrollment process. Depending on the score and the plan, a deposit may be required. Qualified customers may enroll without paying a deposit. If a deposit applies, the amount and the terms are covered in your contract documents.
Texas rules and Chariot’s own policies give several groups a way to qualify for a deposit waiver. You may qualify if you are:
| Situation | What to have ready |
|---|---|
| Age 65 or older and in good standing | Proof that the account holder is at least 65 and a copy of your most recent electric bill (it must be current) |
| Bringing a clean payment history | A letter of credit, or 12 consecutive months of billing and payment history from another electric provider with no more than two late payments |
| Active-duty military | Deployment orders or a verifying letter from your command |
| Medically indigent | Documentation that household income is at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines, or of significant medical hardship |
| A victim of family violence | Documentation from a family violence center, a medical professional, law enforcement, a District or County Attorney, or the Texas Attorney General (family violence as defined by Texas Family Code §71.004) |
If you think you qualify, call 855-524-2746 before you enroll and we will walk you through it. The full list of deposit waiver questions lives on our FAQ page.
Deposits depend on the credit check and the plan. Waivers depend on your situation. Both are spelled out before you sign.
Use this moving to Texas checklist to get power sorted alongside everything else. Print it, screenshot it, or just work down the list.
| Done | Task | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Confirm your new address is in a deregulated area | Enter the zip code above. Austin and San Antonio residents use their city utility instead. |
| ☐ | Find out if the home has solar panels or a battery | It changes which plans you can choose. Solar homes go to solar buyback plans. |
| ☐ | Estimate your monthly usage | Bigger home, older A/C, pool or EV? Use the electricity bill calculator. |
| ☐ | Pick a plan and a start date | Up to 90 days ahead. Fixed rate or a free-hours plan. |
| ☐ | Gather what enrollment needs | Service address, start date, ID and the details for a quick credit check. Waiver documents if they apply. |
| ☐ | Give your old provider a forwarding address | Avoids an early termination fee on the old contract. |
| ☐ | Save your TDU’s outage number | Outages go to the utility, not the provider. Details on our outages page. |
| ☐ | Set up MyAccount and autopay | Your first bill arrives about 35 days after service starts. |
In most of the country, one utility sells you electricity and delivers it. In most of Texas, those are two different jobs. Your local utility, called a TDU, owns the poles and wires and delivers the power. A retail electricity provider like Chariot Energy sells you the plan. You choose the provider, and nobody is assigned to you.
That is what “deregulated” means, and it has been the rule in Texas since 2002. It is also why people moving in from regulated states get caught off guard: if you do not pick a provider, the lights do not come on.
| Who | What they do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Your retail electricity provider (REP) | Sells your plan, sends your bill, answers your questions | Chariot Energy |
| Your TDU (the utility) | Delivers power, reads the meter, fixes outages | CenterPoint in Houston, Oncor in Dallas-Fort Worth, AEP Texas, TNMP, Lubbock Power and Light |
| ERCOT | Runs the Texas grid | Read our ERCOT explainer |
A few cities sit outside this system. Austin, San Antonio and some co-op areas run their own utilities, so residents there do not choose a provider. Almost every major metro and suburb in the state does. Not sure about your new address? Enter your zip code above and you will know right away.
Chariot Energy delivers commercial electricity plans that make sense for your business, offering reliability, cost savings, and a personalized approach to energy management. Enrollment takes just minutes. Once you’re in, monitor your usage and manage your account with a simple online dashboard designed to put control at your fingertips.
Need help? Chariot’s friendly support team is ready to walk you through plan options based on your location, usage and goals.
Moving to Texas is exciting, but for many newcomers setting up electricity comes with a surprise.
Unlike most states Texas has a deregulated electricity market. That means residents choose their electricity provider instead of being automatically assigned one. For people relocating from out of state this can feel overwhelming, especially while juggling a move a new home and a tight timeline.
This guide explains how Texas electricity works in clear plain language so newcomers can set up service confidently avoid bill surprises and start power on time.
No. Some cities including Austin and San Antonio operate municipal utilities, and a few rural areas are served by co-ops. Most suburbs and major metro areas are deregulated and require customers to choose a provider.
Yes. Early termination fees may apply unless the customer is moving again or the contract term is ending. If you are switching providers at your current address, you can also cancel without penalty before midnight of the third federal business day after you receive your contract documents. That three-day window does not apply to a new move-in.
Not unless service is scheduled. Most Texas homes have smart meters so activation is usually remote and fast once service is set up.
Not always. Chariot may perform a credit check as part of the enrollment process. Depending on the score and the plan, a deposit may be required. Qualified customers may enroll without paying a deposit, and deposit waiver options exist for seniors, active-duty military, customers with a clean 12-month payment history, medically indigent households and victims of family violence.
Call 855-524-2746 before you enroll and tell us which situation applies. You will need supporting documents, such as proof of age and a current bill for the senior waiver, or 12 months of on-time payment history from your previous provider. The full requirements are on our FAQ page.
Usually up to 90 days before your move-in date. Most Texas homes have smart meters, so activation is remote and usually fast once service is scheduled. If you require expedited service or choose a specific day for your service to begin, your TDU may assess a fee that appears as a separate line on your first bill.
We’ll provide you with 100% clean, renewable energy, always backed by simplicity, transparency and integrity.
