What Is Free Nights Electricity?
Electricity plans with free nights are a time-of-use offering that gives you energy at no cost during off-peak hours. These plan types can help you save significantly if you use most of your energy during the free periods.
Despite the enticement of zero-cost hours, free energy plans actually don’t often advertise the cheapest electricity rates in Texas. While you’ll enjoy free electricity at night, your daytime rate can exceed 24 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Use most of your energy at night, and you’ll save. But if you use even a regular amount of electricity during the paid hours, your bill can skyrocket.
Electricity companies in Texas use smart meters to track exactly when you use power to determine how much you owe each month. You’ll need to closely monitor your energy usage and adjust when you consume the most energy to enjoy any substantial savings.
Top Providers Offering Free Nights and Weekends Plans
Several top Texas electricity providers offer free nights and weekends plans, including Reliant Energy, TXU Energy, Direct Energy and Just Energy. The free period varies by provider, and rates depend on your usage and location. Many light companies offer 100% renewable free nights options and tools to help track your usage and save money.
Compare contract lengths, rates for your usage and green energy options when looking for a plan. Note that the rates below are for the Houston area. You’ll generally find competitive rates in the Dallas area.
| Provider | Plan Name | Free Period | Contract Length (Months) | Average Rate (Cents per kWh) | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliant Energy | Truly Free Nights 100% Solar 12 | 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. | 12 | 19.2 | 100% renewable, monitor free electricity and solar impact in mobile app |
| TXU Energy | Free Nights & Solar Days 12 | 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. | 12 | 19.9 | 100% renewable, monitor savings in mobile app |
| Green Mountain Energy | Pollution Free All Nighter 12 | 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. | 12 | 18.2 | 100% renewable |
| Amigo Energy | Nights Free Plan 12 | 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 12 | 18.7 | No frills, can upgrade to 100% renewable for $9.99 |
| Just Energy | Nights Free Plan 12 | 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. | 12 | 19.1 | No frills, can upgrade to JustGreen for $9.99 |
Types of Free Electricity Plans
Due to its growing popularity, you can now find several different types of free electricity plans, although the most common are free nights.
- Free nights plans: These plans offer free electricity overnight, usually from 8 or 9 p.m. to early morning, often 5 or 6 a.m. They’re best if you use electricity overnight or have flexible schedules to shift usage. Many electric vehicle (EV) charging plans have free charging hours at night.
- Free weekends plans: These plans provide free electricity from Friday evening through Sunday night or early Monday morning. Free weekends plans may work well if you spend most weekends at home but are away for significant periods of the week.
- Combined free nights and weekends plans: You may find options for a free night and weekend combination. These give more flexibility and offer potential savings if your usage aligns with the free periods.
- Free days plans: These uncommon plans offer free electricity during the day. Free daytime energy may suit your needs if you work from home. It can be particularly beneficial if you have a solar battery storage system, allowing you to get free power during the day and use stored power at night. Just Energy and Chariot Energy offer these plans.
- Other variations: Providers such as TXU Energy offer other free electricity plans that vary based on how and when you use the most power. Depending on the plan, your free period might be during a season or vary month-to-month.
Before signing up for any “free energy” plan, check the daytime rates to avoid surprise charges.
How Free Nights and Weekends Plans Work
Free nights and weekends plans use smart meters to track your electricity use throughout the day. These meters record usage in 15-minute intervals so providers can see when you’re using power.
Your provider applies free usage credits to your bill based on your usage during nighttime or weekend hours. Any power used outside the free period is charged at the plan’s energy rate. The energy charge is often much higher than the 15.30 cents per kWh average Texas rate, according to March data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). For example, TXU’s Free Nights & Solar Days plan has an energy charge of 27.7 cents per kWh in Houston.
Here are a few other key factors to understand:
- Higher peak-hour rates: You pay more during daytime hours, so shifting your usage to match the free period can help avoid high energy bills.
- Smart meter requirements: Your home must have a smart meter for accurate billing and usage recordings for a free nights or weekends plan. Most homes in Texas already have a smart meter.
- Billing cycle information: Your total bill reflects your energy use during the free and paid periods, plus utility delivery fees and any other fixed charges. Billing cycles typically last 30 days.
- Contract terms and early termination fees (ETFs): Free nights and weekends plans may come with a 12, 24, or 36-month contract. Before signing up for a long-term plan, check the ETF. It’s a charge you’ll pay for canceling the plan before it ends if you switch providers within your current company’s service area.
- Minimum usage requirements or fees: Some energy plans charge a base fee for your energy use, or if you don’t reach a specific threshold. These fees vary by provider, but you can find the cost listed in your plan’s electricity facts label (EFL), a document detailing how your plan works and what fees to expect.
- Free usage period breakdown: The free electricity period varies by provider and plan. You can find the exact free hours listed on your plan’s EFL.
Pros and Cons of Free Nights and Weekends Plans
Free nights and weekends plans can offer savings, but only if your usage matches the free periods. These plans are best for those who already use electricity mostly at night or on the weekend instead of daytime hours. You could end up paying more if you sign up without adjusting your routine.
Here are some benefits and drawbacks of free nights and weekends plans:
Pros
- No-cost electricity at night
- Can save money if most usage happens at night
- Often includes renewable energy options
- Works well for EV charging
- Encourages shifting usage to off-peak hours
Cons
- Expensive daytime rates
- Can lead to higher bills if most usage happens during the day
- Requires a flexible schedule for chores like laundry and cooking
- Savings depend on how much usage shifts to free hours
- Some plans have hidden fees
Rising energy rates make free electricity sound like a great idea. It can be if you run major appliances at night, charge an electric vehicle (EV) overnight, or spend most weekends at home. However, waiting to do your laundry or holding off on running the dishwasher until the free period starts or early in the morning isn’t convenient for everyone.
Also, some appliances, such as the refrigerator and air conditioning unit, run all day on a cyclical pattern. It may be virtually impossible to reduce your daytime usage to zero, making cost savings somewhat hard to come by.
These plans require a flexible schedule and potential habit changes to actually benefit from. Make sure the savings are worth the trade-offs in your daily routine before signing up.
Who Should Consider Free Nights and Weekends Plans?
Free nights and weekends plans work best if your lifestyle already lines up with the free hours. Those who work outside of the home for most of the day naturally avoid using power during peak times and can benefit from lower bills.
If you’re a young professional who has a busy work schedule and you live in a small urban apartment, a free nights plan may help you save. Likely, you’ll be gone most of the day, and your home’s cooling needs shouldn’t be as hefty as someone living in a large suburban home. Additionally, if you’re gone most of the day and into the evening, you can expect not to use much power during the paid hours. You can also consider an apartment energy plan.
Here are other examples of who might benefit most from a free nights or weekends plan:
- Night owls who use most of their electricity during evening hours
- Weekend warriors who spend more time at home during weekends
- Families who can schedule high-energy activities during free periods
- Electric vehicle owners who can charge their vehicles during free hours
- Tech-savvy consumers who use smart home technology to automate energy usage
How To Maximize Savings with Free Nights and Weekends Plans
Adjusting when you use electricity can help you get the most value from your energy plan. The more you shift high-usage activities to the free period, the more you can reduce your bill. Start with changing a few simple habits and consider smart tools to make usage tracking and savings easier. Below are practical ways to save:
- Schedule high-energy activities during free periods.
- Use programmable thermostats to pre-cool or preheat before peak hours.
- Charge devices and electric vehicles during free hours.
- Run major appliances like washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers during free periods.
- Use timers to automate appliances.
- Adjust your HVAC system settings to reduce usage during peak hours.
- Install energy-efficient appliances to reduce overall consumption.
- Consider smart home technology that can automate energy usage based on the time.
- Track your usage patterns to ensure you’re taking advantage of free periods.
How To Evaluate if a Free Nights and Weekends Plan is Right for You
Take time to understand your current energy habits to determine if you’d benefit from a free nights or weekends plan. If most of your electricity use happens during the day, a simple fixed-rate plan is likely a better option to avoid peak hour rates. Reviewing your past bills or smart meter data can help you see when you use the most energy. If you work from home or keep the air conditioning running during the day to keep your pets comfortable, a free nights plan may end up costing you more.
Follow these steps to see if a free nights or weekends plan is a good fit for you:
- Analyze your current usage: Check your past electricity bills or log into Smart Meter Texas to see when you use the most power.
- Calculate your free period usage: Estimate what portion of your usage happens during off-peak hours, like evenings or weekends. Compare this to how much you use during the day.
- Compare rates: Compare electricity rates for multiple plan types to see how free nights and weekends plans compare to other options.
- Consider your schedule flexibility: Think about whether you can shift your energy use to align with the free period. Make sure it’s a realistic habit shift you can continue for the length of your contract.
- Review the electricity facts label (EFL): Review the EFL to compare on-peak and off-peak electricity rates, TDU fees and usage charges.
- Estimate potential savings: Multiply your daytime usage by the on-peak rate. This can give you a more accurate idea of your total monthly cost based on your actual usage.
Reading and Understanding the Electricity Facts Label
The EFL outlines your plan details so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. It explains how your plan works and what charges to expect based on your usage, breaking down your energy rate, delivery fees and key terms that can impact your monthly bill. You’ll also find how much of your usage the provider assumes will occur in the free period, impacting the average rate. Many providers calculated their advertised rates assuming 30% to 40% of your usage will occur during the free hours.
Read the EFL before enrolling in a free nights or weekends electricity plan to avoid unexpected charges and find a plan that fits your energy habits.
What to look for on your plan’s EFL:
- Average price per kWh at different usage levels
- Breakdown of energy charges during free vs. paid periods
- TDU delivery charges
- Minimum usage fees or credits that affect your total cost
- Contract length and early termination fees
- Percentage assumptions for free period usage
- Renewable energy content to see if it includes green power
Alternatives to Free Nights and Weekends Plans
Free electricity plans aren’t the best fit for many Texans. Fortunately, you can also choose from fixed-rate, prepaid and green energy plans to better match your needs. Each option has its own benefits for your usage, budget and preferences.
Fixed-rate plans offer steady pricing throughout your contract so you don’t have to worry about price spikes. Prepaid plans let you pay for electricity upfront instead of at the end of your billing cycle. Often called no-deposit plans, prepaid plans don’t require a large upfront payment or a credit check.
Consider a green energy plan or upgrading to 100% renewable options to offset your usage with clean power sources.
You can also choose a variable-rate plan, but we generally don’t recommend this offering. Variable-rate plans change the price month-to-month based on the market conditions. This means your price could spike or drop, making your bill unpredictable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free nights and weekends plans worth it?
Free nights and weekends plans can help you save if you adjust your electricity use to match the free hours. Those with flexible routines or heavy night usage may save money. A fixed-rate plan likely offers better value for the average Texas household.
How do providers determine the percentage of usage during free periods?
Texas energy providers use smart meter data to find when you use electricity. Your meter records usage in 15-minute intervals, which helps separate daytime and nighttime usage. You can find the exact formula to calculate your price per kilowatt-hour in the plan’s EFL. We recommend considering your actual usage instead of relying on the advertised price, since this is based on estimated usage amounts.
Do I still pay for TDU charges during free periods?
You generally won’t have to pay your utility delivery fees during free periods, although this will vary depending on your plan and provider. That said, you’ll typically pay much higher rates during paid periods, which often makes these plans more expensive than straightforward options despite advertising “free” energy.
Can I combine free nights and weekends plans with solar panels?
Yes, you can use a free nights plan with solar panels with most providers. You can use your self-generated power during the day when rates are expensive and have free electricity at night. This setup can lower your need for grid power and help reduce your overall energy bill. Compare solar-friendly options from Reliant Energy, TXU Energy and Green Mountain Energy.
What happens if I need to cancel a free nights and weekends plan early?
Free nights and weekends plans have a time-of-use rate structure, but you usually have to sign a contract lasting 12, 24 or 36 months. You’ll likely pay an ETF if you cancel the plan before it ends. The amount varies by provider, but it may cost more for long-term plans. Review your plan’s EFL for the exact fee and terms. You won’t have to pay the ETF if you cancel your plan and move outside the provider’s service area.
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team supports our energy provider ratings and recommendations with a transparent, research-backed provider review methodology. Our process includes surveying electricity customers in deregulated markets like Texas, analyzing customer review trends, conducting mystery shopping, and consulting with energy experts. Each provider is scored based on performance in customer satisfaction, loyalty, digital experience, and service quality to produce a final rating on a 5-point scale.