Frisco TX Electricity Plans: Real Cost at 500 and 2000 kWh
If you shop for power in Frisco the way most ads suggest—by chasing the lowest cents-per-kilowatt-hour at 1,000 or 2,000 kWh—you can easily pick the wrong plan. Frisco sits inside Texas's competitive retail market, where you choose a retail electric provider (REP) for supply while a separate wires company delivers power. Regulators require every residential plan to disclose an all-in average price at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh so you can see how fees and credits change the math at low and high use. For many Frisco households, the gap between the 500 kWh column and the 2,000 kWh column is where the real money hides.
Why 500 and 2,000 kWh Matter in Frisco
Frisco is a fast-growing Collin County suburb in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro. Summers push air-conditioning load sharply higher; mild spring and fall months can land much lower on the meter. That swing matters because Texas plan marketing is built around three standardized usage anchors, not your actual month-by-month curve.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) requires each residential Electricity Facts Label (EFL) to show the total average price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh per month, rounded to the nearest tenth of a cent (¹). Those figures include recurring REP charges baked into the label's average; they exist so shoppers can compare offers on equal footing.
Use 500 kWh to stress-test a low month—think a small apartment, a vacation week away, or shoulder season without AC. Use 2,000 kWh to model a large home running hard in August, a home with a pool pump, or electric heat on a cold snap. If you only compare at 1,000 kWh, you miss both tails.
For context, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports the average U.S. residential customer used about 899 kWh per month in 2022 (10,791 kWh annually) (²). Frisco homes often exceed that in peak summer and fall below it in spring—so checking both 500 kWh and 2,000 kWh columns is not academic; it mirrors real Frisco billing seasons.
How Frisco Fits Texas Electric Choice
Most Frisco residents live in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region and are eligible to choose a REP. The PUCT tells consumers that if you live in ERCOT and are not served by an electric cooperative or municipally owned utility, you have the power to choose your electric provider, and it directs shoppers to ³ to compare retail offers (⁴).
³ is the official, unbiased comparison site operated for the PUCT, where certified providers list offers for free (³). When you enter a Frisco ZIP code, you may need to confirm your transmission and distribution utility (TDU)—the company that owns the local wires. In North Texas, that is commonly Oncor Electric Delivery; Oncor's residential site directs new service customers to Power to Choose rather than selling supply itself (⁵).
ERCOT, the grid operator for most of Texas, manages power flow to more than 27 million Texas customers—about 90 percent of the state's electric load (⁶). Frisco's growth sits inside that competitive footprint: you are buying a contract with a REP, not "Frisco city power."
Since January 2025, the PUCT no longer updates its archived quarterly and annual residential bill-comparison tables and points shoppers to live pricing on Power to Choose instead (⁷). That makes the EFL's 500 / 1,000 / 2,000 kWh rows—and the averages shown on Power to Choose—the primary public benchmarks.
The EFL: Your Apples-to-Apples Label
Think of the EFL as a nutrition label for electricity. The PUCT developed it so Texans can make an "apples-to-apples" comparison of competitive offers (⁸). Each REP must provide an EFL on request, showing prices and contract terms in a standardized format (⁸).
Under ¹, the label must disclose:
- Whether the product is fixed or variable
- The total average price per kWh at 500, 1,000, and 2,000 kWh for residential customers
- That the average reflects all recurring charges (with specific pass-through exceptions listed in the rule)
- Other assessable fees and whether each fee is included in the average
⁹ defines key terms you will see on Frisco plans:
- Retail Electric Provider (REP): sells electricity to you; does not deliver it or read the meter (⁹)
- Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU): delivers power, reads the meter, maintains wires; regulated by the PUCT (⁹)
- Base charge: flat monthly fee regardless of kWh used (⁹)
- Minimum usage fee: some plans charge if you use less than a stated threshold (⁹)
Reporting on Texas retail markets noted that 29 of 44 retailers charged $7 to $20 per month in minimum usage fees when use fell below 1,000 kWh, according to the Texas Ratepayers' Organization to Save Energy (¹⁰). At 500 kWh, you are below that threshold on many plans—exactly why the low-usage column matters.
What Actually Makes Up Your Bill
A competitive Frisco bill has two big pieces:
1. REP supply charges
This is the energy rate, monthly base charges, bill credits, minimum-use penalties, and renewable-content choices from the company you sign with. Variable-rate plans can change month to month; fixed-rate plans lock the energy price for the contract term except for certain pass-through changes (⁹).
2. TDU delivery charges
These regulated wires costs are set by your TDU and approved by the PUCT. The commission publishes transmission and distribution rates that TDUs must charge all REPs for delivery (¹¹). Everyone on the same TDU pays the same delivery rates no matter which REP you pick.
The EFL average-price table folds recurring REP charges together according to PUCT rules; TDU pass-throughs may appear on your bill separately depending on product structure. Either way, fixed monthly components hurt low users more because there are fewer kWh to spread them across—exactly the pattern the 500 kWh column reveals.
Translating ¢/kWh Averages into Dollars
The EFL average at a given usage level is an all-in ¢/kWh for recurring charges in that scenario. To estimate supply-side dollars before taxes:
Estimated monthly supply charge ≈ (EFL average ¢/kWh at your usage band) × (your kWh) ÷ 100
Add TDU delivery (from your bill or TDU rate sheet) and taxes for the full picture.
Illustrative structure (not a live quote)
Suppose two hypothetical 12-month fixed plans in the same TDU territory show these EFL averages:
| Plan | Avg @ 500 kWh | Avg @ 2,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Plan A | 14.5¢ | 11.2¢ |
| Plan B | 12.8¢ | 11.8¢ |
At 500 kWh:
- Plan A ≈ 14.5 × 500 ÷ 100 = $72.50
- Plan B ≈ 12.8 × 500 ÷ 100 = $64.00
At 2,000 kWh:
- Plan A ≈ 11.2 × 2,000 ÷ 100 = $224.00
- Plan B ≈ 11.8 × 2,000 ÷ 100 = $236.00
Plan B wins the low month by $8.50 but loses the high month by $12.00. A Frisco family in a large home that routinely crosses 1,800 kWh in summer should weight the 2,000 kWh column heavily. A studio apartment that often lands near 500 kWh should do the opposite.
That inversion usually means Plan A leans on bill credits or low energy rates that only kick in at higher use—structures the ⁹ flags under minimum usage and time-of-use products.
Statewide Price Context (Not a Frisco Quote)
Frisco plan prices change daily, but statewide benchmarks help sanity-check what you see:
- Texas average retail electricity price was 9.79¢/kWh across all sectors in the most recent EIA state profile (¹²).
- Texas residential customers paid an average of 16.99¢/kWh in April 2026 versus 15.52¢/kWh in April 2025, according to EIA's monthly state table (¹³).
- The U.S. average retail price was about 13.63¢/kWh in 2025 (¹⁴).
Your Frisco EFL at 500 or 2,000 kWh can land above or below these averages depending on contract length, renewable content, and fee design—not because the billboard promised "cheap power."
Plan Features That Move the 500 vs 2,000 kWh Spread
| Feature | Effect at ~500 kWh | Effect at ~2,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| High base charge | Inflates average ¢/kWh | Dilutes across more kWh |
| Minimum-use fee below 1,000 kWh | Can trigger penalties | Often irrelevant |
| Usage bill credit at 1,000+ kWh | Credit missing | Credit applied |
| Tiered energy blocks | Low block may be expensive | Higher blocks dominate |
| Time-of-use | Depends on schedule | Depends on schedule |
¹⁰ quoted consumer advocates saying fee presentation in Texas is "quite willy-nilly. Let the buyer beware." The antidote for Frisco shoppers is mechanical: compare the EFL columns side by side, then read the fee list below the table on each label (¹).
Frisco Usage Patterns: Who Should Weight Which Column
Frisco housing spans new-build single-family neighborhoods, townhome clusters, and apartment complexes along the Dallas North Tollway corridor. Usage patterns split accordingly:
- Apartments and townhomes (often 600–900 kWh typical, 500 kWh in mild months): Weight the 500 kWh EFL column first. A plan that looks cheap at 2,000 kWh but carries a stiff base charge or minimum-use fee can cost more in April than a slightly higher energy rate with no threshold penalties (⁹).
- Large single-family homes (1,400–2,400 kWh in peak summer): Weight 2,000 kWh, but still glance at 500 kWh if you travel frequently or maintain a second thermostat zone you rarely cool.
- Homes with pools, EV charging, or workshop loads: Summer peaks can approach or exceed 2,000 kWh even with efficient HVAC. Model your highest billed month, not the annual average alone.
The EIA notes that retail electricity prices are usually highest for residential customers because distributing power to homes costs more per kWh than serving large industrial accounts at higher voltages (¹⁴). Frisco suburban density does not change that structural fact; it makes reading the EFL columns essential.
Pass-through charges you cannot negotiate
Even the best REP deal sits on top of TDU delivery. The Power to Choose glossary explains that transmission and distribution utilities provide the actual delivery of electricity over poles and wires, maintain infrastructure, and respond to outages (⁹). ⁹ may still adjust for changes in TDU fees, ERCOT administrative fees, or government-imposed charges. When comparing two plans with similar 500 kWh averages, confirm whether each label includes the same pass-through assumptions.
If You Are Moving to Frisco From a Regulated State
Shoppers arriving from states without retail choice, where one utility sells bundled generation and delivery, should expect a two-part model: you pick the REP, the TDU stays put. Ohio and Maryland also allow choice in many territories; the discipline is identical even when the portal differs: translate every offer to your kWh band before signing. If you are not in an ERCOT competitive area, you may not choose a REP at all; the PUCT consumer help site outlines eligibility (⁴).
Step-by-Step: Shop Frisco Plans the Right Way
- Gather usage history. Pull 12 months from your REP portal or smart-meter history. Note your lowest month, highest month, and average. ¹⁵ recommends using past bills when comparing.
- Open ³ and enter your Frisco ZIP. Select your TDU if prompted.
- Filter intentionally. The glossary notes you can filter out plans with minimum usage fees, credits, or tiered rates if you want simpler math (⁹).
- Sort by the column that matches your risk. Low-use households: prioritize 500 kWh. Large homes with summer peaks: prioritize 2,000 kWh. Mixed profiles: compare both.
- Open the EFL for each finalist. Record average ¢/kWh at 500 and 2,000 kWh, contract length, early-termination fee, and listed assessable fees.
- Model dollars with the formula above for your expected low and high months.
- Read the Terms of Service for variable-rate rules, autopay requirements, and deposit policies before enrolling.
- Set a renewal reminder 30–45 days before contract end—Frisco's market moves constantly, and the PUCT no longer publishes live comparison tables (⁷).
Small Business and Rental Notes
Frisco's commercial corridors and home-based businesses on residential meters should use the small commercial EFL anchors—1,500, 2,500, and 3,500 kWh—when evaluating business products (¹). Renters switching apartments within Frisco should re-shop; TDU territory usually stays the same within the city, but REP contracts do not automatically transfer.
Red Flags Before You Sign
- A wide gap between 500 kWh and 2,000 kWh averages with no clear fee explanation
- Marketing that highlights 2,000 kWh ¢/kWh when your history shows mostly 600–800 kWh
- Variable rates without understanding pass-through TDU changes (⁹)
- Ignoring early termination fees when you might move within the contract term
Bottom Line
Frisco electricity plans are not priced on a single headline rate. They are priced on bundles of recurring charges that behave differently at 500 kWh than at 2,000 kWh. The PUCT requires those scenarios on every residential EFL (¹), and ³ surfaces them for side-by-side shopping (⁴). Run both numbers against your real usage history—especially the low month and the August peak—before you switch, renew, or start service. That is how you find the real cost, not the advertised one.