Frequently Asked Questions

Energy Ogre is an electricity management company that takes care of all your energy needs. With our proprietary systems, we manage all aspects of the contract process and consistently monitor the market to ensure our members are always in the best plan for their home. We get custom plans for our members based on their unique usage profile whenever possible, which means our members have access to below-market pricing that is only available to Energy Ogre. Basically, we save you time and hassle while reducing your electricity cost as much as possible.

Find out more on our blog.

Energy Ogre does more than just find you the best deal on the market; we manage all aspects of your electricity service. We are paid by our members, so you can rest assured that we are always focusing primarily on you. As a result, saving you both time and money.

• We actively monitor the market to ensure you are always in the best plan available based on your usage.
• We secure custom, below-market rates whenever possible for your location.
• We handle all of your electricity provider account-related procedures and issues to the best of our abilities.
• We stay ahead of your renewals so you will never fall out of contract and into higher, variable rates.
• We identify your unique electricity usage profile and offer tools to better manage your consumption.
• We provide timely bill and usage estimates through our "Ogrecast" program to help you budget.
• We're also your consistent customer service, regardless of who your current provider is, so you can always contact us for anything you need.

Is it worth it? We think so!

Why Pay Energy Ogre $10 a Month?

On average, our members see up to 40% savings with their initial switch, which is most often more than the membership fee. Your exact savings will depend on the terms of your current plan. Going forward, we can guarantee that you will always be in the lowest rate available for your usage, so you'll never be overpaying for your electricity. And we'll be managing all aspects of your account for you, as well. We believe that is definitely worth the cost of membership.

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Energy Ogre saves you time and money, however it may not always happen simultaneously in some cases. We can guarantee that the rate plan we'll put you in will have been the best plan available during the time of selection, with no hidden fees or surprises.

Energy Ogre's Free Savings Calculator Ensures Texans Never Overpay

You may cancel your service with us at any time by logging into your online account and selecting Cancellation of Service in the Contact Us section. Alternatively, you can call us at (832) 975-1000 or email us at membercare@energyogre.com. Energy Ogre does not charge a cancellation fee. However, cancelling service with the retail electricity provider will be subject to the terms and conditions of your contract, which will likely include an early termination fee.

Energy Ogre is a management service that works on behalf of our members. Power-to-Choose is a marketplace website where retail electricity providers post their offers. Providers only disclose the energy and the delivery charges, as well as all of the associated fees of the plan in their Electricity Facts Label (EFL), which can be more complicated than the advertised rate. As the market becomes more competitive, rate programs have become very complicated and highly structured. Making the Power-to-Choose website extremely confusing for most people.

What a customer believes he or she is getting could be drastically different from reality. Energy Ogre's systems interpret the rate offer in its entirety, taking into account every fee, delivery charge and taxes, for any amount of consumption (so there are no surprises). This allows us to predict within a reasonable amount of certainty exactly how much an electricity bill with that rate would be in dollars and cents for a given month. We also have access to exclusive electricity plans, which are not advertised on Power-to-Choose. Ultimately, we are able to give you a more accurate assessment of the plan that will best match how you use electricity.

Find out more on our blog.

Sure, if you live in a deregulated area, you can choose your own electricity plan. You can also change your own oil, but do you really want to do that? Shopping for electricity is complicated.

Most plans have hidden fees and variable rate structures that make the actual cost difficult to calculate and usually much higher than the advertised rate. We read the fine print, find all of the fees, and do all of the math for you. Additionally, we have access to custom, below-market rates only available to our members. Energy Ogre ensures you are always in the right plan while saving you both time and money.

Energy Ogre Customer Service: We're Here to Help

Energy Ogre guarantees complete security of all the information provided to us. If you look at the address bar in your browser while you are signing up, there should be a green padlock icon. This icon confirms that the connection between your computer and Energy Ogre's servers is secure. It also means that every bit of information that you enter in your browser is first encrypted on your computer before it is sent to us, so even if it is intercepted by anyone it would be unreadable. We use these same security measures when enrolling you with retail electricity providers, which is the only time we will ever share your information.

Why Does Energy Ogre Need Access to Smart Meter Texas?

You can have as many locations as needed with Energy Ogre. The membership fee is applied per meter, and based on the total number, the fee for additional locations may be different.

To learn more about additional locations and the applicable fees, contact us at (832) 975-1000.

You can access your code and forward your unique referral link from the Refer-a-Friend section of your Energy Ogre account.

• Log in to the mobile app or member portal
• Click on the “Invite Friends” button below the main menu options on the left-hand side
• Copy your Refer Code from the box on the right or click the buttons below to share it via email or social media
• View and redeem your rewards from the Ogre Points box

You are not in contract with Energy Ogre, but you will be enrolled in a contract with your retail electricity provider, as that is required to secure you the best rates and plans available.

The savings calculator gives potential members a rough idea of how their bills would compare to what we could help get for them. We use the information that you provide from a recent electricity bill to do the following:

• Determine your estimated usage for the next 12 months.
• Calculate what you would pay for that estimated future usage if you stayed with your current provider.
• Compare your estimated future usage with over a thousand available offers active in our systems, which are continuously updated as the market changes.
• Select the top 10 offers that fit your usage and show you how much money (if any) we may be able to save you.

If you like what you see, you can press the sign-up button to become a member.

Find out more on our blog.

Energy Ogre constantly monitors the market and analyzes all of the available plans on offer. We run comparisons of those offers with your electricity consumption. We then select the rate that matches your usage and maximizes your savings. Additionally, Energy Ogre has access to custom rates that are only available to our members, giving you the opportunity for a contract with below-market prices whenever possible.

Find out more on our blog.

Once you sign-up, Energy Ogre takes over the whole process for you. If you're not in a contract or almost out of contract with your provider, we will analyze your usage, compare it with the plans available, and automatically enroll you in the best option for your home. Plans can expire at any time as rates change every 15 minutes, so we work as quickly as possible to lock you in the best rate.

However, if you are in a contract that won't be ending within 45 days, we will send you an analysis comparing the plan we have found for you with the plan you are currently in. Once you've decided if the savings justify paying an early termination fee, you can either approve the switch or place your account on snooze. If you snooze, we'll wait until your contract is set to expire, then wake you up when it's ok to switch without an ETF.

If You Snooze, Then You Won't Lose!

New members will need to provide the following information and documents to Energy Ogre:

• Full Legal Name & Contact Information
• Date of Birth & Social Security Number
• Credit Card Information
• Service Address
• Copy of your Most Recent Electricity Bill or Current Provider Account Login Credentials (if you already have a provider)
• Details of your New Home (if you are starting new service)

Because electricity is typically paid for after the service has been provided, retail electricity providers are required to validate your identity and credit worthiness prior to starting service. To do this, they run a soft credit check, also known as a utility credit check, that requires your full legal name, social security number, and date of birth. Some providers also use this information to determine if they would require a security deposit.

Every time we submit an enrollment with a new provider, we will provide your information as required so they can run the utility credit check. This is the only circumstance in which we will share your information.

Absolutely! You can cancel the contract with your provider at any time; you just have to pay the required early termination fee (ETF). When you become an Energy Ogre member, we do the math to help you decide if it makes financial sense for you to switch providers at this time.

After you sign up, we verify your contract details from the bill you provide us. We request your usage and then run an analysis, forecasting how much electricity you will use and comparing it to all of the available offers. Once we have the best option narrowed down, we will send you the analysis by email to determine if the savings justify paying the ETF to make the switch. If the savings are not enough, you can choose to "snooze" your account until your contract expires.

If your contract is ending within 45 days, we'll be able to schedule the switch to your new plan without your having to pay an ETF, so you won't have to worry about anything!

In a Contract? Energy Ogre Can Still Help!

If you have a small solar panel system at home:

Yes, you should sign up with Energy Ogre. We will enroll you in a normal (non-solar buyback) electricity plan. This is because enrolling in a solar buyback plan with insufficient panel generation will most likely cost you more money in the long run than enrolling in a normal electricity plan.

If you have a large solar panel system at home:

No, we recommend you do not sign up with Energy Ogre because you will need a solar buyback electricity plan to benefit from your system's high generation. Energy Ogre does not currently enroll our members in solar buyback electricity plans.

Energy Ogre is not opposed to or discouraging our members from using solar panels. We want to set realistic expectations for those considering our service. Since homeowners with a large solar panel system need a solar buyback plan to fully benefit from their panels, they may be better off not using Energy Ogre's services since we do not currently enroll our members in solar buyback plans.

For more information on solar panels and buyback electricity plans, take a look at our Solar Panels Pros & Cons PDF or our Solar Panels FAQ blog.

Be sure to keep an eye on your email! We'll be sending you updates every step along the way. We'll also let you know if we have any questions or need any assistance from you. Once you've provided us with your most recent electricity bill or the location details for your new home, we'll begin the process of finding the right plan for you. If you are switching, the onboarding process typically takes 2-3 business days, depending on how quick you are to respond.

If you are moving into a new home, we are able to process same-day services as long as we have all required information before 12:30 PM. If you sign up in the afternoon or on a weekend or holiday, we will submit your order on the next regular business day.

7 Tips for Energy Ogre Members

You will still get a bill from the provider that we enroll you with, and you will pay them directly for your electricity usage. Based on your selected preferences during the sign-up process, Energy Ogre will set paper or electronic billing and automatic payments with the provider, as requested.

Please Note: Timely payment of bills is a key factor in your utility credit score. Setting up autopay with your provider is the best way to ensure you avoid late payments and the resulting fees and penalties. If you are not enrolled in autopay, be sure to allow for ample processing time before the due date for bill pay services through your bank and direct payments via credit card or check.

Yes, if your preference is to have your electricity bill on autopay, we will set it up with each new provider we enroll you with using the payment method you placed on file during sign-up or in the member portal.

Please note, there are some limitations to the payment methods accepted by different providers. For example, very few providers will accept American Express. Also, keep in mind that Energy Ogre must have working login credentials for your online account with the provider in order to set up autopay.

To update your payment information for either your Energy Ogre membership or autopay for your electricity bill, follow the instructions below:

• Log in to member portal or the mobile app
• Click “Manage Payments”
• Select “Add a Payment Method”
• Click “I Understand” to agree to the terms and conditions.
• Enter the new card and billing information.
• Select if the new card should be used to pay your Energy Ogre membership fee, your electricity bill with your provider, or both.
• Click “Add Payment Method” (Do not edit an existing card, even if you are only having to update an expiration date or CVV. Our system will not allow card edits.)

That’s all you need to do. We’ll add the new card to your account and update your electricity provider, if applicable.

Transmission Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) charges are the fees associated with servicing and delivering power to your meter. The TDSP is responsible for delivering electricity to your home and dealing with any service issues such as meter installation, power outages, meter removal, etc. TDSP charges are set costs and will be applied as pass-thru charges on your electricity bill, regardless of who the provider is. Some providers choose to display these charges separately, while others will display all costs combined together.

Find out more on our blog.

When an enrollment is processed with a retail electricity provider, they run a soft utility credit check to validate your identity and determine your creditworthiness. If they cannot determine utility payment history or good credit standing, they may require a deposit to begin services.

If a deposit is requested from a provider, Energy Ogre will contact you to discuss your available options and how to proceed. You should disregard any deposit communications from a provider and allow us to handle those on your behalf.

Electricity Deposits in Texas

If a provider requires a deposit to begin services, there are a few available options:

• You can pay the deposit. (Keep in mind, this is a refundable deposit and it will be returned to you at the end of your contract. Also, the provider requesting the deposit is currently offering the best rate option for you.)
• We may be able to request a deposit waiver from the provider if you qualify and can provide the required documentation in any of the following categories:
  • Good Utility Payment History (Letter of Credit)
  • Victim of Family Violence
  • Medically Indigent
  • Active Military
  • Over 65 with valid ID
• We can enroll you with a provider that won’t run a soft credit check or require a deposit.

To find out more, check out this article.

Yes, we enroll our members in stable electricity plans that require a contract ranging from 3 to 12 months. These plans offer the best rates and savings outcomes for our members. The specific duration of the contract we select depends on multiple factors like:

• Current rates being offered at each contract term length
• Expected rates available at the end of the contract term
• Your usage patterns and response to weather changes
• Predicted weather forecasts and details for your location
• Other critical market factors

If you are switching providers, the onboarding process typically takes 2-3 business days, after we have received your most recent bill with your current provider. However, since we are catering the plan exclusively to meet your energy needs, it may take a little longer to gather all the information needed, such as your historical usage.

If you are moving into a new home, we are able to process same-day services as long as we have all the location details and information required before 12:30 PM to submit the order that day. If you sign up in the afternoon or on a weekend or holiday, we will submit your order on the next regular business day.

Renewal or subsequent contracts for existing members will begin immediately upon completion of your prior contract. You will receive email notifications from Energy Ogre and your new provider, but you should experience no change in the electricity service at your location.

Yes, you can cancel your contract with a retail electricity provider at any time for any reason. You are just subject to the specific terms and conditions of the contract, which may include an early termination fee. As long as you pay the fee or provide the documentation required to satisfy the terms, there is no penalty for cancelling a contract.

Some common circumstances for contract cancellation are:

• If you have just enrolled in a contract with a new provider, there is a 3 day recission period in which you can cancel without penalty.
• Please note, there is no recission period for “Move-In Enrollments” where new service has been established for a customer at the location. If you cancel a move-in contract, you are subject to terms and run the risk of losing power until you switch to a new provider.
• If you are moving to a new location, you can cancel the electricity contract for your current location at any time without penalty so long as you provide the proper documentation. You do not have to transfer that service to your new location.

Not to worry! Energy Ogre takes care of the entire renewal process so that you will never fall out of contract. We start searching for your next plan 30-45 days before your contract ends, so that we can select the right one and have you enrolled by the time it does. If we need your help with something, like lifting a credit freeze or answering any questions regarding your account, we’ll let you know. Otherwise, we’ll have you automatically enrolled in a new contract without your having to lift a finger! You will also get email correspondence along the way to let you know where we are at in the process.

Find out more on our blog.

For Energy Ogre to manage and monitor your electricity service, we need access to the online account with your provider. This allows us to confirm your contract details, including the rate and contract end date, as well as manage your account preferences such as paper or electronic billing and autopay.

Whenever possible, we will create your online account with the provider and keep your username and password updated in the member portal. If ever you set up your own online account or make changes to your username or password, we ask that you update the login information in the member portal so that we can continue to properly service your account.

To update your login information for the online account with your electricity provider:

• Log in to member portal or the mobile app
• Click “Manage Login Information”
• Click “Update”
• Enter the username, password, and/or security question for the account

Please keep in mind that Energy Ogre member portal is not linked to your electricity provider. If you are wanting to change the login information with your provider, you must do so on their site and then update that information in our member portal.

You can find more information about whether you live in a deregulated zone by visiting our blog.

If you are not able to locate your zip code, please contact us at 832-975-1000 to get assistance.

No, your power will continue to flow without any interruption. The switch between electricity providers is strictly a financial process; no physical changes are ever made to your electricity delivery system.

Find out more on our blog.

Not to worry! Energy Ogre takes care of the entire renewal process so that you will never fall out of contract. Energy Ogre constantly monitors the market to ensure that you are in the best available rate for your location. If we ever find a rate that is worth switching you into from your current contract, we will let you know. If not, we will then select the best available rate for your next contract within 60 days of your current contract end date. Depending on the market, we may wait until a few days before your contract ends to obtain the most competitive rate for your location, but don't worry - you will continue to enjoy uninterrupted electricity service at the lowest rates!

If we need your help with something, like lifting a credit freeze or answering any questions regarding your account, we'll let you know. Otherwise, we'll have you automatically enrolled in a new contract without your having to lift a finger! You will also get email correspondence along the way to let you know where we are at in the process.

Find out more on our blog.

Energy Ogre will contact you about 90 days before your current contract expires to give you a heads up that we are beginning the process for your next contract. We'll touch base a few times during that process, to keep you informed of our progress. We may also contact you to collect specific information to help us select the best rate for your location or to request your assistance with a particular step in the process.

Other than keeping an eye out for and responding accordingly to those requests, please ensure that you do the following in order to ensure a smooth renewal process:

1. Notify us immediately if you have renewed yourself with your current provider or signed up on your own with a new provider. Not doing so will likely result in an Early Termination Fee that you will be responsible for.
2. Make sure that we have a valid, up-to-date payment method on file, especially if you have an autopay preference. You can manage your payment methods at member portal or the mobile app.
3. Inform us if you have a credit freeze in place with any of the credit bureaus so that we can instruct you when to temporarily lift that if necessary to complete your enrollment. (Most retail electricity providers run a soft credit check prior to approving any new enrollment.)
4. Authorize Energy Ogre to receive your usage information from Smart Meter Texas if and when you receive an SMT Confirmation email.

Energy Ogre constantly monitors the market to ensure that you are in the best available rate for your location. If we ever find a rate that is worth switching you into from your current contract, we will let you know and can have you enrolled within one business day of your approval. If not, we will then select the best available rate for your next contract within 60 days of your current contract end date.

Depending on the market, we may wait until a few days before your contract ends to obtain the most competitive rate for your location. No matter what, we will have you automatically enrolled in a new plan to begin within the grace period of your current contract end date and you will experience no disruption of service. Once the enrollment has been completed, you will get a confirmation email with all the details of your new plan. During this process, you can safely disregard any renewal offers that you receive from your current provider.

As a member, you can safely disregard any renewal offers from your current service provider. Providers are required to notify you when your contract is coming to an end, and they typically offer renewal options at the same time. Energy Ogre will compare those offers with all others on the market to select the best available plan with the lowest rate and conducive contract term for your location.

If you would like an analysis of your renewal offer or comparison to other available rates on the market, you can always submit your renewal letter and request for review to membercare@energyogre.com.

Please call us at (832) 975-1000 or email us at membercare@energyogre.com ASAP. The more time that goes by after you accidentally renew yourself, the more likely you will have to pay an early termination fee to get it canceled.

To update your payment method on file with us:

• Log in to member portal or the mobile app
• Click Manage Payments
• Select Add a Payment Method (Do not edit an existing card, even if you are only having to update an expiration date or CVV. Our system will not allow card edits.)
• Click I Understand
• Enter the new card and billing information, then select if it should be used to pay Energy Ogre, your Electricity Provider, or both.
• Click Add Payment Method

To update us with the valid login information for your electricity provider online account:

• Log in to Energy Ogre Connect
• Click Manage Login Information (orange button)
• Click Update
• Enter the username, password, and/or security question for the account

Please keep in mind, the Energy Ogre member portal is not linked to your electricity provider. If you are wanting to change the login information with your provider, you must do so on their site and then update that information in our member portal.

Energy Ogre requires access to your online account to best manage and monitor electricity service for your location. Access to your account information allows Energy Ogre to confirm your contract details, ensure that you are appropriately charged for your electricity consumption, as well as setup and manage your account preferences (i.e. autopay, paper or electronic billing).

Additionally, Energy Ogre can best assist with any issues with your current provider if we have access to your online account.

We can happily help you cancel service at your current location and setup service at your new location if necessary. 2 to 3 weeks before your move, you just need to send a "Member Move-Out and/or Transfer of Service Request" email to membercare@energyogre.com with the following information:

• Address of the Location to Disconnect Electricity Service
• Date You'd Like the Disconnection of Electricity Service for the Location (Please note, weekends and holidays are not permitted, and service can be disconnected at any time between 7am - 11:59pm on the requested date.)
• Supporting Documentation (a copy of one item below must be attached to avoid termination fees)
• Bill of Sale under member name
• Purchase Agreement for New Address (must include all pages and display member name)
• Lease Agreement for New Address (must include all pages and display member name)
• Address of the New Location Requiring Electricity Service (if applicable)
• Date You'd Like to Begin Electricity Service for the New Location (Please note, weekends and holidays are not permitted, and service can begin at any time between 7 am and 11:59 pm on the requested date.)

Once we receive your request and documentation, we will schedule the contract termination and ensure no fees will be charged. We can also set up your new location for electricity service, if applicable.

If you have any questions or need to schedule a move within the next 2-3 business days, please contact us at (832) 856-8522.

Providers may require a deposit from you for multiple reasons, including but not limited to existing credit freezes on your credit report, incorrect personal information, incorrect service address information, and/or low credit scores. Addressing incorrect information or lifting a credit freeze to allow a soft credit check may resolve the deposit requirement.

Deposit waivers may also be available to qualifying members who fit one or more of the following criteria: individuals who can secure a Letter of Credit from their current provider, active military personnel, members over 65 years of age, and/or a victim of family violence. Proper documentation must accompany any waiver request.

If no waiver or correction is available, requested deposits must be paid in full in order to complete enrollment in the recommended plan, selected because it is the best available option for your home. It is also important to note that deposits are fully refundable at the end of the contract term for accounts in good standing.

Energy Ogre enrolls members in the most advantageous contracts available, ranging between 3 and 12 months. We select the plan that will deliver the most savings throughout the course of the year, based on the offered rate as well as the projected rates that will be available when the contract ends. Shorter term contracts are often priced lower but end in a peak pricing season, which would ultimately result in minimal or no overall savings.

We analyze the current pricing and renewal timing of all offers on the market to select the best available contract for your location. Maximizing your savings throughout the year is our first and foremost priority and each contract is selected toward that aim.